The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Stratena was a cement used by Edison to glue leather belting together and for attaching the stylus to glass in some reproducers. I found this old ad on the net and thought I would share it.

Very true. A few years ago, Peter Wall out in
San Francisco was making Stratena and selling it on
Ebay. I got a couple bottles and have used it
on several recorder rebuilds and it does work
perfectly!

It is gelatin based. Peter used powdered gelatin,
boric acid, vodka, water, and a few other secret squirrel ingredients.

As he described the manufacture of it one time to
me on the phone, "A little vodka in the Stratena,
a little more vodka for me"...

The really nice part about using Stratena for
rebuilding recorders is that when the recorder
must come apart for fine adjustments during
testing (as they most always do), the Stratena
lets loose very easily by placing 2 Q-tips moistened
with water one on each side of the stylus holder.

15 minutes later the copper holder lifts right
off the diaphragm. Reversible adhesives.
That is what makes for easily adjusting an
Edison home recorder. Stratena does take a full
24 hours to dry.

I have several small Stratena glass bottles and never knew what they were used for.

Their Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil is a remedy for Consumption, (Tuberculosis). Who knew?