The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've been in this hobby for 56 years and I'm still learning. I recently bought a Harvard disc phonograph impulsively at Stanton's and when I got a better look at it thought it was a married together piece of junk. Upon closer examination I realized it wasn't. Attached is a photograph of the horn elbow. It is made of rubber similar to those found on a Kalamazoo Duplex. I have over the years come across the straight brass end seen on the Columbia style horn and thought them to be for use on a cylinder phonograph. Apparently they were not. Now it makes more sense!

That's great--and your new machine looks to be in decent shape for its age, too. Thanks for sharing this obscure fact!

There's a couple threads you might like to read with pictures of these rubber elbows, and the difference ones use by Columbia.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21429&p=256657&hili ... rd#p256657

Very nice, Paul. On first glance at the elbow itself I thought it was paper mache due to the layered appearance in the picture. I'm amazed to hear that it is rubber! Thanks for sharing.

Doug

If it ever breaks down it could easily be replaced by a radiator hose pipe elbow out of an automobile or similar as can be found in most scrapyards.

Presumably something like antique self-amalgamating tape?

At first glance I was thinking friction tape which is used as an electrical tape. When properly applied it will remain tight and it seems to have an infinite lifetime.

Jim

Somebody taped it up in an attempt to hold it together. The rubber is no doubt deteriorating and needs to be propped up with tape. As far as using a radiator hose, The original is molded to accommodate two different dimensions at either end. Maybe I could find something that would be similar at the auto parts store?

What about black electrical shrink wrap over the outside? Some of it will shrink down to ½ its size when heat is applied.

A radiator hose elbow can probably be heated to allow it to be pushed onto one end or the other, if needed to accommodate a different size... Use a heat gun or hair dryer to warm it up.