Hi Steve:
I have an early recorder with a serial number just over 91,000. It is my
opinion that since Edison never threw anything out the earlier Standard
Speaker
bodies were simply adapted to become the recorders and the Automatics. The
arm was then labeled RECORDER or REPRODUCER and lettering was stamped on the
body denoted Edison as manufacturer. Then too the Automatic bodies differ
only in that a slot was cut in the hinge stanchion for the weight hinge tab
and the arm labeled REPRODUCER. As with much of the Edison line many things
were similar if not interchangeable.
As for the glass diaphragm, several microscope cover slide makers will do
custom sizes. The only question is "is there enough of a demand for these?"
I
used NOS until my supply ran out. I really hate to see copper diaphragms on
any of these early speakers.
Yes, the crosshead is the connection on the glass diaphragm to which the
link attaches. It is very easy to make these out of brass. The lighter they
are the better. I attach mine with the same material Edison used. Burnt
shellac! It is one of the few glues that will stick to glass well. However,
it
does not do as well on the Model C mica diaphragms.
Your problem with the Standard Speaker was a common one. The height of the
cutter and the playback stylus was critical. The speaker arm adjustment
screw was to move either the cutter into position or the stylus into position.
Once the Standard Speaker was discontinued there was no good reason to have
the speaker arm adjustment screw. The Automatic had enough slop to where the
ball stylus would just drop into the grove and center *automatically*. All
the weight had to have is 0.010" sideways play. In theory the Standard
Speaker
cutter would first cut a record grove and the reproducing stylus would be
high enough when moved into position to have no contact occur for the cutting
stylus. So much for theory!
Kindest Regards,
Al
From allena...@aol.com Wed Dec 27 05:45:06 2006
From: allena...@aol.com (allena...@aol.com)
Date: Wed Dec 27 05:45:24 2006
Subject: [Phono-L] Standard Speaker on eBay was Re: WANTED: Automatic
Reproducer
Message-ID: <d16.3927e5a.32c3d...@aol.com>
In a message dated 12/26/2006 9:18:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,
steve_nor...@msn.com writes:
> I am delighted to see your findings and mine agree. Do you know when the
> Automatic Recorder came out?
>
=========
according to PHP, the Automatic Reproducer first appeared in Sept 1892, at
$10. (retail).
Allen
www.phonobooks.com
