[78-L] Playing Black Amberols on an Amberola

[Michael Biel]

On 2/15/2012 5:03 PM, Don Chichester wrote:
> Why is that?  Wasn't the same doorknob stylus used for all Amberolls, regardless of the compound?

No.  The later Amberolas had a Diamond stylus.  The doorknob stylus was 
sapphire.

>    4 minute is 4 minute, black or blue, right?
>
> Don
>   
Wrong.  While the groove size was the same, the later diamond 
reproducers tracked much too heavily for the brittle wax.  I have an H 
reproducer (with a gearing adapter) on my Edison Home machine for black 
Amberols and an Amberola 30 for the Blue Amberols.  The sapphire on the 
H could get worn by the celluloid Blues.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>
>> Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:19:29 +0000
>> From: bruce78rpm at comcast.net
>> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Playing Black Amberols on an Amberola
>>
>> Ok, thanks, that explains it. Naturally your Black Wax 4 minute Amberol cylinders are going to be "chewed up" and eventually destroyed by a Diamond C Reproducer designed to play only Blue Amberols.
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Malcolm - Venerable Music"<malcolm at venerablemusic.com>
>> To: "78-L Mail List"<78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 3:15:57 PM
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Playing Black Amberols on an Amberola
>>
>> Hey Bruce - It's a basic Amberola 30, with the diamond C reproducer (I think
>> any way). After now doing some research, it looks like these models and
>> reproducers were only meant for the later blue amberols and indestructibles.
>> Well, now I know! I thought all 4 minute cylinders were interchangeable and
>> would play on any Edison machine.
>> I'm learning as I go! My first thought was to start shopping for a new
>> machine just to play this cylinder, but I think I came to my senses when
>> looking at Buy It Now prices! Anyhow, I'm just going to relist it for sale
>> (on the vmauction site)&  look for another when&  if I ever luck into a nice
>> outside horn machine or Amberola IV. Maybe I can find one of the Polk Miller
>> QRS records - ha!
>> Malcolm
>>
>> Venerable Music - http://www.venerablemusic.com
>> Venerable Radio - http://www.venerableradio.com
>> 78rpm Record Auctions - http://www.vmauctions.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: bruce78rpm at comcast.net
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 2:59 PM
>> To: 78-L Mail List
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Playing Black Amberols on an Amberola
>>
>> It would help to know which Amberola Phonograph you are playing it on. I
>> have an early model 1A with a combination two stylus M reproducer designed
>> to play both 2 minute Black Wax as well as 4 minute black wax. This replaced
>> the earlier model L reproducer which could play only the 4 minute black wax
>> cylinders.
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Malcolm - Venerable Music"<malcolm at venerablemusic.com>
>> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 12:40:21 PM
>> Subject: [78-L] Playing Black Amberols on an Amberola
>>
>> 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
>> Venerable Music - http://www.venerablemusic.com
>> Venerable Radio - http://www.venerableradio.com
>> 78rpm Record Auctions - http://www.vmauctions.com