Edison Home Phonograph - 2 Minute Edition

It's finally here! My Edison Home Phonograph 2 - Minute player is now ready for prime time. I'm so excited to demonstrate for you this amazing time traveling machine from 1903.
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[@TheDutyPaid]

I bet there will be a video in a hundred years explaining what a CD player is and how to use it.

[@1marcelfilms]

ill be there

[@voltazh]

+TheDutyPaid And with pendrives,mp3 etc

[@TheDutyPaid]

Juan Cruz Paolini The CD was the last physical way to carry music. I think we will see in our life times, a device you can fit in a pocket that could carry every song ever recorded at the highest bit rate. Copyright would be a nightmare.

[@TheDutyPaid]

***** There is not to my knowledge a portable Blu-ray player. Yes you can carry a Blu-ray but it is very similar to a CD. In the future if you understand how to use a CD then you will probably understand how to use a Blu-ray.

[@cpufreak101]

don't we have that today? it's just that all the music gets stored in the cloud

[@chrism1275]

Thanks so much for this demonstration & explanation. This took me back to my childhood (1950s) when we recorded & played back on a loaned wax cylinder machine.

[@sonicdash3818]

So you were like me when I was a child, I always dreamed of having a light bulb from the prewar Era, but never thought I would obtain one, but now I actually have an Edison Mazda bulb

[@davidlogansr8007]

Sonic Dash probably still works too!

[@spankysmp]

I can't believe what people thought when they had music and speech coming out of a box in their own homes over 100 years ago. Amazing DB.

[@armstrongarunachalam2221]

What a fantastic machine! Amazing voice quality without any electrical! The greatest genius to ever be born on earth!

[@BrucesPhonograph]

These early langrage cylinders were made to be played using ear tubes rather than a horn. They sound much better through ear tubes.

[@databits]

Good info! Thanks!

[@IsraelQuezada999]

I'm from México, and If you hadn't told us they were counting I wouldn't have understood a word they were saying... Awesome video my friend!

[@databits]

Hey Israel, thank you for watching! Glad you liked my video.

[@vylbird8014]

It was probably a a lot clearer when the cylinder was brand-new.

[@jonsymmonds1120]

Beautiful! I wish I had one. Keep up the great videos!

[@mrob75]

The tutor on the Spanish cylinder is quite fluent in Spanish. Upon returning the stylus down the second time, the tutor is saying: “Since then I haven’t seen him. The last time I saw him, he had a terrible head cold with one heck of a headache.” :-)

[@grlg2]

Wow I'm amazed at the sound quality! Great Video cheers.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

i digitized about 100, 000 records in 15 years and still going!.......

[@brenttaubert1803]

tino van der zwan phono cave! Do you have your recordings posted anywhere?

[@gunnarthefeisty]

on which channel?

[@Kennephone]

You must be working day and night to get that many digitized.

[@Bighaus1234]

You are so lucky to have those. Great video. Keep up the good work.

[@databits]

thank you for watching!

[@manuelgarciaorozco5885]

FAscinating work !!!

[@kuldeepvirk4591]

Life 100 years back , No electricity, but music on.

[@toonman361]

Around 10min, you mention that the cylinder grooves can be worn down over time. This is true, I would suggest holding the cylinder with your first two fingers inserted into the cylinder rather than using your forefinger and thumb. Although a slight pressure, over time, finger pressure can wear the grooves. Oil can collect allowing debris to collect. Thanks for the video.

[@user-rs1990]

Be very careful with those cylinders! They disintegrate very easily if roughly handled.

[@brentfisher902]

12:30 I can hear crosstalk/print-through between adjacent grooves....

[@kyleswager]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing this. Really enjoyed your video

[@databits]

Thank you Kyle for watching!!

[@ilcool90]

Very cool to see such an old machine in action. And yeah records made from wax, they probably never wanted those things to last.

[@BarneyBarnett]

I have one of the blue amberoll players 4 minutes and a model H reproducer

[@khmerrecordarchives5626]

I want that player so much!!!!!! :(

[@Brandi.Nicole]

You should set up a donation so we can help and hear it with an antique horn! 💕 I enjoyed your video very much. Thank you!

[@databits]

The machine has long since been sold, but I appreciate the idea!

[@HIMANSHU123493]

Very good

[@SammeLagom]

Would love to own one.

[@WAQWBrentwood]

ICS Still exists in the UK, In the US it's now called "Penn Foster".

[@stampedetrail2003]

You know what's funny though, I have heard that a lot of the original horns were lost because they were used as automotive funnels.

[@Kennephone]

Have you ever owned any concert cylinders/players, those are 5'' in diameter and were a failiure in the market due to cost, but they sound great.

[@databits]

I haven't. Only read about them.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

I like it. Belt Drive. Regular disks was direct driven on the wind-up Record players. Vertical cut= Hill and Dale.

[@jhigdem]

Outstanding machine, great price.

[@TerryMcKean]

Nice touch duplicating the poster... and on a table in the corner was the perfect spot for the phonograph to be placed as that corner helped to further project the sound nicely... kinda like a giant megaphone :-)

[@maheshnarayan6440]

How exactly is the stylus converting the recorded grooves on the cylinder into sound? Because as the cylinder spins and the stylus reads the patterns, I don't see any force causing the diaphragm to flutter? Even if the diaphragm did flutter, how come it o=comes out as voice and music instead if just air noise or some other noise?

[@stephenmills8812]

I wouldn't suggest touching the governor as the bearings on it are made of lead. Though, good video! I never knew what that little bar with the button was for until now.

