Hi Andy, Great insight on the stylus as a possible cause for damage...thanks
I see a shiney smooth point in the diamond area...overall, kind of triangular where it's sitting. I used a 10x loupe. HOWEVER, what I did notice (forgive me for not knowing proper terms): the small metal prong which is most forward in position on the reproducer, and sits in a V-shaped hook from the top (it goes up and down and side to side). Anywho, this prong was BENT to one side. I just straightened it, or at least got it to move symmetrically. I'm guessing that that bend might make the thing track badly, possibly causing damage to the record grooves?? All but 2 records have at least one of those thicker brown streaks, which I believe is damage. I louped them with 10x, and they seem rough and thicker than the "normal" grooves. One of the marks is really askew, crossing several lines; and one record looks like somebody carved their initials on one side. Guess I ain't got treasure. I will still make a list with numbers, songs, artists. But I am getting a kind of deja vu of old cylinder records with great songs and names, but too much mold to have any content...not that these are that bad, but my mind's eye is going back to a coupla years ago when I worked on reorganizing the cylinders and got very disappointed. I don't understand your directions about the movement of the horn. Maybe when I get the thing here it will make more sense. But, thanks. :) I'll print out what you wrote and see if I can apply it...or maybe the durn wooden lever is just plain missing!? I don't remember if anything was in the right front like that. ----- Original Message ----- From: Andrew Baron To: Antique Phonograph List Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 7:30 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison London Console First, use a flashlight to see if there's anything back there. If there is, you can inquire of this group on the procedure for removing the slats. Regarding the stubborn horn movement, are you doing the right thing when trying to move the horn assembly? Are you aware of how to work the wood lever that's in the front right corner under the lid, and that you must first pivot it over to the right until it's horizontal, before rotating it counter-clockwise, along with a guiding hand on the upper part, to swivel the whole works, while the lever is still rocked all the way over level? It's possible that there's a mechanical issue but you first want to be familiar with how to operate that lever to control the entire movement of the horn and neck. It's also good to be aware that the damaged, etched grooves on the records can be caused - not only by playing on a different kind of phonograph that has a steel needle (or with a steel-needle adaptor on an Edison), but also if played on a proper Edison disc machine, IF the diamond on the Edison reproducer is chipped or damaged. So it's possible you may be in the market for a new stylus or a reproducer that has a viable one. You can sometimes get them pretty cheap on eBay and get lucky on the condition of the diamond. Regarding the "yucky" cabinet and mechanism, maybe they'll clean up as nicely as the records. A little TLC can go a long way. Old English Lemon Oil from the grocery store on the cabinet, or something like it, can work wonders. Don't be so quick to dismiss the experience of seeing what this noble relic can do until you've gotten a little better acquainted with it. Andy On Dec 24, 2009, at 3:43 PM, ger wrote: > LOL. I like the idea of possible hidden treasure. Can't wait for > Saturday. > Now, to get behind the records area...how does one do that? The top > on that side does not come up. Only the grill area opens from the > front. I stuck my fingers into the slots and they seemed empty. > Fortunately nothing was living in there either. :) > > But, ya know, come to think of it, the weight seemed to be more on > the empty record side. hmmmmm Could be somebody added metal as > support I suppose. I really didn't get under and inspect every nook > and cranny. It was so yucky. And...don't forget, I am just an old > broad! ;) > > Yes. The thing cranks, turns on and off. But to get the horn to move > (from side to side), it needs some help. It moved a few times, then > got stubborn. > > This is getting more interesting. This group is great. > > Ger > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [email protected] > To: Antique Phonograph List > Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 5:09 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison London Console > > > Wonder why it is so heavy, any possibility that more records got > pushed into the back of the record holding area, making the it more > heavy then it should be. That happened with a Sonora I purchased > about year and a half ago. The area to the rear of the record > compartment was litterally filled with a stash of old records (a few > real gems in there)as well as some original Sonora literature, > including a beautifully illustrated Sonora Catalogue detailing the > art models and bulge sided models, and many other details. You never > know what hidden treaures might lie in the nooks and cranies of > these old phonographs ! I am sure there are other tales others can > tell as well. As far as the machine is concerned, if all she wants > for it is 25bucks, you should grab it. The loose parts don't sound > like much of a problem and if you have a working motor, turntable > and crank, they are probably worth more then twice what you are > paying for the entire machine and cabinet. You can always buy a r > ep > ro grill for that LC from one of the suppliers who advertises on > line, and have a complete working machine to play those records on. > > Bruce > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ger" <[email protected]> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 4:51:02 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada > Eastern > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison London Console > > Hi, > > How do I know what type of reproducer I have? > And what is the deal with the "Edisonic"?? > Here's a link to photos: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerdan/sets/72157622939629039/ > > The woman wants $25 for the rest of this machine...I don't know. It > is really heavy and missing the grill on the right, loose parts; > turntable goes around; she says it plays. > > Ger > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bruce Mercer > To: Antique Phonograph List > Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 3:13 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison London Console > > > Accordin to Frow they were introduced in 1922. They were sold along > with the > Edisonics and not further mentioned. Not to bore anybody again with > this > story but I bought one of the London Uprights that had never been > uncrated. > Fortunately, it had a nice new Edisonic reproducer just waiting for > me. ;-) > Bruce > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 9:35 AM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison London Console > > >> I believe the paper label on the inside indicates the number of the >> Edison >> Cabinet Factory. The London Console came out in the early 1920's, >> and is a >> common low priced model from Edison's "London Series". >> > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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
