Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
They will play on a regular 78 rpm modern turntable with 78 setting. They do not sound their best that way but with the light stylus weight I do not think wear or damage would be an issue. I welcome other comments, especially from those who have special modern equipment to play them with. Steve From: ge...@comcast.net To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:39:50 -0500 Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think The machine is gone. If a table model is 70 lbs, the London must have weighed well over a 100 lbs. I could not even lift one side. It was way too heavy for me to realistically deal with...I'm glad I went back though and checked it out. It was a good adventure. As far as the table models...if they're 70 lbs, they're too much for me as well. My limit...is 20 lbs...just about what the records weigh. ;) The cabinet was black. No shine. It had spots of white mildew on the inside wood. Nothing we ever got (back in the 1950-60's) looked as bad as this. Those old machines had that nice old wood antiques smell...still do as a matter of fact...and with a little lemon oil shine up nicely. This was beyond lemon oil. I think even my Pop, the inveterate collector would have passed on it. He would have needed help moving it too. There was a small brass knob just sitting there...don't know where it came from; loose screws floating around; the horn looked kinda green and bent; the front grill had the 4 side pieces stuffed into the cabinet with none of the frilly middle stuff. The closer I looked, the worse IT looked. I know you guys like to preserve these things, and I agree with that wish. The weight, in my opinion, is what really made it unrealistic to even contemplate. It was a big white elephant. I'm happy to have the records though. I've seen thick DD records in the past, always with the edges all messed up. These have pretty sharp edges; only one had some small bubbling. And some day I'll get to hear them. Happy New Year to everyone. Stay healthy and safe. :) Ger - Original Message - From: DanKj To: Antique Phonograph List Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 1:11 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think Too bad you didn't get some pics of it - I wanted to see what made it seem such a mess. The solder is supposed to be there, as Ron L'H said, and if there was anything running into the horn it was just a volume control, which I remove anyway because it muffles the sound. The straps behind the slots sound correct, too. Except for the missing grill, how bad is the cabinet? You might be disappointed to learn that the few Edison table models are less common than floor models and they're HEAVY, awkward things. My Chalet weighs about 70 pounds, and my B-80 nearly as much. - Original Message - From: ger ge...@comcast.net The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on th Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. \ I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
Sounds like you made the right decision to abandon this one. Andy On Dec 31, 2009, at 3:39 AM, ger wrote: The machine is gone. If a table model is 70 lbs, the London must have weighed well over a 100 lbs. I could not even lift one side. It was way too heavy for me to realistically deal with...I'm glad I went back though and checked it out. It was a good adventure. As far as the table models...if they're 70 lbs, they're too much for me as well. My limit...is 20 lbs...just about what the records weigh. ;) The cabinet was black. No shine. It had spots of white mildew on the inside wood. Nothing we ever got (back in the 1950-60's) looked as bad as this. Those old machines had that nice old wood antiques smell...still do as a matter of fact...and with a little lemon oil shine up nicely. This was beyond lemon oil. I think even my Pop, the inveterate collector would have passed on it. He would have needed help moving it too. There was a small brass knob just sitting there...don't know where it came from; loose screws floating around; the horn looked kinda green and bent; the front grill had the 4 side pieces stuffed into the cabinet with none of the frilly middle stuff. The closer I looked, the worse IT looked. I know you guys like to preserve these things, and I agree with that wish. The weight, in my opinion, is what really made it unrealistic to even contemplate. It was a big white elephant. I'm happy to have the records though. I've seen thick DD records in the past, always with the edges all messed up. These have pretty sharp edges; only one had some small bubbling. And some day I'll get to hear them. Happy New Year to everyone. Stay healthy and safe. :) Ger - Original Message - From: DanKj To: Antique Phonograph List Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 1:11 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think Too bad you didn't get some pics of it - I wanted to see what made it seem such a mess. The solder is supposed to be there, as Ron L'H said, and if there was anything running into the horn it was just a volume control, which I remove anyway because it muffles the sound. The straps behind the slots sound correct, too. Except for the missing grill, how bad is the cabinet? You might be disappointed to learn that the few Edison table models are less common than floor models and they're HEAVY, awkward things. My Chalet weighs about 70 pounds, and my B-80 nearly as much. - Original Message - From: ger ge...@comcast.net The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on th Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. \ I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
