Oro-Phone #90 Military Reproducer

[Sarge29]

Hi All,
I recently bought a Edison S19 phonograph. This thing works and sounds great. There was an Oro-phone #90 Military reproducer in with the phonograph. But there are no needles with it. Just wondering what type needle I need to get and where is the best place to get them. I would like to play some of my old 78s on it. Also wondering about replacing the needle for the diamond disc. How will I know when to replace it. Thanks in advance for any info.
Sarge29

[Nat]

I'm unfamiliar with that reproducer, but if it takes standard steel needles, go to:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=ste ... c=3&_dmd=1

You might want to try medium or even soft needles, as some of those portables can be very loud. Be sure to change needles after every play!

[Sarge29]

Thanks for the info. I have fell in love with this old phonograph. I had never heard of an Edison S19 Diamond Disc phonograph until I found this one at an auction. I think I got a deal on it as it came with a salesman sample record. This thing has the original oil can and grease cup, both have the Edison label on them. The Oro-phone reproducer was actually on the pipe to the horn but there were no needles with it. I found the diamond disc reproducer inside near the horn. I will try to attach pictures of this reproducer. On the back it has: No. 90 Military Oro-Phone, The Oro-Tone Co. Chicago U.S.A.

[Valecnik]

Congrats on your find.

It would be good to get those reproducers professionally rebuilt, which on the Edison probably means a new stylus. It won''t be cheap, $100 or so for the diamond stylus but it will sound much better and you will avoid damage to your records from a bad stylus.

[Phototone]

That Oro-tone uses standard steel needles, replace after each play. For thin 78 rpm records only NOT FOR THICK EDISONS. Your other reproducer is for the Edison Thick records.

[Sarge29]

Thanks for all the info. That is what I needed to know. Now to get the old girl playing some 78s.

[VintageTechnologies]

I recommend that you have an experienced Edison repairman examine the stylus on the Edison reproducer before playing the thick Edison disks. I examine sapphire and diamond stylii using a 50X stereo microscope, but hardly anyone except a good jeweller or biology lab would have one. The stylus tip should be ball-shaped without any flat spot on it.

[Guest]

Thanks, I will get the stylus checked before I use it again. Now to find someone in South Carolina that knows what they are looking at. Any ideas?