The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was just curious if anyone still had a Morse clarifier installed in a phonograph. What had me wondering was because sometimes the old Victors and Victrola phonographs will "ring" a little bit, the infamous "Victor ear tickle." Placing a sock down the horn changes this and if the sock is loosely wadded, or just a handkerchief is used, this also helps.

For those who have found old Morse clarifier attachments, how did these work for you? They are simple enough and if they do all right I was thinking about making a replica--there is paper around, some tin to make the band from, and plenty of shellac to dope it with--but if it's not really doing anything I'll probably not do it.

I never heard of the Victor tickle before so I did a search and found this. https://edisoneffect.blogspot.com/

My favorite quote from History in the Raw is Edison's critique of composers. I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair.


WAGNER
“Wagner’s musical dramas, no form, acquired taste. Not natural like chewing tobacco. But he could pull some beautiful things out of the air”.

“ Wagner could have been a great man, his instrumental music is beautiful. He could beat them all probably in this line, but he was a crank and wouldn’t do it”.

“Wagner should have left the music out and launched his operas as plain speaking dramas”.

I've wanted to make a Morse Clarifier since I first saw one in the Paul/Fabrizio Gizmo Gadget phonograph book. I'd like to tame some of those unpleasant Victrola resonant peaks! I once pocketed some cocktail straws to experiment with but couldn't find them next day.
-bill