The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I made a batch of four minute blank wax. I belive the method I used has to be similar to the four minute blanks Edison used, which basically a softened Gold Moulded wax, it is still quite hard, but will shave with a regular Ediphone shaver. This is one of the first out of the batch, so probably will go back in the pot, I had not made a batch of this in a very long time, so I had to make a few to get the process adjusted for this particular kind of blank. Even though I make these, and the wax is filtered, however, in my own opinion, four minute blanks, may be hard on cutters and shavers,but I am not sure, as I did a test with a room temp blank, with a regular 1890s style automatic two minute recorder, and it made a good recording, ill have to check the blanks in a few weeks to see if the tone has sweetened some.

Ooo, nice! Now if only I could get hold of a 4-minute recorder......

Slightly OT, but: I've been wondering for some years whether it might be possible to make a synthetic blank, with hardness and thermoplastic qualities as close as possible to celluloid, to record in much the same way as Lioret did? It would certainly make for a more durable recording, either 2 or 4-minute.......

Bill