The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Are there any readily available electronic reproducers that fit Edison machines? I’d be interested in something I could drop into my Standard or Home that I could then hook up to my computer to make good recordings. I’ve got some very old brown wax cylinders that I would love to record and slow down. Is there anything out there like that?

KCW wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2024 3:25 pm Are there any readily available electronic reproducers that fit Edison machines? I’d be interested in something I could drop into my Standard or Home that I could then hook up to my computer to make good recordings. I’ve got some very old brown wax cylinders that I would love to record and slow down. Is there anything out there like that?

I reviewed the Wilson Home electronic cylinder player recently. It's the brainchild of our very own forum member Don Wilson. Unlike most such devices, it's priced at a level within reach of private collectors, not just deep-pocketed institutions.

The review admittedly is long, in three parts, with the first linking to the second, etc. The third part links to an extensive series of audio samples. As it was aimed not only at "experts" familiar with cylinders but also at a general audience coming to the format for the first time, it admittedly has material that you can safely skim or skip.

https://www.tnt-audio.com/vintage/wilson1_e.html

That's the basic model, the less expensive of two. If you want to copy brown wax cylinders, you'll want the higher-end companion, as the Wilson Home's mandrel won't slow down enough for brown wax. In general, though, what I said about the Home should also apply to the other model.

There have been several "reproducers" that use electronic cartridges to play/record cylinders on Edison ,machines. They were made to fit normal Edison carriages with no modifications. I don't remember the names or who made them and if they are still being produced. Much cheaper than an electronic cylinder player.

I’d be more interested in the more affordable insertable cartridge type. The Wilson machine looks awesome but I really don’t have room for another machine. I’d love to learn if they still make the other type you mentioned. Does anyone else recall their names and if they are still made? Thank you!

One was called the ACT (Advanced Cylinder Technology)

Not available anymore, here's a link to a saved page of the Edison Shop:

http://www.christerhamp.se/phono/lomas.html


Chuck

Are we sure they aren’t for sale any longer? Would love to get one!

That's the one, but I think there were others. It doesn't look too complicated - someone should make these.

I wonder if the original plans are still available?

Note that several, albeit not all, considerations I outlined in the "incidentals" section of the Wilson Home review (see part 2, https://www.tnt-audio.com/vintage/wilson2_e.html) would also apply to one of the "drop-in reproducer" style electronic playback devices. In addition, you'd probably want a Y cable (single RCA plug to dual RCA plugs), because the drop-ins, or at least those I've seen pictured, have only a single output jack, whereas any preamp designed for a modern stereo system is likely to have dual input jacks. No such cable is needed for the Wilson, which has stereo outputs.

The ones I've seen (again in pictures; never handled one in the flesh) all had what appeared to be Stanton 500 series cartridges. That may be why the things went out of production, as Stanton discontinued its cartridge line a few years ago now.

This should be the English version of a French webpage that includes a link to a discussion on playing cylinders electrically. http://www.tsf36.fr/eindex.htm

The linked page shows an interesting contraption built by heavily modifying the works of a Pathé acoustic phonograph with the Systeme Verite horn carrier, substituting an electric motor for the spring clockwork and a modern tonearm/cartridge combination for the horn and reproducer. The cartridge shown is by Shure, which, like Stanton, has exited the business. In my review I remarked on how the Wilson Home's method of moving the tonearm reminded me of the Systeme Verite; seems I was late to the party. Or maybe it's just a case of "Great minds think alike--and so do ours!"

[edit]

I just found another page in English about the modified Pathé machine shown on the French site. http://www.christerhamp.se/phono/fradet.html

Anybody familiar with Jean-Luc Fradet, the author and developer of the machine shown?

I think a drop in cartridge carrier with a Bluetooth transmitter would be a great product - no wires.