The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello folks. Just picked up an edison S-19 from a friend. It's a playing machine, not a show machine. Not in the best of shape, but at 50 dollars I couldn't resist. The problem I'm having with it is the tracking. It skips at least 4 times each record played. In watching it, I noticed that the weight is riding in advance of the speed at which the gearing is moving the tonearm and horn assembly. So the limit pin inside the limit loop at the front of the reproducer hits the limit loop and causes the record to skip. Any ideas? I'm used to Victor machines and the like. Never owned an Edison DD machine before. Thanks.

If the weight on the reproducer does not move freely, left and right, then the stylus will not track correctly. The screw on top of the hinge block (1) must be loosened (difficult to do, but necessary) and lubricated with a drop of fine oil. This should correct your problem...

You may need to get a set of offset screwdrivers to access the screw. They are available at Lowes or Home Depot for about $6 for a set of three...

“Fine oil” = sewing machine oil, not 3-In-1, Marvel Mystery, or WD-40.

JohnM wrote:“Fine oil” = sewing machine oil, not 3-In-1, Marvel Mystery, or WD-40.

How right you are!

Edison endorsed the use of 3-In-1 oil. Make of that what you will.

...and I had good luck freeing up a sticky floating weight on my Amberola 75 by giving it a shot of WD-40. (I couldn't get the securing screw loose without tearing up the head.)

For what it's worth, though, if I understand the original posting correctly, the problem isn't a stuck floating weight--from what the post says, I gather that's swinging freely--but rather a feed mechanism that is lagging the pace at which the groove progresses across the record surface. I don't have a clue about why that would happen or how to fix it, but I think that's the issue.

In this Edison repair manual posted on this forum here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=476 discusses this problem and it's remedies. Hope this will help.

drh wrote:...and I had good luck freeing up a sticky floating weight on my Amberola 75 by giving it a shot of WD-40. (I couldn't get the securing screw loose without tearing up the head.)

For what it's worth, though, if I understand the original posting correctly, the problem isn't a stuck floating weight--from what the post says, I gather that's swinging freely--but rather a feed mechanism that is lagging the pace at which the groove progresses across the record surface. I don't have a clue about why that would happen or how to fix it, but I think that's the issue.

The most common problem is the screw, which keeps the weight from moving freely and throws off the tracking...

Although all the comments can be true. I agree with drh and phonogal that if the weight moves freely then to look at the manual, link for "repeating and it's remedy" page 10 Edison manual. It states how to adjust "bend" figure F & H of the horn forward or backwards depending on whether the tracking is fast or slow. I am not an expert just noting what Edison is saying.