Very helpful. Thank you. A lady sold me her family’s Edison player for $20, and it needs some work. I’ve bought a dozen or so diamond disks, but haven’t yet played any. Really appreciate the advice on cleaning them!
Glad to see a younger person in the hobby! There's another, even rarer item: the Edison "Needle Cut" shellac 78s, marketed for only a couple of months in 1929...
Great to see a young man interested in this exciting format. My 60 year record collection consists of all types of selections. Opera personalities on Edison cylinder & discs is a major interest.
Thanks Ralph! It is unfortunate to think of how many incredibly talented opera singers were dismissed by Edison because they weren't "pure" (i.e. stale) enough for him!
Great video! I was just given a Model 3-C console "New Edison Disc Phonograph" by a couple of dear friends. It had been sitting in her mother's barn for years. Aside from some missing trim pieces it works fine. While loading it up, Susan asks me, "You want all these old records, too?" Well, I don't figure this thing is gonna play my CD collection, huh? Load 'em up! LOL. That pile of over 150 lps and 45s came with 15 DD Edisons. Most in playable shape. A few labels have fallen off but once I scan the best label, do some Photoshop and retitles on them, I'll have them reglued and in good shape. Thanks for your info.
Thanks for your reply. I have been collecting records mostly 78s since I was 5 years old. I have a collection now of over 20,000 78's from 1898 right through to Indian Pressing on 78 from 1964. I have just bought an Edison Standard Phonograph and an Amberola so am just really starting to collect Cylinders It's such a great hobby that I have loved for over 40 years and it is great to see someone young to have the bug too. I just don't know when to stop buying I forget what I have and end up with many duplicates which I sell on EBay. I have just started cataloging my collection which is going to be a huge job
Well done. You were well prepared, which is much more than I can say for some of the videos on this subject that I have seen. I have just watched one man take 15 minutes to say half of what you did and still forget which of his six reproducers did this or that. My great-aunt in Ipswich, Australia had a DD player in the 1950s, with perhaps 20 records. About all I recalled was the thickness and her daughter saying that they could not be played on a standard player. Heaven only knows what happened to them.
Thanks! Edison Diamond Discs, once the novelty of seeing such a strange record wears off, are more similar to other discs of the era than they are different. I'm glad you liked it!
Got to say you know your stuff. Really enjoyed your video and thanks for sharing. Edison Diamond Discs here in the UK are quite rare and we mostly find the opera and classical Discs. I had an Edison Phonograph but even with a new diamond the reproduction was aweful very noisy. Hello from UK gonna check out your other videos Thanks again great video
Edison disc and phonograph sales were roughly about 10% that of the U.S. (adjusting for the decreased population and number of buyers, of course). Because marketing them in the UK was basically an afterthought done by the Edison company after WWI, that would explain why you mostly find noisy opera discs over there (the discs made between about 1915 through 1922 are VERY noisy!) Thanks for commenting.
I have a Edison Victrola and about 400 records that I'm selling. Honestly not a scam. I inherited them from my mother a music teacher and am interested in selling to a person sincerely interested in collecting and preserving
I just recently got an Edison S19 player and was wondering if you know where I can go to get parts for it. It is currently in working condition but it needs a few things like a new felt pad and possibly a new stylus. Also do you have info on how to replace a stylus? I am new to the Edison Diamond Disc players and am trying to get all the info I can on them. Thank you and grrat job explaining everything in this video.
It's great to see such a young person so interested in Edison diamond disc records!I have three Diamond Disk machines, the nicest one is the C-450, the English Adam style with the hand painted front on it. I just got my first Amberola machine, the 75 for Blue Amberol cylinders..... and it sounds great! Thanks for the informative video. Do you have any Diamond Disc machines?
I used to have a C-150, but I sold it to a buyer last year who could use it more frequently than I would. Now I just have my Japanese Victrola as my only wind-up player :)
+THEVICTROLAGUY, the chequered border is NOT an 80 rpm strobe, I've tested this myself. The record must spin around 115 rpm in order for the border to stay still.
+Jason Madore you have to use incandescent lighting, a real light bulb not compact florescent. i use these all the time, the border is a 80 RPM STROBE...
I would if I owned either of them! Pictures of both the Edison Long Play and white dealer's sample records are on the Web, I would recommend going to Popsike for them first.
The red star on the label was a message from Edison's recording studios that they thought the records would be slow sellers. Seriously. The red star labels were put on certain record labels that had music by largely unknown artists. It had nothing to do with the quality of content. But Edison's marketing team, like every other marketing team then and now, knew that customers were more likely to purchase records with celebrity or well known artists on them. And unlike other recordings, which were required to be stocked at Edison dealers, red star labels were not required to be stocked. Edison records were never subject to discount or refund from the factory, for any reason by any dealer. So the red star labels were actually a helpful tool for dealers who obviously strive for profit. This all begs the question, why would Edison's recording studios press records which they thought to be bad sellers? The answer is this, who knows. I'm sure that info is gone with the wind at this point. One might assume that it was perhaps for experimentation. A kind of test on the buying public for the lesser known artists. Kinda like throwing noodles at the wall and seeing which one sticks. Seems like the most reasonable explanation.
