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Is the 14" witches hat the largest horn that can be used on a Standard B without a support?

Are you asking about how large a horn that could be used without a crane? If so, the 14" black & brass horn is about as large and heavy as you should have on your Standard. If you use a crane I wouldn't suggest anything larger than the Edison Standard morning glory horn. I hope this helps. Jerry B.

Jerry B. wrote:Are you asking about how large a horn that could be used without a crane? If so, the 14" black & brass horn is about as large and heavy as you should have on your Standard. If you use a crane I wouldn't suggest anything larger than the Edison Standard morning glory horn. I hope this helps. Jerry B.

Thanks Jerry. Yes..thats what I was asking.

I know that these machines were originally made
to have the reproducer neck be supporting one of
those "witch's hat" horns.

However, even knowing that that's how they were back
when they were new, does not take away from the fact
that this amount of weight being supported from
the reproducer neck is, in my opinion, still kind of
a bad deal, all around.

Here's why it's not the greatest, the way I see it:

Consider the undo amount of bending stress which gets
put onto the reproducer neck to support that 14 inch
steel horn from only a .625 long tube.

That is a rather long lever arm there.

Add to that the extra weight of the horn which bears
down on the sliding way support for the carriage, plus
the extra force on the carriage guide rod, and you'll
start getting the picture of possibly why so many
of these machines have excessive freeplay and wear
on these parts.

I personally think that it's by far a much better
deal to use a horn supported from a crane. That way,
the rubber tube pushed over the reproducer neck
only puts a very small additional force on all
of these parts. This is just my way of looking at it.

Others obviously have other opinions on this matter.

However, even knowing that that's how they were back
when they were new, does not take away from the fact
that this amount of weight being supported from
the reproducer neck is, in my opinion, still kind of
a bad deal, all around.

I really agree with Chuck. When I work on an Edison cylinder machine, except the Gem, the benchmark for my work is the ability to play a cylinder completely with a 14" horn riding on the reproducer. I know I've done a good job when that is accomplished. If room is an issue and a straight horn is not an option, you should consider something with a Cygnet.

Jerry Blais