It's it possible to adapt a DD reproducer to the tonearm of a standard gramophone (hmv, Victor, Columbia... ) with an elbow or something, to play DDs? How would it play on a Credenza, for instance? Has someone ever tried that?
A drawback is that the groove would have to move the tonearm, but a careful balancing of the machine could minimize the drag on the grooves...
Re: Diamond Disc playing on a gramophone
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2021 6:19 pm
by 52089
I haven't seen anyone try that. The closest is the 2 head version of the Bruswick Ultona tonearm which does a good job, but as you noted, relies on the record grooves to propel the tonearm.
There are adapters to play verticals on lateral machines. They use a diamond point on a shaft, sort of similar to the Pathé stylus setup. I have yet to see one of those that didn't mark the records though.
HTH,
OrthoFan
(I was going to post the 10-50 playing a Diamond Disc, but David beat me to it!)
Yes, there are a few flavors like listed above.
Re: Diamond Disc playing on a gramophone
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2021 7:16 pm
by kirtley2012
My current method of playing Diamond Discs is a Vicsonia reproducer which I use on my EMG
(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)
Re: Diamond Disc playing on a gramophone
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:01 am
by Inigo
Thanks for the examples and answers to all you. None of them use DD reproducers, but some sound wonderfully. Kirtley wins, of course
My curiosity originated by listening to the DD podcasts of our colleague, and other DDs in YouTube that sound so well when compared to acoustics of other brands...
Re: Diamond Disc playing on a gramophone
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:59 am
by drh
Inigo wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 6:06 pm
It's it possible to adapt a DD reproducer to the tonearm of a standard gramophone (hmv, Victor, Columbia... ) with an elbow or something, to play DDs? How would it play on a Credenza, for instance? Has someone ever tried that?
A drawback is that the groove would have to move the tonearm, but a careful balancing of the machine could minimize the drag on the grooves...
The problem wouldn't be drag on the grooves; it would be that the diamond disc reproducer relies on a floating weight that must ride freely, carried across the record by a mechanical feed. Playing it on a conventional tonearm would crush it up against the diaphragm housing--in other words, it would no longer "float," and I imagine it would no longer properly tension the link from stylus bar to diaphragm. Even if it did, the stylus bar would almost certainly also be jammed against the weight, preventing it from vibrating properly with the groove modulations. In short, I just don't think it would work, even if someone figured out a way to mate the Edison reproducer to a conventional arm.
Re: Diamond Disc playing on a gramophone
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 6:05 am
by Inigo
Ah, yes, I see... Some sort of limit would be needed for the tonearm crook to fix it in a position so that the DD reproducer would hang properly at a certain distance from the record, so it floats properly. Looks difficult... Evidently the Ultona solution, with the counterweight, etc looks to be one of the best alternatives to the real thing.