You said that a 3 mil stylus is good to play diamond discs, but others have said 1 mil is proper. Can you revisit this and perhaps provide a definitive recommendation?
Sorry for the confusion! Ideally, if you have a 1 mil stylus, you should play Diamond Discs using that as it most closely matches the groove width. However, most record players with 78 rpm speed function do not come with a stylus of this size, they only come with a 3 mil (standard) or .07 mil (microgroove). In that case, the 3 mil can be used instead but be advised that neither of those stylii will deliver the best possible sound reproduction.
I just found one of the paperless, engraved labeled Edison Diamond Disc today out thrifting, and am wondering if anyone could please tell me what these typically go for in average condition, not bad for nearly 100 years old
+Daniel Bunge, I could not possibly give you information because there are rare Edisons that go for hundreds of dollars and common ones that go for less than 50 cents. Who are the artists and are they in playable condition?
Sort of, it was actually closer to the VHS vs. Beta "war". In a nutshell, Edison developed a superior product that was popular initially, but he lacked the ability to 1. cater to market demands, and 2. utilize his products (records and phonographs) to their fullest potential (i.e. not using microphones to make records a full two years after his competitors started using them).
Good video.. but every time that you slid something sharp like your fingernail or other record, against the top of those Edisons made me cringe, like CRAZY!!
+Daniel Bunge, don't worry, the Edisons are very scratch and scuff resilient. Unlike 78s, it actually takes quite a bit of force to scratch an Edison disc to the point that it would be audible upon playback!
Very helpful. Thank you. A lady sold me her family’s Edison player for $20, and it needs some work. I’ve bought a dozen or so diamond disks, but haven’t yet played any. Really appreciate the advice on cleaning them!
You're welcome!
Glad to see a younger person in the hobby!
There's another, even rarer item: the Edison "Needle Cut" shellac 78s, marketed for only a couple of months in 1929...
Great to see a young man interested in this exciting format.
My 60 year record collection consists of all types of selections.
Opera personalities on Edison cylinder & discs is a major interest.
Thanks Ralph! It is unfortunate to think of how many incredibly talented opera singers were dismissed by Edison because they weren't "pure" (i.e. stale) enough for him!
A very thorough and informative presentation! Hats off, Jason
Thank you kindly!
Great video! I was just given a Model 3-C console "New Edison Disc Phonograph" by a couple of dear friends. It had been sitting in her mother's barn for years. Aside from some missing trim pieces it works fine. While loading it up, Susan asks me, "You want all these old records, too?" Well, I don't figure this thing is gonna play my CD collection, huh? Load 'em up! LOL. That pile of over 150 lps and 45s came with 15 DD Edisons. Most in playable shape. A few labels have fallen off but once I scan the best label, do some Photoshop and retitles on them, I'll have them reglued and in good shape. Thanks for your info.
You're welcome! And take good care of that console, the C-3 is not a common model :)
Wow, great video! I've collected "78s" for years but have only recently got into Edison disks. Very helpful! Thanks!
Thanks for your reply. I have been collecting records mostly 78s since I was 5 years old.
I have a collection now of over 20,000 78's from 1898 right through to Indian Pressing on 78 from 1964.
I have just bought an Edison Standard Phonograph and an Amberola so am just really starting to collect Cylinders
It's such a great hobby that I have loved for over 40 years and it is great to see someone young to have the bug too. I just don't know when to stop buying I forget what I have and end up with many duplicates which I sell on EBay. I have just started cataloging my collection which is going to be a huge job
This was a very helpful video. You gave a lot of great information in a short period of time! Thank you. Well done.
Glad it was helpful!
Well done.
You were well prepared, which is much more than I can say for some of the videos on this subject that I have seen. I have just watched one man take 15 minutes to say half of what you did and still forget which of his six reproducers did this or that.
My great-aunt in Ipswich, Australia had a DD player in the 1950s, with perhaps 20 records. About all I recalled was the thickness and her daughter saying that they could not be played on a standard player. Heaven only knows what happened to them.
Thanks! Edison Diamond Discs, once the novelty of seeing such a strange record wears off, are more similar to other discs of the era than they are different. I'm glad you liked it!
Good presentation. I have a C-19 that was bought new by my family. It has the lower cabinet full of records.
Thank you! Enjoy your C-19, it is one of the best phonographs the Edison Company made!
A. Groot, you're welcome! I'm glad you found this video helpful!
Thank you so much for this information!! I volunteer in a local history museum and am always concerned properly keeping antique sound equipment.
You're very welcome!
Got to say you know your stuff. Really enjoyed your video and thanks for sharing. Edison Diamond Discs here in the UK are quite rare and we mostly find the opera and classical Discs. I had an Edison Phonograph but even with a new diamond the reproduction was aweful very noisy. Hello from UK gonna check out your other videos
Thanks again great video
Edison disc and phonograph sales were roughly about 10% that of the U.S. (adjusting for the decreased population and number of buyers, of course). Because marketing them in the UK was basically an afterthought done by the Edison company after WWI, that would explain why you mostly find noisy opera discs over there (the discs made between about 1915 through 1922 are VERY noisy!) Thanks for commenting.
