The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ok, I figured out the Tone-O-Phone adapter and it seems like it would
work ok. I would need a diamond needle however to play diamond disks.
Are these as costly as the diamonds stylus for Edison reproducers?
I was wondering if I can play lateral records with the reproducer in this
configuration also. The angle is about the same although it is sideways
so maybe its not a good idea? As a side note, I believe there was a gold
finish on it but its practically gone now. Thanks for any tips on this
contraption.

You cannot play common lateral records with the reproducer at this position.

I thought the attachment must have started out gold, as I noticed someone had written gold on the box.
You can only use the attachment on vertical cut recordings. Playing a lateral cut record with the soundbox in the position shown will produce a muffled low volume sound- just as a vertical recording would sound with the soundbox in the lateral position.
I'm not aware of anyone making diamond tipped shank needles for DD's, but sapphire balls for Pathés are commonly available. You would have to find an original diamond needle on ebay etc. I think the last one I saw sold for around $80 or so, a couple years ago. I was lucky enough to find one in amongst the used needles in a machine I bought about 20 years ago, but why it was there is a mystery as the machine could only play lateral records.
I'm not sure if one of the more modern 40's/50's era jewel tipped shank needles for 78s would work on DD's, as I've never tried it before, but I think the point dimensions would be all wrong for a DD & you'd probably damage your records using one.

The jewel points and balls supplied with Cheney machines are excellent, they turn up with the reproducers from time to time on Ebay. I'm pretty certain they're sapphire.

As it is now you could test the attachment using a steel needle on a Pathé disc you don't care about. Some vertical discs were intended to be played with steel needles: Operaphone and early Okeh and Vocallion.

The very first machine I bought when I was 13 could play both types of recordings, and I used to play my DD's using a "ball point" sewing machine needle, cut to length. They're designed for stitching stretch fabric. It sounded fine, and never damaged the records I played. I still have the same records, and they still sound perfect on the DD phonograph.

Thanks guys for the info. It sounds like it would make more financial sense to just buy a diamond disk machine as opposed to buying an appropriate needle for this one. Its cool to have the option though just in case I stumble upon a needle some day.

This looks very interesting. I suppose you could play regular 78s with this, but it wouldn't sound right. It looks like it would play a Pathé record very well and a diamond disc OK (if it has the correct stylus)

As you go along with collecting you may turn up one of those diamond pointed (more likely sapphire with a point) stylus to play the Edison discs. Just keep your eyes open as you clean the loose needles from around inside the cabinet. The L-door model comes with that handy drawer in the bottom so you can store this attachment and any other goodies in it. Of course, if you get a quantity of nice Edison discs, you'll definitely want an Edison machine to play them. I have several Edison, Pathé and Victor machines, and yet keep the nifty attachments to show how clever the industry inventors could be working around an obstacle (like playing a Pathé dis on the Victor) and show the progression of the business. You may not have room to display multiple machines, but the attachments are small and ---well---neat to collect.

Kirkwood wrote:As you go along with collecting you may turn up one of those diamond pointed (more likely sapphire with a point) stylus to play the Edison discs. Just keep your eyes open as you clean the loose needles from around inside the cabinet. The L-door model comes with that handy drawer in the bottom so you can store this attachment and any other goodies in it. Of course, if you get a quantity of nice Edison discs, you'll definitely want an Edison machine to play them. I have several Edison, Pathé and Victor machines, and yet keep the nifty attachments to show how clever the industry inventors could be working around an obstacle (like playing a Pathé dis on the Victor) and show the progression of the business. You may not have room to display multiple machines, but the attachments are small and ---well---neat to collect.

I totally agree, its very cool to have in any case. I have a small lot of
Edison discs at the moment but expect to procure more in the near future.
The only natural progression is to ad a DD player to my collection.

Looks like I am in business now. I found out what that little gold tin was, and
now I will have what was supposed to be inside.

eBay Item #290481766010