The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello! Over the past year or so (life kept getting in the way) I have been chipping away at an Edison Home Cylinder phonograph that I purchased in a non-working state. I think that I only have one more obstacle to overcome, at least I hope that it's only one, but I haven't been able to get around it yet.

Here is where the phonograph stands now: the motor works and the mandrel spins. I have heard sound coming out of the reproducer. I was even able to get it to play something, but I had to "help" it along a little bit. Here is a video of me doing that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fykC6FmgI5M

The problem appears to be the alignment of the reproducer arm and its threader. The thread screw doesn't seem to want to move the arm all on its own, but if I apply slight pressure and give it a tiny push, such as in the video, it appears to at least play. I have experimented with the alignment of the arm, including the angle of the threader at the end of the arm opposite the reproducer, but when I set the arm down to play, it just comes to a stop. Is there a trick or a best practice around this?

I'm still relatively new to the terminology and workings of Edison phonographs, so I hope that I explained things in a coherent way.

Welcome to the Forum. Let's see if we can get that Edison Home singing again!

I think you are talking about the "half nut" engaging the long continuous "feed screw." On a Model B and later Homes there is a small screw that adjusts the pressure put on the half nut when it engages the feed screw. If there is a little screw on the half nut bar it needs to be adjusted and it's a very very fine adjustment. A half turn of that screw is a gross adjustment. So if, when the carriage is down in a playing position and the carriage does not move as it should, turn that screw clockwise maybe 1/16th a turn and try it.

If you have an earlier Home Model A the adjustment can be made but not quite as easy. Probably the best way to adjust the half nut is to make some thin shims and place them between the half nut bar and where it attaches to the carriage. Some people bend the bar slightly but shims are not as aggressive.

Please give this a try and report back. A photo would tell us what model you have.

Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:...A photo would tell us what model you have.

Jerry Blais

From the last very quick pan in the video, I think it's a Home B with the horizontal carriage kit. At least, it has the "new style" case and an end gate with flip down lever latch.

I don't think your carriage is all the way down?


Kevan

You need to adjust the half nut screw. It can be a real task and a half because the Home can really be finicky just a fraction of a turn can cause it to bog down or the record to skip. It can take hours to prefect It. Sometimes one day it will be working fine and the next there’s some issue and you have to adjust it again.

Is it just me, or does the feed screw appear to be turning too fast in the video? Was the gearing set for 4 minute cylinders?

-Bill

AmberolaAndy wrote:You need to adjust the half nut screw. It can be a real task and a half because the Home can really be finicky just a fraction of a turn can cause it to bog down or the record to skip. It can take hours to prefect It. Sometimes one day it will be working fine and the next there’s some issue and you have to adjust it again.

There are two screws that attach the half nut to the carriage arm. Next to the screws is that very small screw that adjust the carriage up or down on the tension for the half nut. Someone one mentioned that the carriage and straight edge should have the width of a piece of paper clearance. It is a touchy adjustment so take your time and do not get frustrated.. Tom

Lucius1958 wrote:Is it just me, or does the feed screw appear to be turning too fast in the video? Was the gearing set for 4 minute cylinders?

-Bill

It is indeed turning too fast for a 4 minute record ! The feed screw needs to be held captive,but still able to rotate, by the little right angle bracket on the collar located at the right end of the feed screw.The feed screw itself must not shift when either the 2 or 4 minute feed rate is selected.

If you remove the screw that holds the L bracket to reset the bracket in the feed screw end groove , be very carefull as it is very short and easy to loose if it escapes.

Hope that helps.

The video does not help, since it is zoomed in to only a small area and your finger is in the way... Pictures would help if you can take several of the entire machine, the suspected problem area (the feedscrew) and any others from all angles... I captured two from your video, but they still don't shed light on the problem.

As Kevan said, the carriage is clearly not all the way down. Look at 1:00 in the video. You can see daylight under the carriage. Also, the arm to lower the reproducer is not lowered all the way to vertical, like it is in a number of other Youtube videos of a Home.

Jim Nichol