Opera DD & cylinders are one main area of interest in my 60 year collection.
Thanks for all the info! Just getting into diamond discs.
Glad to help!
I have a Edison Victrola and about 400 records that I'm selling. Honestly not a scam. I inherited them from my mother a music teacher and am interested in selling to a person sincerely interested in collecting and preserving
Excellent video dude! Thanks.
You're welcome!
Thank you for posting this.
Thanks for the clear explanation!
I just recently got an Edison S19 player and was wondering if you know where I can go to get parts for it. It is currently in working condition but it needs a few things like a new felt pad and possibly a new stylus. Also do you have info on how to replace a stylus? I am new to the Edison Diamond Disc players and am trying to get all the info I can on them. Thank you and grrat job explaining everything in this video.
It's great to see such a young person so interested in Edison diamond disc records!I have three Diamond Disk machines, the nicest one is the C-450, the English Adam style with the hand painted front on it. I just got my first Amberola machine, the 75 for Blue Amberol cylinders..... and it sounds great! Thanks for the informative video. Do you have any Diamond Disc machines?
I used to have a C-150, but I sold it to a buyer last year who could use it more frequently than I would. Now I just have my Japanese Victrola as my only wind-up player :)
A Japanese Victrola?
Yes, I have posted videos of it on my channel. It's a model J1-35 from 1935 or 36.
Thanks. Great information!
You're welcome!
Some of Red Nichols best jazz performances were on Edison disc
you should point out that the checkered border on the label is an 80 rpm strobe...
+THEVICTROLAGUY, the chequered border is NOT an 80 rpm strobe, I've tested this myself. The record must spin around 115 rpm in order for the border to stay still.
+Jason Madore you have to use incandescent lighting, a real light bulb not compact florescent. i use these all the time, the border is a 80 RPM STROBE...
Huh, I have not tried it with an incandescent light. Fair enough, I'll try it out and get back to you!
This is certainly untrue. The border is a decorative one and NOT stroboscope markings for 80rpm.
@@expertsenior6262 i suggest you try it...
Can you show us the rare label you mentioned? Or perhaps a sketch of how they look...
I would if I owned either of them! Pictures of both the Edison Long Play and white dealer's sample records are on the Web, I would recommend going to Popsike for them first.
Good vid. I've just subscribed.
great info on diamond discs I have over 100 of them and a few have a red star on the label any idea why ?
The red star on the label was a message from Edison's recording studios that they thought the records would be slow sellers. Seriously. The red star labels were put on certain record labels that had music by largely unknown artists. It had nothing to do with the quality of content. But Edison's marketing team, like every other marketing team then and now, knew that customers were more likely to purchase records with celebrity or well known artists on them. And unlike other recordings, which were required to be stocked at Edison dealers, red star labels were not required to be stocked. Edison records were never subject to discount or refund from the factory, for any reason by any dealer. So the red star labels were actually a helpful tool for dealers who obviously strive for profit. This all begs the question, why would Edison's recording studios press records which they thought to be bad sellers? The answer is this, who knows. I'm sure that info is gone with the wind at this point. One might assume that it was perhaps for experimentation. A kind of test on the buying public for the lesser known artists. Kinda like throwing noodles at the wall and seeing which one sticks. Seems like the most reasonable explanation.
You said that a 3 mil stylus is good to play diamond discs, but others have said 1 mil is proper. Can you revisit this and perhaps provide a definitive recommendation?
Sorry for the confusion! Ideally, if you have a 1 mil stylus, you should play Diamond Discs using that as it most closely matches the groove width. However, most record players with 78 rpm speed function do not come with a stylus of this size, they only come with a 3 mil (standard) or .07 mil (microgroove). In that case, the 3 mil can be used instead but be advised that neither of those stylii will deliver the best possible sound reproduction.
@@TheModernMillennial .07 mil- really??
I just found one of the paperless, engraved labeled Edison Diamond Disc today out thrifting, and am wondering if anyone could please tell me what these typically go for in average condition, not bad for nearly 100 years old
+Daniel Bunge, I could not possibly give you information because there are rare Edisons that go for hundreds of dollars and common ones that go for less than 50 cents. Who are the artists and are they in playable condition?
So the Diamond Disc format had the same problem like the Tefifon phono tape cartridges.
Sort of, it was actually closer to the VHS vs. Beta "war". In a nutshell, Edison developed a superior product that was popular initially, but he lacked the ability to 1. cater to market demands, and 2. utilize his products (records and phonographs) to their fullest potential (i.e. not using microphones to make records a full two years after his competitors started using them).
what is kurt knox's website?
Kurt Nauck 78rpm.com
Good video.. but every time that you slid something sharp like your fingernail or other record, against the top of those Edisons made me cringe, like CRAZY!!
+Daniel Bunge, don't worry, the Edisons are very scratch and scuff resilient. Unlike 78s, it actually takes quite a bit of force to scratch an Edison disc to the point that it would be audible upon playback!