The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I need a few of the rubber connectors that is used between the reproducer and large horn on my cylider phonographs.
what can i use instead? perhaps a hose from the autoparts? Maybe a ⅝ black heater hose? Maybe ¾?

Many of the suppliers listed in the Links page carry rubber connector tubing, which is softer and more pliable than the stuff you find in hardware stores.

Bill

I went to a hydraulic hose shop that made the hoses on site last year. I took a sample of the rubber extender for the horn and they matched it perfectly. They had to special order it but it is available. I paid $ 22.00 for three feet( minimum order) and have replacements for a few years after I cut them up. Tom

tomb wrote:I went to a hydraulic hose shop that made the hoses on site last year. I took a sample of the rubber extender for the horn and they matched it perfectly. They had to special order it but it is available. I paid $ 22.00 for three feet( minimum order) and have replacements for a few years after I cut them up. Tom

I bought a collection of phonographs and while i know a phonograph supplier has them I don't want to place such a small order. I will take a tube I have and try your suggestion first thing this morning.
Thank you!

I went to auto zone with a rubber connector and explained what I needed.
He brought out a piece, charged me 50 cents, and it's a perfect fit when I got home

Yes, it's a hair thicker and yes, not as flexible, but I can now display and listen
To them till I place an order!

Ron Sitko sells this tubing for about $1.00 a foot. That was several years ago. Stay away from auto parts hose. It's expensive, and too stiff. The result will be poor.
Harvey Kravitz

Ron Sitko sells this tubing for about $1.00 a foot. That was several years ago. Stay away from auto parts hose. It's expensive, and too stiff. The result will be poor.
Harvey Kravitz

Phonofreak wrote:Ron Sitko sells this tubing for about $1.00 a foot. That was several years ago. Stay away from auto parts hose. It's expensive, and too stiff. The result will be poor.
Harvey Kravitz

I agree with you, this was just something I needed in a pinch till my next order. Then I'll replace all of them.

Some years ago, before the supple black
rubber connector hoses were commonly available,
some Edison phonograph owners were using short
lengths of .625 inch inside diameter surgical
tubing.

That stuff is very flexible and it's nice and thick,
the wall is about .125 inch.

It is a light yellow color.

It darkens some with age, and it also looses
its flexibility after several years.

The black stuff available now seems to be about
the same as the surgical tubing, only dyed black not
the raw yellow rubber.

Does anyone have an original source (in other words, where do the dealers get it) for this stuff? A lot of mine are cracked or incorrect or just plain gone, so I’d like to buy 10’ or so of it. That would probably be a lifetime supply.

Thanks.