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I have little or no experience with recording on Edison machines, so here are a couple of dumb questions.

How does one visually tell the difference between a 2-minute and a 4-minute recorder? I have several and don't know which is which.

Also, how does the process differ when recording with a 2-minute versus a 4-minute recorder?

The limited experience I've had recording has been mostly unsuccessful, but it's possible that none of these recorders have good cutters. A couple of these are missing cutters completely.(#2 in the rear photo of the 4 recorders actually has the "ski jump" and possibly a working cutter, but it fell off right before I took the picture. I found it later. ).

This is what I have:

An Edison 4 min. recorder is very rare, and almost never turn up. They have a green tint on the neck and top plate. That is the same for a Model H reproducer. The cutting stylus is half the diameter of a 2 min. stylus.
Harvey Kravitz

Here is what a 4-minute stylus holder looks like. I have seen 4-minute recorders that were not green tinted, but it was because a two-minute recorder top was used to replace a crumbling pot-metal 4-minute top piece.

It's a common misconception that 4M cutting styli are half the size of a 2M, but they are ¼ the size.

2M = .040" and are usually cupped (concave) at the end.
4M - .010" and are not cupped but may have a small dimple in the center of the end.

The 4M cutting styli is so small that it's difficult to see.