The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have an Edison Standard Phonograph model A.


It is the 1903 model and it seems to be skipping over grooves in the record.

I have verified that I'am only playing 2 min records on it as it is a 2 min machine. When I'am playing a record, you can hear the reproducer sliding in the grooves (as normal), but later in the song, it will start to warble and skip to the next groove. Does anyone know why it is doing this and how to fix it? It seems to do it most on indestructible records.



- EnerG15

The celluloid used in Indestructibles appears to be less dimensionally stable over time than the celluloid in Blue Amberols. IOW, the surface of the Indestructibles has contracted causing the groove pitch to become out of synch with the pitch of the feedscrew. At a point, the cumulative error of the mis-tracking will cause the limit pin on the weight to contact the limit loop and skipping will occur.

Yep, nothing to be done except lift the repro halfway through, to get the stylus centered again. Or you could try playing them on a Columbia Q, whose floating reproducer has a lot more 'play' .. but who wants to hear a Q ?

Or a Pathé with a floating reproducer/horn.

Sometimes I've been able to get a complete play by setting the reproducer down with the weight angled all the way to the left to add to the range of left to right motion on a Model C reproducer. But, yeah, the Indestructibles tend to have that problem with shrinkage. It's too bad, because I rather like how some of them sound. I wonder if the purpose-made Indestructible reproducer had more play in it than the Model C? Hmm...

This will also happen if the stylus is worn out. If the stylus is cutting the record surface, the material builds up on the stylus. If this is happening, you'll hear the music start to sound foggy with less volume a few seconds before it jumps the groove, & it will sound clear again once it skips.

Welcome to the Talking Machine Forum, EnerG15!



Rocky

If it is skipping only on Indestructibles, nothing can be done. However if the problem is showing up on known good Edison or Columbia molded wax cylinders, check the condition of the stylus and the freedom of all pivot points: needle bar screw, the weight-to-hinge block screw and the hinge block screw itself. All of these points should have complete freedom of motion without having excessive play in the joints. Also check the limit pin to be sure it is not bent. If so, replace it.

Jim