The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A friend recently gave me what I believe to be an Edison Business Model Wax Cylinder Recorder. The ID plate is a bit difficult to read but I can make out an "E" in the model designation spot. The unit is about 80% complete I would say as it appeares to only be missing it's "speaking tube". It is in fair condition having spent the last 40 years in a dry basement. I'm no stranger to antiques and have a backround in auto restoration as well as repairing/restoring antique radios so the mechanical and electrical parts will be easy enough for me to restore. My question is where can I source parts and advice? I know this machine has little practical use in today's world but I would love to have it complete. Also, is it possible to use this machine as a player? I have read where others have adapted modern parts and such but i want to avoid "Frankensteining" it if at all possible. Thanks for any help and I'm happy to be here!

badwaxcaps wrote:A friend recently gave me what I believe to be an Edison Business Model Wax Cylinder Recorder. Also, is it possible to use this machine as a player? I have read where others have adapted modern parts and such but i want to avoid "Frankensteining" it if at all possible. Thanks for any help and I'm happy to be here!

I believe the main problem to using this as a player of entertainment records would be that the business machines used a different pitch thread on the feed screw that drives the recorder/reproducer across the cylinder, thus it will not track either 2 or 4 minute cylinders.

I kinda figured that would be the case. Oh well. It was built as a recorder so that's how it will stay. I will be very happy to get it cleaned up and running again. The motor has an AC/DC switch so I'm assuming it can run off either. There is a small box on the top of it behind/below the rails that is labeled "110 volts DC". There is a seperate foot operated switch wired to it. Do these parts require DC voltage only or would they operate on AC as well?

It won't work for commercial entertainment cylinders, but of course there is nothing preventing you from recording your own music on cylinders. Always fun to listen to the Rolling Stones on cylinder
Andreas

badwaxcaps wrote:Oh well. It was built as a recorder so that's how it will stay. I will be very happy to get it cleaned up and running again.

Your carriage should have two apertures, one labeled "Recorder" and the other "Reproducer." (If you don't have those parts, you can probably find them on eBay or at phonograph shows.) Once the Recorder & Reproducer are in place, you'll be able to not only record, but also reproduce (play) recordings - but at 150 threads-per-inch (rather than the the 2-minute entertainment standard of 100 tpi). If you'd like to play music from the machine, you could record something and then play it back. It won't have the volume or fidelity of a good entertainment cylinder, but it will work. I did this back in the early 70s with an Ediphone just for fun.

George P.

My machine only has the record aperture. I want to get some cylinders for it as well so it looks like its off the Ebay. I want to replace the missing speaking tube as well. Do I need to find an original or is there a modern equivalent? Will this machine run on standard house current?

Oops! There might be a double post here. Sorry!

I actually have one of these machines. It is an Edison Business Phonograph Model "C". Made 1907.

Not much you can do with it for playing cylinders. Sorry to tell you..

Mine is in nice shape, but I will restore it further, and then probably sell it since I like machines that play real well. This is more of a museum piece. Machines from the 1910's and 1920's and later don't go for much.., but the earlier machines (1909 and earlier) go for a small fortune. Last one I saw sell on Ebay for $900.00 a month or two ago, and my machine was much better than that. Mine is missing the Reproducer, but they are easy to find.. so I will probably put it up on Ebay soon.

Tony K.