The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello friends, fellow collectors, and any enemies(?) alike!

For quite some time now I've been unhappy with the listening tube rubber on various machines in my collection. Synthetic rubber tubing has been widely available in the hobby for a very long time, but a supply of natural rubber tubing has been spotty. I am therefore happy to announce that the wait is over! I am pleased to say that I will now be offering "authentic" looking natural rubber tubing for sale!

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to purchase an exhibitioners case with a listening rail and 11 sets of original listening tube sets. As with 99% of the original tubing found today, mine has all become as solid as a rock and extremely brittle. My original rubber tubing, as well as other examples I've examined, had texture (ribbing), and were faded from their original white color. Using my original hoard I produced drawings of the profile, had an extrusion mold made, and now have a stock of natural "authentic" looking listening tubing!
The most readily available tubing on the market sells for around $1 a foot. The downside of mine is the $2.50 a foot price tag I need to charge for it. Trust me though, its no get rich quick scheme! This rubber is extremely high quality natural rubber, extrude in the USA! Due to a process I chose to ensure profile quality, the longest single length available is 10 feet (120") ± a few inches. I will sell it in any 1 foot quantities, plus actual shipping to your door.

For a standard set of listening tubes I recommend 4 feet; 2 between your reproducer and the "Y" and 1 foot on each side of the "Y" to the ear pieces. So long as your sitting/standing in front of your machine, I find these lengths to be perfect. If you'd don't own an original "Y" and ear pieces, Charley Hummel offers excellent reproduction complete sets on eBay, his listing can be found here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/325144710878?h ... SwpYBiFnUL
The tubing he uses is mine. The "Y" and ear pieces are modern injection molded plastic and for attaching to any standard machine, a nickel plated brass connector is included.
For those of you looking to up fit your listening rail, I recommend 5 feet, 3 between your reproducer and the "Y" and 1 foot on each side of the "Y" to the ear pieces.

Once again the cost is $2.50 per foot plus shipping to your doorstep. Available in 1 foot (12") length, with 10 feet (120 inches) approx. being the maximum single piece possible. Again this is natural rubber and made in the USA! Feel free to PM me with your interest. Let me know the quantity you'd like and your postal code for a shipping cost. Please allow a few days for shipment. Additionally I will have a table full of rubber at the Midwest show happening next week. You can purchase yours there as well!

Disclaimer: Being natural rubber, this tubing will degrade over time, especially when exposed to UV light. It will become brittle and faded with time just as original rubber has. Other tubing readily available is made of synthetic rubber and will nearly last a lifetime. But for the most "authentic" look, you'll find this tubing to be an excellent choice!

Aaron

This is absolutely the best, most authentic rubber tubing available today!! (or for the past 20 years for that matter). I have this tubing on many of my coin-operated machines and it looks and functions wonderfully!!!

The price is actually a bargain!! Prior to Aaron making this tubing available, I purchased some hand-made natural red rubber tubing from China. It was $2.50 a foot, had no ribbing at all, shipping was additional, and I am still waiting to get it (over 3 months - and may never see it). There is nothing even close to comparable the quality and originality to what Aaron is offering.

I would encourage anyone to seek out Aaron and get some of this tubing!!

Wow -- that is super-impressive. It looks exactly like my original tubing, which is (as you noted) hard as a rock today and no longer usable. I look forward to ordering some.

The ribbed tubing looks great, Aaron! I'll get some at the EXPO!

George P.

Nice, Aaron! I've never seen better.

-- Grant

Thanks for all the kind words everyone!

From this post I’ve put over 300 feet in the mail headed to collectors!

Headed to the Midwest show now, don’t miss your opportunity folks! I’ll be set up there with plenty of tubing to go around!

Enjoy!
Aaron

I saw some of this on the listening tubes Charlie Hummel brought to the Rüdesheim show in April. It looks and feels great, just right. We'll be in touch!

I just received my order and I am incredibly impressed. Except that the color hasn't faded and darkened, and it's not hard as a rock, this new tubing is a dead ringer for my original tubes.

Thanks for making this available to the hobby. This is by far the most accurate tubing material ever available. Having correct ribbed tubing may seem a small detail, but details matter. At least to me!

Bruce - I'm glad you enjoyed the tubing at first glance and I look forward to sending you some!

Rene - Very happy to hear that the new tubing checks all the boxes for you! Like you said its a small detail, but I too am a sucker for the details!

Aaron