The machine is gone. If a table model is 70 lbs, the London must have weighed well over a 100 lbs. I could not even lift one side. It was way too heavy for me to realistically deal with...I'm glad I went back though and checked it out. It was a good adventure. As far as the table models...if they're 70 lbs, they're too much for me as well. My limit...is 20 lbs...just about what the records weigh. ;) The cabinet was black. No shine. It had spots of white mildew on the inside wood. Nothing we ever got (back in the 1950-60's) looked as bad as this. Those old machines had that nice old wood antiques smell...still do as a matter of fact...and with a little lemon oil shine up nicely. This was beyond lemon oil. I think even my Pop, the inveterate collector would have passed on it. He would have needed help moving it too. There was a small brass knob just sitting there...don't know where it came from; loose screws floating around; the horn looked kinda green and bent; the front grill had the 4 side pieces stuffed into the cabinet with none of the frilly middle stuff. The closer I looked, the worse IT looked. I know you guys like to preserve these things, and I agree with that wish. The weight, in my opinion, is what really made it unrealistic to even contemplate. It was a big white elephant. I'm happy to have the records though. I've seen thick DD records in the past, always with the edges all messed up. These have pretty sharp edges; only one had some small bubbling. And some day I'll get to hear them. Happy New Year to everyone. Stay healthy and safe. :) Ger - Original Message - From: DanKj To: Antique Phonograph List Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 1:11 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think Too bad you didn't get some pics of it - I wanted to see what made it seem such a mess. The solder is supposed to be there, as Ron L'H said, and if there was anything running into the horn it was just a volume control, which I remove anyway because it muffles the sound. The straps behind the slots sound correct, too. Except for the missing grill, how bad is the cabinet? You might be disappointed to learn that the few Edison table models are less common than floor models and they're HEAVY, awkward things. My Chalet weighs about 70 pounds, and my B-80 nearly as much. - Original Message - From: ger ge...@comcast.net The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on th Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. \ I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
ger _Michigan Antique Phonograph Society_ (http://www.michiganantiquephonographsociety.org/) you should go to one of the phono shows in the spring there is one in wayne new jersey and i believe lynn bilton still has one in connecticut about 50 mile south of you down rte 7 you may be able to find it on maps link In a message dated 12/26/2009 10:14:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, ge...@comcast.net writes: The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on the top to another piece (sloppy shiney solder), I guess to keep it from dragging...poor soul of a machine. My impression is that without ALL the parts, there would be stress on both the record grooves and the diamond reproducer, which would be forced to take on the burden of moving the heavy pieces across the record...at least that's the way it seems to me. Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. This was probably to balance the weight of the phono in the right-sided compartment. BOTH sides were equally heavy, and I mean heavy! I could not lift one corner. Wow, was all I could say. But again. This was a fun adventure and learning experience which didn't cost many bucks. It would not have been either without the help of this great group. :) I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records! And I think I know a little bit about how these machines work...not a lot, but enough probably to just get into more trouble. LOL Oh, and I will wash the records with denatured alcohol before I put them away. One last question on STORAGE: Store records flat, right? But what do you put between them, and is a paper box OK ? Thank you all, Ger ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
Yes, those Edison Table models are few and far between, and because of that they can get pricey. I would suggest you send us some photos of what you described. Ron was correct on all counts. - Original Message - From: DanKj ediso...@verizon.net To: Antique Phonograph List phono-l@oldcrank.org Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 1:11:15 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think Too bad you didn't get some pics of it - I wanted to see what made it seem such a mess. The solder is supposed to be there, as Ron L'H said, and if there was anything running into the horn it was just a volume control, which I remove anyway because it muffles the sound. The straps behind the slots sound correct, too. Except for the missing grill, how bad is the cabinet? You might be disappointed to learn that the few Edison table models are less common than floor models and they're HEAVY, awkward things. My Chalet weighs about 70 pounds, and my B-80 nearly as much. - Original Message - From: ger ge...@comcast.net The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on th Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. \ I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
Too bad you didn't get some pics of it - I wanted to see what made it seem such a mess. The solder is supposed to be there, as Ron L'H said, and if there was anything running into the horn it was just a volume control, which I remove anyway because it muffles the sound. The straps behind the slots sound correct, too. Except for the missing grill, how bad is the cabinet? You might be disappointed to learn that the few Edison table models are less common than floor models and they're HEAVY, awkward things. My Chalet weighs about 70 pounds, and my B-80 nearly as much. - Original Message - From: ger ge...@comcast.net The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on th Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. \ I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
