The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello I need some help I have an early 1920 Dictaphone cylinder shaver. I got it off ebay for a good price picked it up in person. It has the original case.
well due to my stupidly I did not take pictures before cutting the wiring in under the bed-plate that lifts up.
now I need to re wire it with new wiriering can any one please help me I plan on using this a lot.
Thanks so much for any and all help Pictures attached.

What can't you figure out? The only thing powered in this thing is the electric motor.

Power goes in and through an on and off switch and then through a variable resistor and goes into the motor. You first might want to take the motor cover off (without it plugged in.) and look at the brushes, next make sure it is turned to the AC arrow, and not the DC arrow loosening the two round head machine screws will allow you to move the brushes to the proper setting. Check all wiring for frays and all connections for corrosion. If nothing seems to be getting power use a ohm meter to check the continuity in the resistor, and how many ohms it reads, and write it down, note the original position of the resistor,adjustment and loosen the screw in the center of the resister slide adjuster, and move the contact up and down, carefully and then back to the original position. Sometimes the resistor has a broken wire, and a replacement is needed.

Alright To Answer the 1st question. I should have made my self clear I am going to rewire up date wiring to make safer it had the old cloth wiring. I also Usually Always take pictures, Well it turns out this time I did not this is after I cut and removed all the old cloth wiring.

I'll answer the 2nd Question Now Thanks for letting me know about the brushes Ill go over this . I Greatly appreciate all the help I can get with this Thanks ever so much.

That's a model 7, type S. I have one just like that.

It's kind of a shame that you ripped out all the wiring, because chances are it
was just fine.

It may have needed a few pieces of heatshrink tubing to cover up some small
cracked areas in the old insulation, but that is all it usually takes.

I own and operate a total of 4 old shavers of various kinds, found in
various conditions ranging from pristine, to old, rusty, crusty, with mouse nests.

In all the above cases, I was able to very effectively and safely use the
old wiring. One of those shavers had a very badly burned up rheostat.
It was easily all soldered and spliced back together.

That stuff is really built well and made to survive.
All it needs is a little maintenance.