The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Good afternoon all,

Here is a question that I cannot seem to figure out. I am working on an Edison home with a horizontal carriage, B reproducer ( for blue amberols) and on the 4 min setting. When playing a record it played pretty good as far as speed etc, but then about 15 seconds into the record it skips. After inspecting i found that the carriage is moving faster than the stylus on the reproducer. While playing I can watch the limit pin slowly move to the edge of loop on the repriducer, then the stylus is forced to center which creates the skip. It will play for another 15 seconds or so, and do the same thing. The carriage is moving faster than the grooves on the record? Any ideas? I want to day I have addressed all the usual culprits, clean : carriage bar, half nut, feedscrew .

Pics? 2/4 conversion? I'll text you.

Brad Abell

Sorry, I changed the post. It is a 2/4 min machine. It is on the 4 min setting, player the record fine until it skips.

Does it skip on all cylinders, or just some? I know that some Indestructibles will skip because of shrinkage.

- Bill

It sure sounds like you're attempting to play a 4 minute Indestructible cylinder. As Bill mentioned above, these 4 minute cylinders are very prone to celluloid shrinkage which results in exactly the same symptoms that you are experiencing. Although 15 seconds into one of these cylinders sounds a bit soon to receive a skip from my experience playing them. I would expect the skipping to occur at more like a minute or more into play. Edison Blue Amberol cylinders almost never suffer from the shrinkage / skipping problem but Indestructible 4 minute (and sometimes 2 minute) is VERY common. A video clip might help.

Doug

The threaded shaft and the inner shaft turn at two different speeds in 4 minute mode. Is the outer threaded part turning freely on the inner shaft?
If it sticks then it is turning with the inner shaft like it is in 2 minute mode. When you move the collar for the planetary gears, there should be a detent to hold it in place.

As has already been said here, some off-brand 4 minute celluloid cylinders such as Indestructible do shrink lengthwise enough to cause this skipping problem.
Some times while playing these on my Edison Standard model D combination 2-4 machine, I will watch as the limit pin approaches the loop. Just before it touches I will push in the
gearshift lever that selects 2 of 4 min. It has a central position where there is no mesh of any gears. This stops the feed. I watch as the record plays and the pin moves over.
When it gets must past the center, I pull out the shift lever again to 4M setting and continue the feed.

Not the best procedure because it grinds the gears a little each time it's done, but with them soaked in heavy oil, it seems not to cause much wear.

This procedure can get you through one of those shrunken 4m records.


Chuck

You might be interested in a posting I made here on Sept. 3. 2023 regarding the issue of playing celluloid cylinders that have shrunk and now skip when played because the thread count of the record is now less than 200 grooves per inch (4 minute type). This posting describes an attachment I devised for the Edison Triumph Phonograph that allows for the adjustment of the reproducer carriage feed in relation to the feed given by the feed screw. I made the attachment only for the Triumph due to the convenient layout of the carriage etc. although, in theory, similar devices could be made for other models of Phonographs. The attachment has been very successful and since that time I have made a number of improvements to it. I stated that I planned to make a few additional units in case some collectors were interested in having one and they are now finished and ready to sell. ($225.00 + postage). The posting, currently, as of today (Jan. 6,2024), is on page 9 and titled "Adjustable Feed Carriage For The Edison Triumph Phonograph" and it describes the unit and has links to YouTube videos of my first model in operation. As soon as I can take a few photos of the improved model, I'll list them on the "Yankee Trader" page with info. on ordering but again, unfortunately, it is only for the Triumph. In any case, the information in my Sept. 3rd. posting may be helpful.
Dan Zalewski

Yamaphone wrote: Sat Jan 06, 2024 8:30 pm You might be interested in a posting I made here on Sept. 3. 2023...
Dan Zalewski

An ingenious and beautifully made device...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56129&p=333636&hili ... ph#p333636

Dan,

That's a real nice solid piece of work there! Thanks.

Chuck