Two Strange Reproducers - Need Info

[Curt A]

I'm hoping someone might be able to shed light on these two reproducers, both of which are approx. the size of #4 Victor reproducers...

(1)The first, is a large Columbia reproducer with an embossed copper(?) disc where the diaphragm normally goes. It is called a "Concert-Tone" - World's Best Tone Sounding Device, patented by Harry H. Thompson, Kansas City, MO. It appears to be some type of volume enhancing or reducing device... Why was it developed and what problem did it solve?

(2)The second, is a "RADIO" Trade Mark reproducer made by the Crippen Co. of New York City. It has a strange metal bar attached to the face, that encloses a wooden "bridge" with felt pads that touch the diaphragm. The tension on the bar can be regulated by a knurled screw that applies or releases pressure on the diaphragm. This also appears to be some type of volume control or sound modification device. The tonearm connection on the back exits upward, so it is hard to imagine what type of tonearm it was made for. What machine did this go to, or was it an after market reproducer? It had to be made for some specific machine that had a corresponding tonearm... It looks like it would work on my Fairy Phonograph Lamp...

Any information regarding these would be helpful, since I cannot find anything about either one of these...

[Lucius1958]

The first one is certainly unusual. How thick is the disc? Is there a diaphragm underneath it? It seems to have a hole where the stylus bar enters: could it be some sort of cover to reduce sound from the outer side of the diaphragm?

The second looks like a typical "mute" volume control: not very good for the record, as it would reduce the compliance of the diaphragm. The neck suggests it was used with a "universal" tone arm, so that it could swivel to play vertical records.

- Bill

[Curt A]

The first one is certainly unusual. How thick is the disc? Is there a diaphragm underneath it? It seems to have a hole where the stylus bar enters: could it be some sort of cover to reduce sound from the outer side of the diaphragm?

The second looks like a typical "mute" volume control: not very good for the record, as it would reduce the compliance of the diaphragm. The neck suggests it was used with a "universal" tone arm, so that it could swivel to play vertical records.

- Bill

I haven't taken the first one apart, so I don't know how thick the disc is or what's underneath... it's just odd... What was Harry Thompson thinking?

I think you are right about the RADIO reproducer, since it appears that it would work on my Fairy Phono Lamp to play in either lateral or vertical mode, but I don't know what it would take to fit it to a normal machine, even in vertical position... The whole thing is strange and I think it would kill the sound to use it with the bar attached...

[Enrico]

I'm hoping someone might be able to shed light on these two reproducers, both of which are approx. the size of #4 Victor reproducers...

(1)The first, is a large Columbia reproducer with an embossed copper(?) disc where the diaphragm normally goes. It is called a "Concert-Tone" - World's Best Tone Sounding Device, patented by Harry H. Thompson, Kansas City, MO. It appears to be some type of volume enhancing or reducing device... Why was it developed and what problem did it solve?

(2)The second, is a "RADIO" Trade Mark reproducer made by the Crippen Co. of New York City. It has a strange metal bar attached to the face, that encloses a wooden "bridge" with felt pads that touch the diaphragm. The tension on the bar can be regulated by a knurled screw that applies or releases pressure on the diaphragm. This also appears to be some type of volume control or sound modification device. The tonearm connection on the back exits upward, so it is hard to imagine what type of tonearm it was made for. What machine did this go to, or was it an after market reproducer? It had to be made for some specific machine that had a corresponding tonearm... It looks like it would work on my Fairy Phonograph Lamp...

Any information regarding these would be helpful, since I cannot find anything about either one of these...

Hi Curt,
I too have a Fairy Phono Lamp whose reproducer is missing. I wuld be very appreciative if you could send me a close-up picture of the reproducer. Are you aware of other reproducers that could be used on that machine? Cause I have many in my collection (also several Radio reproducers as the one you showed in your post).
Many thanks,
Enrico

[VanEpsFan1914]

Hi Mr Curt,

In regard to the Thompson sounding device on your Columbia reproducer I think it has a lot to do with either making the phonograph louder, or cutting down on the escape of higher treble frequencies from the needle bar & diaphragm face, almost like a Morse Clarifier but on the outside of the machine? Not sure. Only one way to find out--rebuilding the reproducer & giving it a test-drive with and without the attachment.

Found a patent from 1929, applied for on March 15, 1922, granted to a Harry Harold Thompson of Kansas City, MO who had an interest in talking-machines. It's a way to connect an AM radio with a windup victrola and it appears it offered provisions for the phonograph to cut a record from the radio waves going in. He just listed it as "Sound System." (Not sure if it would have been produced, and if it was it wouldn't have had all the recording stuff necessarily; just a way to keep the competition down.) And it appears he had a bit of help from the RCA Corporation.

https://patents.google.com/?q=phonograp ... y:19100101

Maybe that is what we're dealing with here? His Patent Pending on this "Concert-Tone" accessory attachment must not have made it through the Patent Office.

[GlensterTX]

The American Radio History site (https://www.americanradiohistory.com) has a complete run of the "Talking Machine World", an industry bible in the first quarter of the XXth century. Surprisingly, there doesn't appear to be any coverage of Mr. Thompson and his "Concert-Tone" soundbox, but there are several full-pages ads for the Crippen Interpretone and its "Radio" reproducer. Here's a link to the search results:

https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd ... er_page=10

[Curt A]

GlensterTX - Thanks for that ad and the info that I was looking for...

Has anyone ever seen an Interpretone Phonograph?

[Curt A]

"Hi Curt,
I too have a Fairy Phono Lamp whose reproducer is missing. I wuld be very appreciative if you could send me a close-up picture of the reproducer. Are you aware of other reproducers that could be used on that machine? Cause I have many in my collection (also several Radio reproducers as the one you showed in your post).
Many thanks,
Enrico"

Enrico,
Here are pictures of my Fairy Lamp and what I believe to be an original reproducer. I found this several years after I obtained the machine, which was also missing its reproducer. I found a picture somewhere of a Fairy with an original reproducer that looked like this one. It is unusual because the needle bar is enclosed on the backside of the reproducer (the logo inside the reproducer IS NOT original, I made it...). My tonearm does not have that small elbow at the end like yours, so that might require a different type of reproducer to work. Mine will work with the one attached, in either vertical or lateral position. I also have a Pathé reproducer that works for vertical records. The RADIO reproducer fits the arm as well.

[Enrico]

"Hi Curt,
I too have a Fairy Phono Lamp whose reproducer is missing. I wuld be very appreciative if you could send me a close-up picture of the reproducer. Are you aware of other reproducers that could be used on that machine? Cause I have many in my collection (also several Radio reproducers as the one you showed in your post).
Many thanks,
Enrico"

Enrico,
Here are pictures of my Fairy Lamp and what I believe to be an original reproducer. I found this several years after I obtained the machine, which was also missing its reproducer. I found a picture somewhere of a Fairy with an original reproducer that looked like this one. It is unusual because the needle bar is enclosed on the backside of the reproducer (the logo inside the reproducer IS NOT original, I made it...). My tonearm does not have that small elbow at the end like yours, so that might require a different type of reproducer to work. Mine will work with the one attached, in either vertical or lateral position. I also have a Pathé reproducer that works for vertical records. The RADIO reproducer fits the arm as well.

Grazie!!