The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The Japanese company Gakken made a kit that allows you to record onto an ordinary candle, much the way an Edison cylinder phonograph does, albeit with so-so results. The YouTube channel "Techmoan" recently posted a video review and demonstration of one of these kits. Here's the link:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9X2CS4cs8o[/youtube]

I highly recommend the "Techmoan" channel as he does videos on all sorts of interesting obsolete technologies, many of which you have probably never heard of.

Enjoy.

O yes, I do enjoy Techmoan. I first saw his Tefifon video, and from then I got hooked. I'm still prowling around on ebay for a Tefifon, I might end up with one eventually, as long as the price is okay...

RolandVV-360 wrote:O yes, I do enjoy Techmoan. I first saw his Tefifon video, and from then I got hooked. I'm still prowling around on ebay for a Tefifon, I might end up with one eventually, as long as the price is okay...

look up the German eBay, I bought a brand new machine there, and there is usually some for sale.

After watching the video, my impression is that the Gakken cylinder phonograph--even as a toy--leaves a lot to be desired. It seems that the "candle wax" used is too brittle to make any type of audible recording, judging from the large flakes removed during the recording process, and the poor results described in the video.

I'm wondering if it would work better if a different type of wax were used, or if the candle was warmed slightly?

OrthoFan

Maybe the results would be better if you used an actual cylinder machine and recorder with a wax blank... just sayin'...