Greetings from the new owner of an Edison A-100. I have ?'s.

[pete1729]

I have always had an affinity for music and It's associated equipment. Just earlier this week I was gifted an Edison machine in remarkably nice condition. The unit belonged to a beloved neighbor who passed away some months ago. There will be pictures to follow. My question is about the 'Perfection reproducer' that seems to have sprung apart.

[pete1729]

A picture of the parts.

[pete1729]

The ring and receiver appear threaded. The ring does not seem to be damaged, but it falls inside the threaded receiver.

[phonogfp]

Hello Pete. Congratulations on your Edison A-100.

The Perfection sound box you show was an aftermarket device that allowed playing of conventional 78 rpm discs on an Edison Disc Phonograph. (Ordinarily, only Edison disc records can be played on Edison Disc Phonographs.) The Perfection sound box was mounted on a small arm that replaced the factory Edison Reproducer. The Perfection appears to have been made of pot metal and has expanded, which explains why the threaded ring no longer fits.

If you haven't already discovered it, the Antique Phonograph Society has a web site with a number of useful free articles. The first six articles listed on this page will be particularly helpful:

https://www.antiquephono.org/category/introductory/

Don't be afraid to ask questions!

George P.

[pete1729]

The arm for the sound box is present and works easily. I have at present no vertically cut discs, but well over 100 pre WWI laterally cut discs. Years ago I dealt with a machine shop that made me threaded bushings for some cylinders I was adapting for use in some historic lock sets. Maybe I have to find someone like that again.

[52089]

The arm for the sound box is present and works easily. I have at present no vertically cut discs, but well over 100 pre WWI laterally cut discs. Years ago I dealt with a machine shop that made me threaded bushings for some cylinders I was adapting for use in some historic lock sets. Maybe I have to find someone like that again.

Alternatively, you can just buy another lateral adapter. They are usually $100 or less.

When you are ready for Diamond Discs, just let us know. Many us of have extras we can sell cheap or even free.

[drh]

Congrats on your inheritance! I've always liked the "tabletop on stilts" design of machines like the A-100, and that's a little less "usual" a place to start in old machines than most of us probably can claim. It just adds to the attraction that it's a remembrance of a good friend. Cherish it. I'm sure we'd all love to see photos when you get a chance.

Perfection also made adapters to play vertical cut disks, like Pathés, on Victor open horn machines and Victrolas. I have one; it works well and actually sounds very nice. My experience with lateral adapters on Edison diamond disc machines, however, has been that they are fussy, not especially easy or graceful to use. (Mine is by Kent, another often-encountered mfr. of such things.) Do you have the original diamond disc reproducer for your A-100? If so, I'd consider getting a collection of Edison discs together to play on it and maybe get a modest Victrola, Grafonola, or even off-brand machine to play lateral, steel needle records. If you don't have the Edison reproducer, they come up for sale now and again, at reasonably modest prices, in the Yankee Trader section of this forum and in online auction sites.

Where do you live? What kind of music do you like?

[edit] If you're looking to replace your lateral adapter, here's one much like mine (same design, different name on it) currently sitting at under $30.00. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lateral-Reprod ... 0005.m1851