The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have 2 phonographs, but I have never owned a cylinder type phonograph and have always wanted one. I would be looking for a fairly common machine, nothing fancy, rare or unique.

With the breadth of knowledge available here I would rather get your input as to what to look for, what to avoid, and what machine would be a good candidate.

Thanks in advance.

Buy a 2&4 minute Edison Standard. They are inexpensive, robust, reliable, and versatile. If a person is looking for only one cylinder machine, buy a 2&4 minute machine. I prefer a Standard over a Home but either should be about the same price. Jerry Blais

If you don't need to have that outside horn, consider an Amberola 50.
- strong runner
- sounds great
- virtually indestructible
- plays the easiest variety of records to find, 4 minute BAs

Granted though you'd not be able to play any 4 min wax or any two minute records.

The above suggestions are all fine ones, and the Fireside can be a nice machine as well, though a bit plain. I'd avoid getting an Edison Home unless you can find one at a very good price- there isn't anything wrong with them except they're bulky, and I don't find the larger size improves the performance over a Standard.

I wouldn't buy a Columbia cylinder machine as a first, they're often very fine but the pot metal parts in the carriage can require some expert repairs if they malfunction. Their little key wound machines are charming though.

If you are ok with 4 min. Blue Amberols, I would recommend an
Amberola 30 as a good value for entry level budgets. Its a very
robust and reliable machine and sound quality is nice if the
reproducer is restored.

Thanks everyone for their helpful advice. I have a good ides what I am looking for now. I see the terms 2 minute and 4 minute cylinders or 2/4. That indicates to me that there are different cylinders out there, some that are 2 minutes long and some that are 4 and they aren't interchangable? Some machine can play both and some only one or the other?

Probably a pretty easy question for someone that's been doing this awhile, but I only have disk phonographs and have no experience with cylinders.

Thanks,
Jerry

jerry20874 wrote:Thanks everyone for their helpful advice. I have a good ides what I am looking for now. I see the terms 2 minute and 4 minute cylinders or 2/4. That indicates to me that there are different cylinders out there, some that are 2 minutes long and some that are 4 and they aren't interchangable? Some machine can play both and some only one or the other?

Probably a pretty easy question for someone that's been doing this awhile, but I only have disk phonographs and have no experience with cylinders.

Thanks,
Jerry

Correct. 2 minute cylinders use a larger size stylus than 4 minute cylinders. What makes a machine combination 2/4 is the gearing, which allows the carriage to move faster for 2 min and slower for 4 min. You would still have to switch back and forth between a 2 minute reproducer and a 4 minute reproducer to be able to play both types. Playing the wrong cylinder with the wrong reproducer could damage both the record and the sapphire stylus.

Hope that helps.

I would go with the Edison Standard Model B with a 2/4 minute attachment on it. It will be inexpensive and fit on a shelf or dresser real easy. The model B also is a solid design with the mandrel and feed screw supported by pin bearings on each end rather than a bushing in the middle which can cause problems on a Standard Model D with the open ended mandrel.

Steve