[Phono-L] Another cylinder maker.
Chuck and I do not live far apart, and he is a good friend of mine. His blanks are serious business, as far as he documents every small detail that happens in every batch. Every batch is sampled and tested, and each blank comes with a data sheet. As all of us who make blanks, his has a unique sound, as all of us do serious recordist should have on hand Richards, Borri and Morris blanks , and experiment with all our products to see what instruments, our blanks record the best, or what sounds best to you. All new blanks have a very similar formula, stearic acid, lye, aluminum and ceresin wax, as a base, the percentages for each of us is slightly different and some add other components as well. What I think is great about the fact that new blanks are available. Is one you do not have to cut down dictation machine blanks, which were never intended to make a lasting recording (they were designed to take a clear dictation, and be played a few times, and then shaved, after t hey were typed up. ) The Components were similar to a brown wax blank, but not of the best lasting qualities more tempering wax, more oil, and more glycerin and olaic acid than a lasting blank. Ediphone blanks are non toxic, aluminum base but paraffin, and stearic pitch make the recordings short lived. Other brands of dictation machine blanks, may contain lead stearate which can cause heath issues if one shaves enough of them down, and maybe even the swarf coming off of them. Then there are those who like to shave original brown wax cylinders. Some collectors have a low standard of what might be a cylinder not worth saving, and thus because a record may have some mold spots, or noise, then what is the harm for shaving it to make a new recording on? From 1889-1901 less than 8 million brown wax cylinders were made, there is not many of them left, each for the most, part is a unique performance, some true were pantographed but many were by the round. So when is an origi nal brown wax able to be shaved, I can't answer that question, I think if it has a few words that can be heard, leave it be! Chuck, Paul, and I offer fine blanks, at a reasonable price, and the quality can be superior to original brown wax blanks, as they are made in small quantities, under cleaner conditions, and some of the ingredients actually have improved since the 1890's. ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Opera Horn from Peru and Opera horn restoration
I have 2 of his horns from Peru, Victor smooth Oak and Edison Cygnet Oak and I must say we have made a friendship and we Skype from time to time to keep up. Other than Phono Talk we talk about family stuff and other current events. He has become a friend and I know if I need another wood horn I will order from him once again. Sorry that many of you have not heard from me in a very long time but I am sad to say my illness has progressed, My HIV is in check but I lost about 45 lbs and how have home health coming in helping me 3 days a week and I go to the wood center twice a week. I do read all the Phono-L posting and I am so sad that I missed the last Orlando show. I was so hoping to see many of you and be in my environment once a again. I have gain 8 lbs in the last 3 weeks and now up to 137 lbs but still to then being that I am almost 6'1. I am not shy about talking about this stuff as I, when healthy enough, do speaking about HIV/AIDS in schools and other venues that will have me set up by the International Org. the "AIDS Healthcare Foundation". They are now in 27 different countries and growing. The new ACA has me a little worried as much of our specialized care for HIV in Florida is going to a general disease management company and I am sure care will soon start lacking. Just think of a nurse going to see one person for Diabetes then, Cancer, HIV, Pulmonary patents. I think you get the point. Right now I am working to get myself out of my rural mile square home town that is over 120 away from my Doctor and hope to move back to ether Orlando or the Tampa Bay area. I only returned to this area after my father died and my mother had no one to depend on and even knowing this would be a huge risk for my health since there is almost no HIV care any where near her, I still did it for mom. Now that she has been moved to an ALF I can now feel free to escape my Hell from living in this rural small mined town. Moving back up north to Ill, or Wis. is only a dream right now but one day that will come. While being sick I did something I always wanted to do, that is grow out my goatee to a Handlebar Mustache and I must say I love it! The waxing it takes some time but I find enjoyment even in that. It looks so period style with a modern update, it makes me happy and when I look in the mirror, I smile. Here is hoping everyone well wishes and just to let everyone know I am still about and KICKING! Never was one to give up to easy. Take care all, Kenneth Keeton Here is hopping that On Friday, March 28, 2014 11:25 AM, Bill Taney wrote: Anyone have or have an opinion on these Opera horns from Peru? How are they in terms of a repro compared to what else is available? Also, I am wondering who is the best wizard are restoring the original horn. I have an Opera that came out of a farm auction in MN and the guy was quite handy and tried a go at fixing it. It has the original decals the rest of the horn has at least been lightened and reglued, maybe refinished. It’s not bad, actually the bell looks good from a distance, but it is splitting. The elbo he spray painted brown. Interestingly didn’t touch the rest of the machine, it is completely original and super nice. Thanks Bill ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
