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Subject: Edison Belt Color quandry - 1905 Green Oak Home Model B.

I have a 1905 Green Oak Home Model B with a very, very old belt on it. It's Super thin and I'd like to replace it. The belt that's on there now is Black in color and the top surface of the belt is not smooth at all, but it has a small bumpy dotted texture just like Shark Skin texture. I don't think that its the original belt, but its certainly decades and decades old and possibly could be. I'd hate to cut it off if its original and still in good shape even if it is very thin.

I know for a fact that Edison used Brown colored belts a lot, but I am very fuzzy on their use of Black colored belting. I can't find anything in original literature including Frow about Edison belt coloring use or when certain belt colors were in use.

All I want to do is use the most proper color belt for the machine. On my other Mohaghany Late 1905 Edison Model B, I used a Brown replacement belt and I felt that was the right choice for that machine, though this machine which is the same model but different wood color, I am not so sure. Has anyone developed any kind of guide to Edison belt colors based on Original examples??...and Time Period use??

Let's face it, The belting on Edison machines are the most disposable part of any machine, so finding original Edison belt examples actually still on their original machines is a tough find anywhere.

Does anyone have any suggestions if a Black belt would be acceptable on a 1905 Green Oak Home Model B??...And Anyone have any idea if my existing thin Black "Shark Skin" textured belt could be original before I cut it off???

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Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

I have seen two original belts that I remember, one on a Home model F in oak and another on my DD-80 in Mahogany. Both are brown with two rows of stitches. I think they were sold already finished as a ring in the correct length for specific models, much like a fan-belt for a car nowadays. I think I read in the Frow DD book somewhere about the specific length of some belts for the early models. I believe that the stitching prevented the belts from stretching much, so they could manufacture them in the correct size for each machine.

Andreas

Yes Andreas, I have seen the Brown Edison stitched belts that you are talking about. I'm just wondering if Brown was the "Only" color ever used during this timeframe..

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Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Hi Tony.
My 1905 Standard Model A still has its original belt. It's a very dark brown, quite thin and not stitched. I've had the machine since 1998 and play it most frequently of all my Standards. I think the belt is one of the keys to good playback. Even though it's black, yours sounds like it would be appropriate (if not in fact original). If yours is working well, I'd be tempted to keep using it until such time that it breaks. As always, photographs help us armchair quarterbacks.
Regards,
Martin