Model O Reproducer - record Wear

[VictorVV-X]

Hello all, I come in search of a definitive answer about model O reproducers. I have been in the market for one for a while and recently, I have only seen the ones with the full, untrimmed weights turning up for sale. I understand that many were trimmed down to reduce wear on cylinders, but, why are there still so many originals still out there if this was such a problem? Did original owners have differing experiences with the model O? Did the demise of Wax Amberols have something to do with the number of them going unmodified? Did they wear gold moulded wax just as bad?

I’m sorry if there are a lot questions here, but I have read so many different opinions here on the forum, and online that I am a little unsure.

Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Gerald

[FellowCollector]

I come in search of a definitive answer about model O reproducers.

Hi, I don't believe you will find a definitive answer here or anywhere else regarding the trowel weight O reproducer versus the round weight O reproducer and groove wear. But, for what it's worth, I have many model O reproducers on various Edison phonographs in my collection and find very little difference (no difference actually) between the versions regarding groove wear. I do, however, prefer the round weight O reproducer for sound since it plays louder and seems to reproduce the recorded groove signal more clearly. But that's me.

Doug

[VictorVV-X]

I come in search of a definitive answer about model O reproducers.

Hi, I don't believe you will find a definitive answer here or anywhere else regarding the trowel weight O reproducer versus the round weight O reproducer and groove wear. But, for what it's worth, I have many model O reproducers on various Edison phonographs in my collection and find very little difference (no difference actually) between the versions regarding groove wear. I do, however, prefer the round weight O reproducer for sound since it plays louder and seems to reproduce the recorded groove signal more clearly. But that's me.

Doug

Doug, this is what I wanted to hear! A first hand account of using the two variants! Thank you! I greatly appreciate it!

[FellowCollector]

Glad to help, Gerald. The O reproducer is a favorite of mine for playing cylinders on my Edison phonographs. When you find the right one you will be pleased with it I'm sure.

Boring story follows:
About 30 years ago when I found my very first O reproducer mounted on an Edison Home phonograph I was really excited and wanted to rebuild it. At that time I had zero exposure to pot metal concerns with some of the O reproducer tops which this one was. So, full of all of the "pith and vinegar" of a collector anxious to improve the sound of his reproducer I began disassembling the reproducer and all went well UNTIL I tried to unscrew the threaded hinge block pin from the pot metal top. It was snug I thought and so I put just a little more effort into unscrewing it...and...PLINK...the threaded section broke off inside the top. OH NOOOOO!! At that time I had no drill press, no lathe, no taps, no machinist equipment at all...so I put it all inside a zip lock baggie for 5 years in a box of other parts. And then I found out that Sitko sells new tops for the O and that breathed new life into that zip lock baggie of O reproducer parts.

So, if you can find an O reproducer that does not have a pot metal top I would highly encourage you to go after it if you find one that meets your budget. Note that not all pot metal top O reproducers are bad news though. Not long ago I sent one of my pot metal top O reproducers to Wyatt and when he was done with it I found it to be one of the best sounding O reproducers I have.

Good luck!

Doug

[VictorVV-X]

Glad to help, Gerald. The O reproducer is a favorite of mine for playing cylinders on my Edison phonographs. When you find the right one you will be pleased with it I'm sure.

Boring story follows:
About 30 years ago when I found my very first O reproducer mounted on an Edison Home phonograph I was really excited and wanted to rebuild it. At that time I had zero exposure to pot metal concerns with some of the O reproducer tops which this one was. So, full of all of the "pith and vinegar" of a collector anxious to improve the sound of his reproducer I began disassembling the reproducer and all went well UNTIL I tried to unscrew the threaded hinge block pin from the pot metal top. It was snug I thought and so I put just a little more effort into unscrewing it...and...PLINK...the threaded section broke off inside the top. OH NOOOOO!! At that time I had no drill press, no lathe, no taps, no machinist equipment at all...so I put it all inside a zip lock baggie for 5 years in a box of other parts. And then I found out that Sitko sells new tops for the O and that breathed new life into that zip lock baggie of O reproducer parts.

So, if you can find an O reproducer that does not have a pot metal top I would highly encourage you to go after it if you find one that meets your budget. Note that not all pot metal top O reproducers are bad news though. Not long ago I sent one of my pot metal top O reproducers to Wyatt and when he was done with it I found it to be one of the best sounding O reproducers I have.

Good luck!

Doug

Doug, thank you! I greatly appreciate you sharing your experience!