Volumne

[Kevin Aschenmeier]

Hi. This is most likely a simple question whose answer is known to everyone except me. When did a volumne control start? I saw an Edison Diamond Disk in an antique shop that had one. Did any of the cylinder machines? The one on this Diamond Disk just seemed to block the horn. Was this standard?

Thank you in advance.
Kevin

[gramophoneshane]

I'm not sure what the earliest volume control was, but the earliest I'm aware of was the Edison Tizit, for cylinder machines.
The earliest control on an open horn disc machine I know of, was used in Hawthorne & Sheble's "Star" talking machines, which used a cone inside the tonearm to control the volume.
As for internal horn cabinet machines, there's a few different types I've seen. The mute ball on Edisons was supplied with "almost" all but the earliest diamond disc models, but I'm guessing because of patents, I haven't seen exactly the same set-up used by other companies.
A similar principle was used by Aeolian in their Graduola" devise, but it controlled a mute ball at the base of the tonearm.
Others were as simple as a piece of plywood with a hole the same size as the horn throat, that would slide between the tonearm base & horn, and these depending on how much of the hole was exposed between the two, to allow the sound through.
So the earliest was certainly in the cylinder phonograph era, but who was first to use them & when, I dont know.

[alang]

Yes, defintely in the cylinder phonograph era, but right from the start even before the horn. I have this little volume control for listening tubes that I found recently on eBay. It works quite well, except that I wouldn't dare to adjust it while playing a wax cylinder. Sorry, the pictures are from before I cleaned it.
Andreas

[Lucius1958]

Then there's the 'Dolcer' or 'Dolcher', found on some Columbia disc Graphophones, which used a pad which bore on the diaphragm: effective, but not good for the records......

[VintageTechnologies]

The first volume control was probably a rolled-up sock down the horn.

A friend of mine has an oak Edison Amberola V that has a rotating valve in the neck of the horn. I have also seen a similar valve in the neck of a standard Edison DD reproducer.

[gramophoneshane]

Andreas, your volume control appears to belong to a secretary model Ediphone from the 1920's.

[Kevin Aschenmeier]

A sock. Hmm. That would work. It would probably keep me out of trouble. There would be no harm done to the machine. Although it does seem a bit disrespectful to Mr. Edison. I think I will try it first during the day when everyone is awake anyway.

Kevin

[alang]

Andreas, your volume control appears to belong to a secretary model Ediphone from the 1920's.

Thanks Shane. Did they use the same diameter connector on the Ediphone reproducer? Because it fits the Model C on my Standard A like a glove. Well, would have been too nice to find an original early accessory
Andreas

[gramophoneshane]

Andreas, your volume control appears to belong to a secretary model Ediphone from the 1920's.

Thanks Shane. Did they use the same diameter connector on the Ediphone reproducer?

Yes, the connector was the same. In fact, the first model Ediphone reproducers of 1918 would even fit the carriage of Edisons phonographs.
Columbias Dictaphone also used the same size connector. I use the head phones & volume control of my Dictaphone secretary model on my phonographs. They're more comfortable to wear than the regular type you stick in your ears.
But dont be too disappointed it's from an Ediphone. They're not particularly easy to find now days, and they come in very handy. Without the volume control, listening to records through listening tubes can almost make your ears bleed they're so loud.

[alang]

But dont be too disappointed it's from an Ediphone. They're not particularly easy to find now days, and they come in very handy. Without the volume control, listening to records through listening tubes can almost make your ears bleed they're so loud.

dictaphone volume 001.JPG

dictaphone 002.JPG

Yes, I noticed that some cylinders are really loud through the listening tubes. I have the volume control on the lowest setting, then it sounds ok.
I'll have to keep my eyes open for some Ediphone or Dictaphone headset.
Thanks again
Andreas