The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello folks--

While visiting family this Sunday afternoon I saw two of those woolen dryer balls that my mother is now using to fluff the laundry. You drop them in a load of washing as you put it in the dryer and it is supposed to do a better job than dryer-sheets.

They are a nominal 2 ¾" in diameter and made of good wool.

My Edison A-200 "Queen Anne" model is missing its mute ball probably from when it was restored a number of years ago by a late rebuilder in New England. However, the original base of the mute ball was still in the base of the cabinet, as was the original volume control lever & cable, so I have saved these parts planning to repair the volume control assembly.

What diameter is the mute ball in a 200 size horn? Is it the same as used in a 250 size horn like a "Chippendale" model or is it a smaller one? I would like to know what size goes in an A-200 so I can decide which size of dryer ball to buy to make my replacement.


Thanks a million in advance for any reference material/measurements.

Charles F.

I just measured the mute ball on my A200 and it's about 3 ½ inches wide. The A200 Queen Anne model is a very nice looking machine that's well worth the time and money to restore.

EdisonA450_Wish1 wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 12:00 pm I just measured the mute ball on my A200 and it's about 3 ½ inches wide. The A200 Queen Anne model is a very nice looking machine that's well worth the time and money to restore.

Thanks a million. 3 ½" puts it in the same line as a larger size dryer ball. That will be excellent and easy enough to find.

That A-200 is not only nice-looking but it's a small machine with a big horn--exactly what you want in an apartment. I found some excellent classical/operatic DD's today which I'll be picking up Thursday hopefully.

I've been up in my attic today and pulled a pickup load (or more) of junk out of there and I'm not keeping most of it. I did run across a small diamond disc horn that still has the muting ball and most of the slide, et. I didn't look at it too closely and I see you might be able to use it. If you want it for the postage you are welcome to it. It does have black felt over the wool and I have no idea what it came out of anymore. It's probably been up there for 25 years or so. If you want to pm me your address I can send it. If you'd like a picture or so first I can do that as well. Take care now, Earl.