The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Is there a source for the wider belts with the rows of stitching used on some Columbia machines such as the BG,BF,BO,etc.?

MicaMonster sells the best belt material I've ever used. Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:MicaMonster sells the best belt material I've ever used. Jerry Blais

I bought some of his belting for the Edison Machines and am satisfied. Does he (or anyone else) have the wider belt with stitching? Hopefully he'll chime in.

Originally Columbia belts were stitched after they were spliced. I've never seen anyone offer new belting that is stitched -- though that would make for a great look even if it's not exactly as made back in the day.

Wyatt was selling the wide (smooth) Columbia belting but I don't know if he has any left. I just made a new belt for my GG over the weekend using his material and it's fantastic. The only thing better would be if I could now add stitching. I need to find a seamstress with a powerful sewing machine!

I have used Wyatt's wide belts, and they are fantastic. Unfortunately, there is no stitching, but still very strong. At least my Columbia machines are up and running, and not sitting idle. Like what Tinfoil says, maybe you can find a seamstress or a shoe maker to stitch the belt.
Harvey Kravitx

Just for fun I took a picture of the original belt on my Columbia AB. You can see where the ends overlapped prior to being stitched, near the bottom of the photo. The flash makes it look more prominent than it appears in real life. It's really hard to find the seam in normal lighting.

I bought this machine in an old 'junk shop' in Holyoke, MA in 1962 -- 55 years ago this month. It had definitely never been in a collector's hands before that. I paid $20 for it, with 4 mint Edison Concert cylinders. That's only equivalent to $160 in today's dollars but it was a lot of money for me as a 13 year-old.

TinfoilPhono wrote:Just for fun I took a picture of the original belt on my Columbia AB. You can see where the ends overlapped prior to being stitched, near the bottom of the photo. The flash makes it look more prominent than it appears in real life. It's really hard to find the seam in normal lighting.

I bought this machine in an old 'junk shop' in Holyoke, MA in 1962 -- 55 years ago this month. It had definitely never been in a collector's hands before that. I paid $20 for it, with 4 mint Edison Concert cylinders. That's only equivalent to $160 in today's dollars but it was a lot of money for me as a 13 year-old.

Thanks - just what I'mm looking for. I may have a source.