[78-L] Cylinder machine sighting

[Philip Carli]

U-S cylinders were made with a celluloid sheet actually welded end-to-end around the fibre core; the weld is the weak spot, and if the core swells or the celluloid sheet shrinks (as it is _very_ apt to do) the cylinder will "self-destruct" by separating at the weld.  (The weld spot also accounts for the every-revolution low-frequency "swish" you hear on many U-S cylinders when transferred electrically; on an original machine it isn't so noticeable.) Another quirk is that the celluloid sheet is so thin that the groove pitch alters when it shrinks, which will cause the record to skip towards the end (especially 4-minute  -- the shrinkage can change the pitch from 200 tpi to 204-06 or so).  On my Edison machines I often play U-S records with the reproducer tail-weight moved far right at the beginning of the record to compensate for this, as it will shift left over the course of the playing.

I have several "exploded" U-S cylinders myself.  They're very annoying.  PC
________________________________________
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of DanKj [MLK402 at verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2011 4:49 PM
To: 78-L Mail List
Subject: Re: [78-L] Cylinder machine sighting

 I managed to break a black Lambert (one of a 2-part set, and I had both) and have a  U.S.Everlasting cylinder which popped
apart (the recording is pressed on a celluloid sheet, wrapped around the core & cemented.) . The Lambert was my fault, but
the U.S. just seemed to self-destruct.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Chichester" <dnjchi78 at live.com>
To: <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2011 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Cylinder machine sighting


>
> For demonstration purposes, I always use an Indestructable cylinder.  They look like wax, but last alot longrt.  In fact,
> I've never brokem an Indestructable cylinder.  Guess they are....

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