The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

built this mechanism prototype in my workshop, just needs the stylus to test. like the original the coil pole piece is soft IRON not steel.
I found an original Electrograph recently, what an amazing reproduction it gives, video link here=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AcabJRvKO4 Am planning to build a short batch of as close to the original as is possible in a similar housing.....as it's too good not to.

Bravo! I applaud your efforts. Can you post a video of your playing? I have one as well and enjoy listening to cylinders through an Edison C-2. Let me know when you have completed a batch as I would be interested in one!

That video link is awesome. I hope you have success with the replica you are working on.

Please let me know when they are available as I am interested. James Manker [email protected]

The prototype is now working properly , Iv'e just recorded this Violin piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvkssuBsk70

I'm looking at the housing now & how to produce it,
Finding multiple lower weighted sections & good stylii is most likely going to complicate matters so I may offer the electro-magnetic top section only to use with an existing lower weight / stylus assembly.
thanks for the kind words so far.

Perhaps 3-D printing would work out for the body. For the stylus I'd check with Don Wilson in Philadelphia as he made an electric cylinder player in the last few years.. He would know the modern electrical cartridges that might work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCGYou34NS4
here is a video of the 1st working production model. I'm waiting for material to begin the last component needed for a small batch of these . Sykes patent is 90 years old next month (5th December) I'm hoping to have something ready for that date. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement so far, this has been quite a difficult device to produce in a batch, especially with the foul weather up here in the mountains of North Wales monkeying with one of the processes I'm using.

Many years ago (1960's), a phonograph friend of mt father built an electric pickup for 2- and 4-minute cylinder records. Both pickups replaced the Edison diaphragm with a crystal adapted from toy telephones to convert the motions of the Edison weight and stylus to electrical signals.

I used the two-minute version to record many cylinders, and the results are very good. The 4-minute version broke apart and a picture is attached.

The advantage of this type of pickup over the magnetic modern pickups for cylinder records, is that the mechanics of the Edison "system" are maintained, i.e. the modifications to the sound from the response of the weight lever system.

Marc

herrickpickups wrote: Wed Nov 05, 2025 12:31 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCGYou34NS4
here is a video of the 1st working production model. I'm waiting for material to begin the last component needed for a small batch of these . Sykes patent is 90 years old next month (5th December) I'm hoping to have something ready for that date. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement so far, this has been quite a difficult device to produce in a batch, especially with the foul weather up here in the mountains of North Wales monkeying with one of the processes I'm using.

What is the cylinder? Title, etc...

Thanks!

Sounds very nice. Please keep us posted on the progress/availability. I too would be interested in one.

Steve