The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have acquired quite a few Edison blue Amberol records that need reaming, and I just got a plastic Electrophone cylinder that doesn't fit on my mandrel. With my Edison Opera and Home phonographs, I am now motivated to finally buy a reamer. Does anyone know a good place to get one? I'm assuming that a used one might be worn out?

I bought mine from a seller on ebay several years ago.

The usual suppliers usually have them, or try eBay. There are two listings for cylinder record reamers there at vastly different prices for what appear to be the same thing!

As for a used one wearing out, you can always replace the coarse sandpaper strip(s) yourself.

Also be sure to buy a cleaning block for the belts used on power sanders. Rubbing this back and forth across the reamer strips helps to remove accumulated gunk but does not affect the strips themselves.

I've cleaned my record reamer for years with an old toothbrush under running water.

George P.

An old home mandrel with some heavy sandpaper attached could ream them if you have one.. A handle could be gotten from a hardware store and glued on. The easiest would be to purchase one on E Bay. Tom b

I see three different reamers on Ebay at different prices. The one that is medium priced has three strips of abrasive. Is that more desirable than the other two reamers that have only one strip?

I have the 3 sand-paper sheet reamer - works great and it's solid oak. I stained mine a darker oak.

I have the same reamer as pictured and use an old nailbrush to clean it, but I have only used it dry. I thought that water might soften the abrasive paper, but if George cleans his in water with no problems maybe I will try it myself.

As none of the eBay sellers shipped to the UK, I had to wait until a friend was visiting the USA before I could buy a reamer. I gave the address where he was staying for delivery purposes and he brought it home in his luggage.

I bought my reamer off Ebay. This was the seller, reamer itself is well made and did the trick for me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDISON-PHONOGRA ... 2295495189

-Mike

Small point, but I suggest you are very careful with reaming. They are quite aggressive, and it is easy to overdo it to the extent that the cylinder ends up too big for the mandrel. To be on the safe side before you do anything else put a 'good' cylinder on the reamer and mark where the end with comes with a felt pen. After that, never ream past the mark!

Listen to one who didn't do it the first time...

Keith