The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Are there those out there that collect Edison reproducers? I’ve got a number of machines and never paid too much attention to the type of reproducer. However, there are so many varieties - do people ever try to acquire them all? Is this feasable or even worthwhile? Are they really all that different? I know some switch between two and four minute, but in terms of sound quality, does it matter? Many thanks for your advice!!!!

Yes, people do collect them, and it's quite difficult to have all the major types, never mind any variations. You'll have no trouble finding C, H, Diamond B, and Diamond C reproducers for $100 or so, but the rest will cost more, sometimes significantly more. It gets even more expensive if you get into the non-Edison reproducers like the Mobley.

Also, I'm assuming you mean the cylinder types. Collecting Diamond Disc reproducers is a bit more straightforward as there are fewer types and fewer variations.

I LOVE collecting Edison reproducers, and every variation of the same model I can find! Do I have a problem? Just infected with the phonographia virus. I have 5 different types of Model N reproducers. I have 6 different Model C reproducers--unmarked weight, marked weight, holes drilled in weight, no holes drilled in weight, etc. Different variations of Automatic Reproducers, etc. Just the other day I picked up a spare Edison Model J reproducer, to keep for trading purposes--I thought I was crazy for doing that. And these are just Edison reproducers--If you want to collect the Edison "modified" reproducers, that can be costly! I also love Diamond Disc reproducers! There are also many different varieties of those as well, believe it or not. And, I like to make sure all are in working condition, and try to use each one in a machine, from time to time. I guess it must seem like I have too much time on my hands!

Happy Collecting!

Mike Sorter
Riverside, CA

Are there huge differences in how they sound? I’m really interested in learning more since I have the basic Edison machines up to this point,

KCW wrote:Are there those out there that collect Edison reproducers? I’ve got a number of machines and never paid too much attention to the type of reproducer. However, there are so many varieties - do people ever try to acquire them all? Is this feasable or even worthwhile? Are they really all that different? I know some switch between two and four minute, but in terms of sound quality, does it matter? Many thanks for your advice!!!!

"Some switch between two and four minutes"--I hope I'm being paranoid here, but in case that implies you aren't making that switch: you must *always* switch between them to match the cylinder being played, *especially* when the cylinder is wax. Playing a two-minute wax with a four minute reproducer will damage the cylinder. Playing a four-minute wax with a two-minute reproducer probably will do the same. (And note that playing a four-minute wax with a diamond type reproducer designed for blue amberols will quickly ruin the cylinder; you must stick to the types designed for wax records.) I don't imagine you'd damage a blue amberol by playing it with a two-minute reproducer, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were bad for the stylus, which if injured then might go on to damage wax cylinders you play subsequently. It's not a matter of sound quality, it's a matter of preserving your cylinders.

KCW wrote:Are there huge differences in how they sound? I’m really interested in learning more since I have the basic Edison machines up to this point,

Don't know if you've seen this, but it's a good primer on (some of) the types available --

http://www.edisonshop.com/reproducers/ducer.html

Unfortunately, it doesn't go into the sound quality differences.

OrthoFan

KCW wrote:Are there huge differences in how they sound? I’m really interested in learning more since I have the basic Edison machines up to this point,

In general, the Edison reproducers with larger diaphragms (L,M,N,O,Q,R,S, Diamond A, Diamond B, Diamond C, and Diamond D) will have greater fidelity than the earlier models with smaller diaphragms.

But diaphragm material and type of record played makes a difference too. Early (pre-1902) Edison reproducers used glass diaphragms, but when the harder, louder molded cylinder records appeared in 1902, the glass diaphragms could be blasty in loud passages. Thus, mica diaphragms came into use. By 1908, Edison began providing copper diaphragms stamped with more supple designs which allowed greater travel and better fidelity - - all these improvements among the small-diaphragm reproducers.

By the time the larger-diaphragm Edison reproducers appeared, all the research in diaphragm materials and design was incorporated in them, and diaphragms continued to be improved into the 1920s.

George P.

Digging up an old thread topic here. A friend of mine just picked up a "Edison automatic reproducer " with no markings except for a stamped ser no. and an illegible stamp. There was no diaphragm so he used an old copper one which fits perfectly. No mention of national phono Co.
Def old and original. Should have taken a picture. Anything special about this? Bob

I ended up buying this reproducer because I needed another automatic...but I still don't know anything about it. It's identical to an automatic except There are no markings aside from the ser no. Does anyone else have an edison automatic like this?

An Edison Automatic Reproducer lacking any writing around the perimeter is probably an early production unit, prior to the formation of the National Phonograph Company in January 1896. Early Class Ms would have been equipped with these.

George P.