I found a BC 34 console phonograph many years ago stuffed in the back room of an antique store with a bunch of old sewing machines. They didn't know what it was and sold it to me for $40.00. It was first phonograph and it got me started collecting. I still listen to it today as I work in my home office. Tom -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of DanKj Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 12:11 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think Too bad you didn't get some pics of it - I wanted to see what made it seem such a mess. The solder is supposed to be there, as Ron L'H said, and if there was anything running into the horn it was just a volume control, which I remove anyway because it muffles the sound. The straps behind the slots sound correct, too. Except for the missing grill, how bad is the cabinet? You might be disappointed to learn that the few Edison table models are less common than floor models and they're HEAVY, awkward things. My Chalet weighs about 70 pounds, and my B-80 nearly as much. - Original Message - From: ger ge...@comcast.net The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on th Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. \ I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
Trudy the Angora Cat favors our BC for napping and watching the records spin. Mine was way more than $40, but did come with an excellent 78/Pathe adapter bonus crate of nice discs - and it's always interesting to see what constituted a vintage record collection. Your find reminds me of my Brunswick - it was in the back room of a coin/stamp/45rpm store in the country outside of Buffalo. They wanted $50, which I managed to raise (being 12 yrs old, when $50 wasn't to sneeze at) but I couldn't move it home right away. So, I gave them the money took every part I could carry - reproducer, crank, all the old packs of needles, instruction books, even the turntable. Then I locked the lid took the key. Took me a month to convince my father to drive out there haul the thing back . - Original Message - From: Tom Jordan tom...@msn.com To: 'Antique Phonograph List' phono-l@oldcrank.org Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 6:49 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think I found a BC 34 console phonograph many years ago stuffed in the back room of an antique store with a bunch of old sewing machines. They didn't know what it was and sold it to me for $40.00. It was first phonograph and it got me started collecting. I still listen to it today as I work in my home office. Tom ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
[Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on the top to another piece (sloppy shiney solder), I guess to keep it from dragging...poor soul of a machine. My impression is that without ALL the parts, there would be stress on both the record grooves and the diamond reproducer, which would be forced to take on the burden of moving the heavy pieces across the record...at least that's the way it seems to me. Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. This was probably to balance the weight of the phono in the right-sided compartment. BOTH sides were equally heavy, and I mean heavy! I could not lift one corner. Wow, was all I could say. But again. This was a fun adventure and learning experience which didn't cost many bucks. It would not have been either without the help of this great group. :) I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records! And I think I know a little bit about how these machines work...not a lot, but enough probably to just get into more trouble. LOL Oh, and I will wash the records with denatured alcohol before I put them away. One last question on STORAGE: Store records flat, right? But what do you put between them, and is a paper box OK ? Thank you all, Ger ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
Re: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think
The horn was soldered to an arm that attaches to the vertical pipe. It is not a pretty solder job. It was never supposed to be seen by the public 8-) Ron L -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of ger Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 10:14 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: [Phono-L] The last word on Diamond Discs...I think The poor London model of Edison's Diamond Disc machine looks like it had been tortured. The vertical section was there afterall, but a cable, wood block and some other things (part going into the horn) were missing. Someone had SOLDERED the horn on the top to another piece (sloppy shiney solder), I guess to keep it from dragging...poor soul of a machine. My impression is that without ALL the parts, there would be stress on both the record grooves and the diamond reproducer, which would be forced to take on the burden of moving the heavy pieces across the record...at least that's the way it seems to me. Needless to say, the machine still sits with the seller...who is now a bit wiser, since I shared the photo and what I knew with her. She seemed not at all disappointed and actually fascinated to learn something about the poor mess. As for its WEIGHT. I've got an AH-HAH! I took the flashlight and checked out the left side where the 24 slots for records was. I could see that 2, that's TWO, thick metal weights were in place behind the slots. They went across the back, one high, one low. This was probably to balance the weight of the phono in the right-sided compartment. BOTH sides were equally heavy, and I mean heavy! I could not lift one corner. Wow, was all I could say. But again. This was a fun adventure and learning experience which didn't cost many bucks. It would not have been either without the help of this great group. :) I will, however, now keep an eye out for an Edison (table model) which could play my records! And I think I know a little bit about how these machines work...not a lot, but enough probably to just get into more trouble. LOL Oh, and I will wash the records with denatured alcohol before I put them away. One last question on STORAGE: Store records flat, right? But what do you put between them, and is a paper box OK ? Thank you all, Ger ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
