The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This diamond disc reproducer is leaving a trail of rust-colored dust on the record. It wipes off and am not sure if there is any damage to the record. Is this caused by a bad or dirty diamond or is this simply dirt that is being freed from the grooves as it played? I looked at it with a loop. I thought that the diamond may be gone, but it is in there and the machine is making decent sound. (I suspect that the diamond is bad, so I am using a test record for the picture that was already damaged.)

I would suggest properly cleaning both the record and the diamond and trying again. I don't like the look of that though, and I find it hard to believe the grooves are not being damaged. You can also put the diamond down in the blank runoff of a clean record and see if it is marking the disc. If it is, the diamond is bad and will need to be replaced.

Since 2022 I have been having difficulties keeping a manufacturer’s because of supply issues and labor issues. I do have some good news, I have a laboratory, making a test run of new diamonds for me. I’ll notify the group when they are completed.

Your diamond is bad and it's scoring the record.

Looks like the diamond is chipped to me!

The brown matter is likely the bits of condensite being chisseled by the jagged sharp edge of the broken diamond.

I would suggest not play any more records until after examining the stylus closely under a microscope.

As others have already said, you stylus is toast. 9 of 10 DD reproducers found in the wild need a new stylus so not a surprise.

Also, you limit pin appears to be pressed against the body of the reproducer. That pin should float in the middle of the limit loop when the reproducer is lowered. You need to adjust the post on which your horn pivots upward by a quarter inch or so.

Also, you limit pin appears to be pressed against the body of the reproducer. That pin should float in the middle of the limit loop when the reproducer is lowered. You need to adjust the post on which your horn pivots upward by a quarter inch or so.

Good eye!

Please post a photo clearly showing the position of the pin when the reproducer is lowered. If the reproducer is dropping too low and bearing on the limit pin, it may be driving the stylus into the record surface.

The reproducer is riding in the correct position, so I am sure that it's the stylus.