The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all,
I bought an Edison Home B with a 2-4 minute conversation with the lever type shifter. Everything works excellently, but I have the one issue with the half nut reaches the end of the feedscrew before the cylinder is finished. Usually this happens with cylinders that just fit to the end gate side of the mandrel. Is there a way to adjust the feedscrew? It is not a major issue, but I thought I would ask.

Thanks in advance.

What sort of cylinders? If they're BAs, you can ream them out to fit better on the mandrel.

Wax cylinders, Indestructibles, and Everlastings are a different matter.

- Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:What sort of cylinders? If they're BAs, you can ream them out to fit better on the mandrel.

Wax cylinders, Indestructibles, and Everlastings are a different matter.

- Bill

The issue really has to to with wax and indestructibles/everlasting cylinders.

VictorVV-X wrote:The issue really has to to with wax and indestructibles/everlasting cylinders.

Most standard size wax cylinders (as opposed to Concert size cylinders) usually present very little problem with fitting correctly on the mandrel to allow complete play through. It's a bit surprising that the feed nut is reaching the end of the feed screw before your wax cylinders are able to play through to the last recorded grooves unless the grooves are right at the end of the cylinder which again is unusual. U-S Everlasting and Lakeside cylinders usually have no problem either in that regard but Albany Indestructibles can be found with slightly swollen cores on occasion which prevents them from being fully mounted on the mandrel. It would be good to see a picture of your top works with a typical cylinder mounted if possible.

Doug

FellowCollector wrote:

VictorVV-X wrote:The issue really has to to with wax and indestructibles/everlasting cylinders.

Most standard size wax cylinders (as opposed to Concert size cylinders) usually present very little problem with fitting correctly on the mandrel to allow complete play through. It's a bit surprising that the feed nut is reaching the end of the feed screw before your wax cylinders are able to play through to the last recorded grooves unless the grooves are right at the end of the cylinder which again is unusual. U-S Everlasting and Lakeside cylinders usually have no problem either in that regard but Albany Indestructibles can be found with slightly swollen cores on occasion which prevents them from being fully mounted on the mandrel. It would be good to see a picture of your top works with a typical cylinder mounted if possible.

Doug

It is not a problem I have all the time, only on a handful of cylinders. I will take a picture of the top works with a cylinder later today.

The problem most likely lies with the cylinders not fitting onto the mandrel fully, and has nothing to do with the feedscrew or its adjustment. As some have mentioned, Blue Amberol cynders commonly shrink and then do not fit completely on the mandrel. When this occurs, the plaster can be reamed out, to enlarge the cylinder and to allow for more complete mounting.

JerryVan wrote:The problem most likely lies with the cylinders not fitting onto the mandrel fully, and has nothing to do with the feedscrew or its adjustment. As some have mentioned, Blue Amberol cynders commonly shrink and then do not fit completely on the mandrel. When this occurs, the plaster can be reamed out, to enlarge the cylinder and to allow for more complete mounting.

The only cylinders I have this problem with are 2 minute wax and indestructibles. I have reamed any blue amberols that would not fit properly. This is really only an issue with a handful of cylinders, so I am not too concerned.

Thank you for your help.

Just a thought: could some of the wax cylinders have gone slightly out of round?

- Bill

Here are pictures of the top works with a 2 minute wax cylinder that hangs off the mandrel.

I have reamed a few wax cylinders very gently to fit fully on. I have not broke any yet. The ones I have problems with are the one with the steel ring in them. Tom