The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As I get closer with completing my Edison DD, just need to do some smallish things to it, just enjoying it now. I've been thinking of getting a phonograph that will play the 78's. I'm kind of drawn to some of the Brunswick's and Sonora's. My questions are these, to minimize the same mistake I made with my S19.

1. What are some key areas to look for when buying a phonograph? Probably each machine has it's own thing to look for.
2. What is required for playing electrical recordings? A certain type machine or?
3.What are do's and don'ts for playing 78's? Beyond replacing needle every song or record and correct placement of tone arm.

I probably have many more when I start down this path.
Anyways, due to my location, selection can be thin and high priced. Will probably have to travel to get one.

Many thanks
Danny

An Orthophonic or Viva Tonal works best with electrical recordings, but even a rebuilt and tuned Exhibition can work goof on electrical recordings. If you look at a Columbia, watch out for pot metal issues, Victor machines normally don't have as much pot metal I believe.

I've found that my Brunswick Cortez plays acoustics as well as it plays electrical records. It's a good choice for an all in one machine for playing lateral records. You can experiment with loud and soft tone needles to figure out what works best for your room.

For your first acoustic machine for 78's one of the middle sized Victrolas is a fine beginning. The XII and the XIV are both fine, the differences being the second is a bit bigger and has a larger motor. Both sold very well and can be had for reasonable prices.

A number of companies made adaptors to play 78s on an Edison. Some adaptor designs would even allow you to swap heads to play electrics. Generally speaking, mica diaphragms are best for playing acoustic records, and corrugated metal diaphragms are best for playing electric records.

About the best machine to play electrics is an RCA Orthophonic machine with a folded exponential horn.

On a related question, can I play vertical cut discs (non-Edison discs) on an Edison upright? I tried last night and the record wasn't thick enough. I put a record underneath the one I was playing but it still did not seem to track correctly. What about putting two records underneath? Or should I only play them on Pathé or Brunswick machines?

No. Only Edison Diamond Discs will work with the Edison reproducer. They are cut at 150 TPI, and no other record is. Most vertical records, Okeh for instance, have about the same pitch as a regular 78, so they are too coarse to track properly with the DD feed mechanism. Pathé verticals are even coarser still. In short, the grooves would pull the stylus along faster than the feed mech would pull the rest of the reproducer, causing skipping. Also, I'm sure the abrasive in many vertical 78s intended for steel needles would damage the Edison diamond.

"I've found that my Brunswick Cortez plays acoustics as well as it plays electrical records. It's a good choice for an all in one machine for playing lateral records. You can experiment with loud and soft tone needles to figure out what works best for your room."

I agree. I have both the Cortez and the Seville-both play acoustically recorded and electrically recorded records well!

Dwheels wrote:As I get closer with completing my Edison DD, just need to do some smallish things to it, just enjoying it now. I've been thinking of getting a phonograph that will play the 78's. I'm kind of drawn to some of the Brunswick's and Sonora's. My questions are these, to minimize the same mistake I made with my S19.

1. What are some key areas to look for when buying a phonograph? Probably each machine has it's own thing to look for.
2. What is required for playing electrical recordings? A certain type machine or?
3.What are do's and don'ts for playing 78's? Beyond replacing needle every song or record and correct placement of tone arm.

I probably have many more when I start down this path.
Anyways, due to my location, selection can be thin and high priced. Will probably have to travel to get one.

Many thanks
Danny

I play electrical recordings on my 1916 Sonora all the time. They sound great. I have an adapter for my Edison A250 that permits playing lateral 78 records with steel needles. Works great after I rebuilt the reproducer. Having two machines is fun so keep your eyes open for a Brunswick or Sonora. In the mean time, look for a lateral adapter. Edison used the hill and dale which is why his records are so thick.

miker2001 wrote:On a related question, can I play vertical cut discs (non-Edison discs) on an Edison upright? I tried last night and the record wasn't thick enough. I put a record underneath the one I was playing but it still did not seem to track correctly. What about putting two records underneath? Or should I only play them on Pathé or Brunswick machines?

Never mind, I misunderstood the question.

Fran