The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Several years ago I made a limited run of rubber Duplex Elbows. I basically did it for my machines and I was so impressed I thought I would share the extra ones I made. I had a need for my machines and I could find no one at any of the shows that was willing to do this. There is a limited market for these and I will probably only do this once; but, I have been asked to make more!

The elbows were black. They are not at a full 90 degrees they are just slightly off based on the original I have. The first set made at a simple 90-degree angle did not seal well on the reproducer flanges on both machines I used. So I had another mold change to copy the original exactly. The rubber is flexible enough to adjust itself to the obscure angles so the reproducer can be centered properly between the horns. I include a set of gasket material to ensure a tight fit on the reproducer flanges and you can set the angle of the reproducer without having it possibly slip, slide or twist after it is set. I am finding that on the two reproducers I tested the flange size varies, causing the elbows to fit tight on one reproducer and not the other, another reason for the extra gasket. Plus it would be too costly to make a third mold of another size.

(should be in the Yankee Trader section???)... In order to make this possible again, I would need to have a certain number of orders/sales, as the material is expensive to make only one or two sets. At current supply costs, I would guess 8 or more sets would be about $190 a set.

If there is enough interest, I will make more.
Andy

I would be interested in one or two sets. Please keep me advised when this project firms up.

Thanks,

Raphael

I would be interested in one set. Thanks for your efforts. Jerry Blais

Might have interest in one set.

Hi Andy,

Have you considered checking various companies concerning injecting the rubber? I assume that you still have your molds, so the rubber injection should not be that expensive...I could definitely be interested in SEVERAL SETS, but at $190 I will probably hold off, at least for multiple sets...

Just an idea...

Joe

When I tried Keystone Rubber several years ago they didn't want to be bothered with such a small project, so I worked with a local Mom & Pop shop to get it done.

I still have the mold though.

cleveland1996 wrote:Hi Andy,

Have you considered checking various companies concerning injecting the rubber? I assume that you still have your molds, so the rubber injection should not be that expensive...I could definitely be interested in SEVERAL SETS, but at $190 I will probably hold off, at least for multiple sets...

Just an idea...

Joe

Duplex phonographs had many variations during their production. One of those variations sported a reproducer with metal elbows. Those elbows look identical to the rubber ones with the exception of where they fit into the horn. At that area they have a wide recessed band to allow a section of rubber(inner tube from a bicycle)to be inserted as to grip the horns. I have made exact reproductions of these metal elbows that can be used on any of the Duplex reproducers that were made. If any one has interest contact Paul Baker

anoldcrank wrote:When I tried Keystone Rubber several years ago they didn't want to be bothered with such a small project, so I worked with a local Mom & Pop shop to get it done.

I still have the mold though.

cleveland1996 wrote:Hi Andy,

Have you considered checking various companies concerning injecting the rubber? I assume that you still have your molds, so the rubber injection should not be that expensive...I could definitely be interested in SEVERAL SETS, but at $190 I will probably hold off, at least for multiple sets...

Just an idea...

Joe

I'm also guessing that the real cost is not in the actual making of the parts, but in breaking down an existing job on an injection molding machine and the set-up of the molds to do this job. Also, most such machines only make money when they're running and usually do large production runs. No shop is going to break into a large run to make 10 pcs. of anything. The next hurdle is the fact that most shops HATE doing work for individuals. It's almost always a thankless task for them because, unfortunately, most people aren't real sure what they want, need to make constant changes, have unrealistic expectations and hate to pay shop rates because they're not "in the trade" and don't understand how expensive things can get. With that said, I am NOT suggesting any of those conditions exist here! I've been on the "shop" side of things and have seen and heard the stories. That's why it's difficult sometimes, and expensive, for hobbyists to get things made or restored by commercial firms.

Well said Jerry! Being a full time dealer and restorer I run into this all of the time. The general mantra I hear out there is "I want it now!" "I want it perfect!" "I don't want to pay much!" Definitely an unrealistic expectation.

I can certainly attest to Jerry's great work... .