A Heavy Topic
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:19 pm
Due to a couple of other topic threads on this
board, I've decided to start one here which is related
to, but not directly "on topic" with those other threads.
Recently someone was asking about record wear possibly
caused by playing Diamond Discs with an Edisonic
reproducer. I commented about the increased wear
caused by the increased weight.
Then, more recently than that, there's a thread
about a cylinder Diamond D reproducer with a huge
weight on it. I made a few comments about that too.
But for right here and right now, I wanted to add
some thoughts I have about these heavy weights:
It dawns on me that when looked at in the historical
perspective looking back to the early brown wax
cylinder days, even before horns became the regular
way to listen to them, that there's been a steady
progression towards more and more weight all through
the years.
This can clearly be seen when an early Standard Speaker
or Automatic reproducer or recorder is closely examined.
Back in those days when listening tubes were very
common, the records were soft wax, the weights were
relatively light. Kind of a dainty quality to the
whole system back then. Recordings were not real
loud and blasty.
A bit later on, the Gold Moulded records came
out. They are harder wax, recorded much louder.
Model C reproducer with new trunkated stylus shape
and a heavier weight was introduced to play these
new records loud and clear.
Later still there were the Blue Amberols. Harder
yet, and yet more weight on the "Diamond" series
of reproducers.
Meanwhile, the Diamond Discs were being made
of extremely hard material made to stand up to
an extreme amount of weight.
Later even still after all of that, then the
Edisonic an the Dance reproducers came out
with (you guessed it)....even more weight!
Then we have the aforementioned rare Diamond D
cylinder reproducer with the absolute biggest weight
possible that would fit within the given space limitations.
It started out light and dainty back in the brown
wax, hearing tube days.
Then, as things progressed, we see several iterations
of weight, weight, more weight being added.
All designed and made by a deaf guy!
Now I am not knocking anything here. I like them
all and am interested in the history and the preservation of it.
But the concept of weight, weight, and more weight
all made by a deaf guy does strike me kind of
funny, almost like some sort of a standup comedy
routine!
Just wanted to kick this idea around a little bit
to find out what thoughts anyone else may have
about it.
board, I've decided to start one here which is related
to, but not directly "on topic" with those other threads.
Recently someone was asking about record wear possibly
caused by playing Diamond Discs with an Edisonic
reproducer. I commented about the increased wear
caused by the increased weight.
Then, more recently than that, there's a thread
about a cylinder Diamond D reproducer with a huge
weight on it. I made a few comments about that too.
But for right here and right now, I wanted to add
some thoughts I have about these heavy weights:
It dawns on me that when looked at in the historical
perspective looking back to the early brown wax
cylinder days, even before horns became the regular
way to listen to them, that there's been a steady
progression towards more and more weight all through
the years.
This can clearly be seen when an early Standard Speaker
or Automatic reproducer or recorder is closely examined.
Back in those days when listening tubes were very
common, the records were soft wax, the weights were
relatively light. Kind of a dainty quality to the
whole system back then. Recordings were not real
loud and blasty.
A bit later on, the Gold Moulded records came
out. They are harder wax, recorded much louder.
Model C reproducer with new trunkated stylus shape
and a heavier weight was introduced to play these
new records loud and clear.
Later still there were the Blue Amberols. Harder
yet, and yet more weight on the "Diamond" series
of reproducers.
Meanwhile, the Diamond Discs were being made
of extremely hard material made to stand up to
an extreme amount of weight.
Later even still after all of that, then the
Edisonic an the Dance reproducers came out
with (you guessed it)....even more weight!
Then we have the aforementioned rare Diamond D
cylinder reproducer with the absolute biggest weight
possible that would fit within the given space limitations.
It started out light and dainty back in the brown
wax, hearing tube days.
Then, as things progressed, we see several iterations
of weight, weight, more weight being added.
All designed and made by a deaf guy!
Now I am not knocking anything here. I like them
all and am interested in the history and the preservation of it.
But the concept of weight, weight, and more weight
all made by a deaf guy does strike me kind of
funny, almost like some sort of a standup comedy
routine!
Just wanted to kick this idea around a little bit
to find out what thoughts anyone else may have
about it.
