[78-L] Playing Black Amberols on an Amberola

[Malcolm - Venerable Music]

Hey Everyone – Quick question about the early Black Edison Amberol cylinders. I recently go my first Polk Miller 4 min cylinder, Bonnie Blue Flag #389.
When I play it on my Amberola, it plays fine, but when I’m finished the cylinder is covered with a fine black powder that I can only surmise is coming from the grooves of the cylinder!
Is this normal for the early Black Amberols? Could I have a bad stylus? Am I using the wrong machine? Every other cylinder I have is blue and appears to play fine. I’m a total newbie with Edison stuff and do not want to be doing damage to this cylinder by playing it (which sucks as it’s such a great song).
Any advice on this is appreciated.
Thanks,
Malcolm
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