The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all,

I am trying to get answers for my building project. I search every where, and I found some data in this forum !

So, can anyone confirm the following elements ?

Cylinders 2 minutes: 160 rpm, engraving 100 rpi lead screw turning counter clockwise viewed pinion side (1 intermediate pinion)
Cylinders 4 minutes: 160 rpm engraving 200rpi lead screw turning counter clockwise viewed pinion side (1 intermediate pinion)
Cylinders Ediphone: 80 rpm engraving 150 rpi lead screw turning clockwise viewed pinion side (no intermediate pinion)
Cylinders Dictaphone: 80 rpm engraving 160 rpi lead screw turning clockwise viewed pinion side (two intermediate pinions)

I saveed back the lead screw from from a Dictaphone, which is long enough to drive the reading head all over a concert cylinder,
and i am planing to build pinions to adjust the speed from mandrel to lead screw.

I d like to be sure about these values.

Thanks for an answer

Does anybody read this ?

I don't know how to post to access more collectors...

Difficult to reply without a picture of the machine you are modifying.
The thread pitches you quote and speeds are nominally right 2min cylinders run from 100RPM to up to 180RPM
However all music and dictation cylinders rotate clockwise as seen from the open end (right hand) of the mandrel. and track the reproducer from left to right.

Many, but not all shaving machines, run anticlockwise and right to left this is to effectively push the cylinder on to the mandrel while shaving.

The rotation of the lead screw does not help as it could be a left hand or right hand thread and in shavers is often run by a belt so runs in the same direction as the mandrel.

consider 2.5mm pitch synchro flex belts and pullies for your project as they are easier to set up and run quietly.

Papycoup wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 2:55 am Does anybody read this ?

I don't know how to post to access more collectors...

Some of the problem here is that subject of this thread, "Technical data for all machines", has nothing to do with what you want to know. Maybe try, "Cylinder Record Speeds & Feed Rates Needed". It appears, however, that "Recordmaker" has largely confirmed the data you show.

I thank you very much for your answers;

Here is the actual pic of my project. I am waiting for a technical help to calculate two sets of pinions, to make the machine able to read 2 and 4 minutes.

The reading arm is from vinyl turntable. i will receive reading cell with special diamond built by Expert Stylus Company in GB;

The only "old" part of this system are the lead screw and half nut, kept from a Dictaphone I have, because the lead screw is long enough to read all size of cylinders (standards, inter and concert).

The pulley was out (pot metal) and there was no mandrel... So i have to build mandrels for the three sizes.
And also I will have the mandrel axe rebuilt by a mechanicien, because the actual have "strange measures" in inches, and I must fit bronze landings (commercial product) in the plastic masterpiece....

I found it a mystery that those information's are so hard to confirm... Thanks for reading.
Pierre.