The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Most of the records I play are Blue Amberols. I have been enjoying a recently rebuilt Model O but notice it chatters on loud, high-frequency sounds. There is quite a lot of surface noise too. Tonight I put on a Diamond B for comparison. Much quieter regarding surface noise, and mellower sounds in general. Is the Diamond B Edison's own mechanical attempt at high-frequency filtering?

Diamond stylus Edison reproducers were designed specifically for use on celluloid cylinders because of the high heat generated at the top of the stylus due to friction. Diamonds are excellent conductors of heat so there is no heat generated when playing celluloid with a diamond stylus resulting in less record wear.
Sapphire styli are softer and were designed to play wax cylinders that don’t generate as much heat at the stylus. Playing celluloid cylinders with sapphires will wear a flat spot on the sapphire. Don’t play wax cylinders with sapphire styli if you’ve been using them on celluloid. The flat will wear the groove walls.

Thanks for that info. I will change my practice.

I have a Diamond B LOOOOOONG overdue for a Steve Medved rebuild (Is he still rebuilding them?)

AmberolaAndy wrote: Tue Jun 10, 2025 12:35 am I have a Diamond B LOOOOOONG overdue for a Steve Medved rebuild (Is he still rebuilding them?)

Steve is still rebuilding them. Recently he did a Model L for me.

So what is the best Edison reproducer for playing two-minute celluloid given the problem of stylus wear?

mjbarnes wrote: Tue Jun 10, 2025 8:25 am So what is the best Edison reproducer for playing two-minute celluloid given the problem of stylus wear?

My opinion, which will undoubtedly vary from others, is to use any two-minute capable reproducer, with a known good stylus and in otherwise good condition. Unless you plan to play thousands of records, or one record a thousand times, you have very little to worry about. While I am all for conservation, there are very few two-minute celluloid cylinders that are of such extreme value that they warrant concern over miniscule wear.

JerryVan wrote: Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:12 am

mjbarnes wrote: Tue Jun 10, 2025 8:25 am So what is the best Edison reproducer for playing two-minute celluloid given the problem of stylus wear?

My opinion, which will undoubtedly vary from others, is to use any two-minute capable reproducer, with a known good stylus and in otherwise good condition. Unless you plan to play thousands of records, or one record a thousand times, you have very little to worry about. While I am all for conservation, there are very few two-minute celluloid cylinders that are of such extreme value that they warrant concern over miniscule wear.

I agree the problem is insignificant. It's okay to experiment a little bit. For two minute celluloid an O is a better choice than a C or K. Even with an O you can experience blasting on loud cylinders. If you experience blasting with the O, believe it or not a Diamond B will solve the problem and your cylinders will sound very good.