The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Iv'e been given 1 of these & it lacks any instructions, although it doesn't look too difficult to fathom how it works, wondered if anyone has a digitised copy of the instructions please & what type of needle needs to be made with which angle to cut a sound onto the surface of ....What ? Aluminium ? Thanks.

I have a broadly similar Mivoice Speakeasie set, which was the brainchild of Captain Ramsay after he left Burmese Colour Needles apparently under a cloud or two. It used aluminium discs. Here's another example: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/5281573 ... ng_details

With your Fay set, the Meltrope thorn needle sharpener is very nice to have, although not the most user-friendly of sharpeners.

I think really these were little more than toys, even at the time they were produced. Still fascinating though! Ramsay displayed the Mivoice Speakeasie at a model engineering exhibition, in 1931 if I remember correctly . They seem not to have sold well, all the stock being sold off to a wholesaler only a year or two later and retailed at half price.

Thanks Andy . Wonder if Aluminium discs are an easy thing to make from annealed Aluminium sheet ? worth a try & I think I may have an odd diamond tipped 78' needle to try a recording with., thanks for that ! I've got another one of these by Kingston which has a much nicer looking soundbox.....that unlike the Meltrope doubles as a play-back soundbox. The screen guarding the diaphragm looks like a symbol from a secret society....nice design.