The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone. Hope you're having a fun day.

I have an Edison Model H Reproducer that I've had to machine in order for it to fit properly in the carriage. I understand they were also made of brass with nickel plating.
I would like to find a brass one and was wondering how you can tell from photos if the seller is not sure what it is made of?

Phil

Zener424 wrote:Hello everyone. Hope you're having a fun day.

I have an Edison Model H Reproducer that I've had to machine in order for it to fit properly in the carriage. I understand they were also made of brass with nickel plating.
I would like to find a brass one and was wondering how you can tell from photos if the seller is not sure what it is made of?

Phil

The pot metal ones will nearly always exhibit some crazing or small cracks. Look around the limit loop and hinge block where it threads into the body.

Cheers,
Fran

Since I have a sense of humor,I was going to say: The pot metal ones are flying to atoms, the brass ones are in perfect condition. But since the devil got into me, I guess I will say it.

Of course this is not to be taken seriously. There are lots of perfectly serviceable pot metal reproducers out there. Including some in my house.

Simple appearance is also a key but does take experience. You need to see, if possible, one of each sine by side. Even if not crazed, the surface of a potmetal one will have a grayish appearance conpared to nicjel-plated brass. The brass will have a very shiny mirror-like surface. If the nickel is worn away in places, you will see underlying brass. A good place to look is the lower circumference where it fits into the carriage. There is often enough wear on that surface to see what is under the nickel. It will become easy to tell once you have seen a few.

Jim