Diaphragm videos

[JohnM]

Is anyone aware of videos on YouTube featuring Diamond Disc reproducers that have been fitted with Waltrip, Krapes, Larry H, and Bogantz (and any others) diaphragms for comparison purposes? Searching for those tags has yielded no results. Thanks!

[OrthoFan]

Hi John:

Here's one I spotted --

"...the phonograph is a very early A-250 model with the button type start/stop and sound vents on the cabinet sides. I replaced the original reproducer with a rebuilt (by the late Bob Waltrip) nickel plated Edisonic. ..."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Bae6C6wTQ[/youtube]


It doesn't say exactly how Waltrip rebuilt the sound box, but I'd guess you could contact the OP for further information.

HTH,
OF

[JohnM]

Hey, thanks! I know Bob started out delaminating and then relaminating original diaphragms and eventually switching to 'meat tray' foam. I'll contact the OP for more details. Thanks again!

[OrthoFan]

Hi John:

You're welcome.

Bob and I actually corresponded for about a year, some 20 years ago. In addition to Styrofoam, culled from fresh meat containers, he told me he also redid some Edisonic reproducers using Orthophonic diaphragms.

Bob described to me (one of) his methods of "molding" the Styrofoam. Apparently, he was able to find a coffee mug, with a slightly concave bottom, that was the exact size of the diaphragm used in the reproducer. He said that he would take the mug, boil it in water, and then grab it with heavy oven mittens and press it firmly into the Styrofoam surface until it formed an impression. Then, it was simply a matter of cutting out the diaphragm with a sharp pair of scissors, and installing it, using silicone caulk in place of the outer gaskets.

Of course, he was constantly experimenting, and that was only one of a number of different things he tried. When you find out what this is, could you post the information in a follow-on post? It would be interesting to find out.

OF

[Lenoirstreetguy]

If you can find a complete run of the Amberola Graphoic, Bob Waltrip wrote an article about his diaphragms in one of the earlier issues. I'll dig and find the issue number. At the time he wrote it he was still re-working the original Edisons. I can't imagine the patience that it took to de-laminate the re-form the layers of rice paper.
I have one of his styrofoam diaphragms and I hate to say I've never been too impressed with its performance. Sounds much like this video, actually: shrill and lacking body to the sound.
Jim

[FellowCollector]

Hi There, The early Edison A-250, the Diamond Disc record being played and (Bob Waltrip rebuilt) Edisonic reproducer feaured in the video are mine. Thankfully, years ago when Bob was still alive, I had the presence of mind to send a number of my Edison Diamond Disc reproducers to him for rebuilding. In my opinion, and at that time, I felt that his reproducer rebuilding services were the best there was - and to this day I reach first for his rebuilt reproducers anytime I want to play any of my Diamond Discs.

Bob had no problem telling anyone exactly how he felt about any subject you wished to talk about and his charges for rebuilding reproducers was not cheap. As I recall about $150 for each Edison DD reproducer rebuild - but, again, I felt he was the best and so I paid up - and I was never disappointed. And one thing that sold me on Bob Waltrip's 'WonderTone' reproducer rebuilds was the fact that he would carefully package and send you one of his rebuilt reproducers at HIS expense - just so the prospective customer could listen to his work BEFORE sending their reproducer to him. That is what sold me on his reproducer rebuilds and it was a great marketing technique. The first DD reproducer I received from Bob to listen to left me stunned. And it was not an Edisonic but a plain jane standard issue DD 'ducer. I've always been a very serious collector and listener of Edison Diamond Discs with more than six thousand plus in my collection. I can't imagine using any other Edison DD reproducers than his - but that's not to say that there is no one else that could (or can) rebuild Edison reproducers like he did as I'm confident that there are some excellent DD reproducer rebuilders out there. I just felt (and still feel) that Waltrip's DD reproducers (assuming your diamond stylus was fine - believe me he would tell you if it was not!) seemed to be able to pull every bit of recorded signal that was available from the DD grooves. Best Wishes, Doug