The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Every 4th of July I take my Edison Gem and about six cylinders wherever we celebrate. The machine is easy to carry but the cylinders are a nuisance. I was thinking of making something lightweight buy sturdy with a handle on top to carry cylinders. If it were inexpensive, in the $25 to $35 price range, would you be interested? How many cylinders should it carry? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks, Jerry Blais

Would it carry breakable wax or just blue amberols or indestructibles? In boxes or on pegs? I wonder if there's a case out there already that could be easily modified. A dozen records would be enough for an outing IMO.
Good idea!
Bob

For what it's worth, I carry cylinders in an empty cooler for outdoor events (I occasionally bring 5000-series string-band records to Old-Time music festivals). I figure that the insulation and keeping the cooler in the shade helps to keep them from getting too hot. I know that's not directly related to the subject of your thread, Jerry, but I wanted to bring up the temperature concern.

I went to our local band instrument repair shop and got an old wood cornet case for $10, ripped out the insides, clued in fabric and cardboard tubes. It holds 15 BA cylinders comfortably.

How about modifying a cooler to keep cylinders in? (pegs in a cooler?) That sounds like a good tip for keeping them out of the heat.

THe cooler is good idea. Why not place/fasten Gold Moulded, or wax amberol cases inside. They will hold any cylinder and perfectly protect them. A lid can be fashioned from some rigid foam board that could fit firmly inside the cooler and lie flat on top of all the tubes.

OK, seventy plus views and a few comments about using a cooler (which by the the way is a good idea). I'll interpret that as saying my idea is not so hot. I can live with that. Maybe I'll make one for myself and you'll all beg for another. Happy collecting, Jerry