The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a few brown wax cylinders that are in excellent condition and have been looking for a reproducer to play them with. The most enticing one is the Jas antiques reproduction automatic. Can anyone vouch for the build and sound quality? If they are of the same quality as Paul Bakers reproducer I will have to get one!

eBay Item #321393269349

Thanks
Martin

I can't vouch for the reproduction Automatic reproducer that Justin is offering for sale here but I can tell you that other phonograph parts I've gotten from him in the past are excellent quality.

Another possible option for you is to find a good original Edison model B reproducer. I actually prefer my Edison model B reproducers for playing all of my standard size brown wax cylinders as well as my Edison Concert cylinders and Columbia Grand cylinders. Edison Automatics can be finicky to obtain good sound but that's my own perspective. I've never had a problem with obtaining excellent sound when using my Edison model B reproducers. Good luck.

Doug

FellowCollector wrote:I can't vouch for the reproduction Automatic reproducer that Justin is offering for sale here but I can tell you that other phonograph parts I've gotten from him in the past are excellent quality.

Another possible option for you is to find a good original Edison model B reproducer. I actually prefer my Edison model B reproducers for playing all of my standard size brown wax cylinders as well as my Edison Concert cylinders and Columbia Grand cylinders. Edison Automatics can be finicky to obtain good sound but that's my own perspective. I've never had a problem with obtaining excellent sound when using my Edison model B reproducers. Good luck.

Doug

Couldn't agree more.

Justin’s stuff is great, definitely.

Nevertheless you are better off with a good B, unless you’re also trying to match the reproducer to a machine that would have had an Automatic, for appearance’s sake.

I haven't had one in hand to inspect but the new Automatics Justin sells look spot on and I certainly can't compete with the price. His other parts are very high quality as well. I would say give it a try!

Never bought an Automatic but I do have a new Victor crank for my Vic III, the slotted style. It's almost indistinguishable from the real thing--which I'd never have replaced except for the fact the fool thing kicked back while I was trying to start it one day downtown. I turned my back, heard a terrible noise, and pieces of metal went sailing all over the place. Found the crank in the middle of Main Street, all bent up with a huge crack in it, and never found the escutcheon. So I bought the new JAS crank and a Sitko escutcheon, rebuilt what was left of the winding ratchet, & I have no regrets. Finest quality.

Thank you all for the advice. I am not in need of an automatic for the sake of completing a machine, but to simply to be able to play brown wax cylinders, so I will take the advice and acquire a model B.

Thanks
Martin

I own one, and the faithful reproduction is exemplary.

Cheers,
Fran