The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I spent the weekend(actually Saturday night) and I now have the "Gypsy" player by Caswell Manufacturing up and running. It is equipped with an Oro-Phone reproducer made by the Orotone Company. The reproducer has survived all these years and really sounds good. There is a built-in tone control on the arm and does make a difference in the sound of the record being played. As probably is normal when working on these old machines, there was a handful of needles inside the box. The majority of them appeared to be loud tone needles, but the other size were a very, very slender and long needle. After some thought (along with a couple of cups of coffee), I tried these needles on some of my electric records...... What a surprise!! First the sound quality out of this reproducer along with tone control made some old records sound so good and second I guess that I need to order some more of these needles so I can continue to play my collection.
As a real neophyte....OK newbie, in this hobby I would like to know more about this Oro-Phone and also the fact that I am able to play electric on an acoustic player. I could understand back in the old days people didn't throw things away and that the manufacturers were able to change with the times and found ways to adapt the acoustic players to accept the electric recordings. So, any info passed along will be appreciated Thanks, SteveinAlaska

There were tons of acoustic machines made after the adoption of electric recording. The MAIN change was to the diaphragm material, while prior to 1925 (for lateral disc machines) was almost universally Mica, and then starting in 1925 changed to a stamped aluminum "foil". This gave greater "compliance" and allowed the new electric records with their higher groove modulation levels to play without blasting. The aluminum also acted as a mechanical filter (of sorts) moving the response downward to give greater bass output. This style of sound box was made up thru the 1960's for portable players and childrens players.

AFAIK, about the only NEW needles available are either LOUD or SOFT, and you will probably find that SOFT will sound best with your later electric records. Change needle after each record.

Well then I have made a mistake!! In the rebuilding of my Brunswick , I removed an aluminum diaphragm... and replaced it with a mica type.
Oh live and learn!!
Do you know where I could pick up a replacement aluminum piece or is this a do-it-yourself project??