[@shellophone]

Those are weights, not bearings, and are steel on an Edison, not lead.

[@bitsandbobs4598]

this might sound strange, do you change the needle on the phonograpth like on the horned gramophone or modern Turntable?

[@quenjankosky7348]

that thing looks like steel, so I would say no. But dont listen to me.

[@Altchannel2988]

No the needle is sapphire and permanent

[@williampalenik7306]

WOW never knew the first records were on wax coated cylinders very neat machines you have

[@jeeprod1]

A common idea held by many, but it is wrong. The cylinders were never made of wax. It is too soft. They were made of metallic soap. Competing firms used a wood fibre called celluloid stretched over a cardboard cylinder. By 1915, Edison got the rights to use celluloid, and that is what the blue amberol was made from.

[@EdgardoDC]

awesome man!

[@Jaymz87]

Awesome video!!

[@databits]

Thank you!!

[@Leo-kf9ec]

If the wax cylinder wore away can't you use one of the indestructible ones you were talking about?

[@databits]

Sure.

[@andersj.gonzalez4823]

Awesome video! I am from Cuba and my dream is to find one of the scarce cylinders or records Edison or any other company recorded here!

[@Hendo56]

This is really cool. From small acorns mighty oaks grow! But I still don't understand... how cutting groves in a wax cylinder can record in your voice.

[@tesla3695]

Wait, you won't pay 50$ for a legit horn? How much was the phonograph?

[@databits]

I would if I were keeping the phonograph, but I sold it. I paid $130 plus $40 for a stylus.

[@Lucius1958]

@Otto VanHouten It has a shaft for a slotted crank, so it's probably a model A.

[@Tomc1278]

What is a good price for a stylus

[@Lucius1958]

@@Tomc1278 Check out the *Talking Machine Forum*: they have links to suppliers.

[@Tomc1278]

Lucius1958 cheers

[@madmanmapper]

9:18 I'm proud of you :P

[@arifakyuz7673]

A galaxy called New Jersey? To us in New York, any other place is another galaxy (Except for Weschester and Jersey city [yeah I know it is in New Jersey, but deal with it])!

[@scottgarb3016]

Demo at 11:21

[@callofdutyplayer4466]

how much does the phonograph cost?

[@davidlogansr8007]

Call of Duty Player one like that will cost about $400 +or- the horn like he said from $50 to a big fancy original $400

[@davidlogansr8007]

He got lucky for $130! Also, the bigger the horn, the louder it will play.

[@dguy0386]

how can you tell the difference between a 2 minute machine and a 4 minute machine? also do the cylinders containers say how long the song is somewhere? I'd just like to know I'm not going to ruin my record before playing it

[@shellophone]

Until 1909, all cylinder record players were 2-minute. When 4-minute cylinders were introduced, the factories began producing machines that were ‘Combination Type’ (Edisons are marked that on the data plate) and have additional gearing. The ‘Standard’ (which has a gear-train to drive the feedscrew which is located behind the mandrel) has a knob on the left side of the gear cover that pulls out/pushes in to change from 2 to 4. The ‘Home’ and ‘Triumph’ (that have the feedscrew in-line with the pulley and mandrel, have a section containing a planetary gear transmission that moves in and out of the pulley itself. Both of these machines could accept conversion kits to convert a 2-minute machine to 2/4. On factory-equipped machines, there is typically a decal on the bedplate that indicates which way to push/pull for 2 or 4.

[@SO_DIGITAL]

the sound quality is a lot better than I expected

[@tiberiu_nicolae]

Only on spring powered wax cylinder phonographs can you get the true richness of the analog sound in its truest form. It is richer, deeper and so much warmer than those cold quantisized CDs or those silly mp3 These newer formats only trade convenience at the cost of what music was truly meant to be.

[@Lucius1958]

If you want to hear what acoustic recording was truly capable of, listen to a good Edison Diamond Disc from the mid 1920s.

[@DvdXploitr]

$130 for one of those? Not as bad as I thought it would be....I was thinking they would be closer to $300-$500

[@whitb003]

On Ebay they are closer to your price range if not WAY more. I think he got a really good deal in an antique store because it didn't work and they probably didn't think it could be fixed so easily.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

a collector who had collected phonographic media all his life left his collection to me after he died i got lots of pre 1900 Berliner records and quite a lot of pre mold edisons and pantograph bettini cylinders

[@gehanpanagoda1030]

Can you kindly let me know whether Edison Amberola 30 can be used to record a person's voice with an attachment. Thank you. Gehan

[@databits]

From what I understand, you cannot record on an Amberola. You would need a 2 minute home phonograph or a dictation machine to record on cylinders.

[@gehanpanagoda1030]

Thank you. I am new to the field. How come cylinders for Amberola 30 Phonograph produced?.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

the language cylinderss played at 80 rpm wile the commercial cylinders played at 160 rpm i have language cylinders as old as the 1890s and some of those early ones played at only 65 to 78 rpm.

[@Kennephone]

I wonder if they ever made languallge cylinders that have the tighter spacing of 4 minute ones, along with the slow speed, you could get nearly 10 minutes.

[@roboticgaming7394]

ITS THE "G" MODEL AND IT GOES HORIZONTAL NOT VERTICAL

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

Don’t the the surface of the cylinder with your fingers. They’re extremely old and need to be respected and they’re also extremely rare and sometimes unique.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

@4:45 you know... on a modern turntable everything is still happening physically as electricity is actually physical. I suppose you really meant 'mechanically'?

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

Hi, databits, Or anyone else who can answer this question. Are these cylinders solid like a candle but with the wick taken out in the center where you put in the mandrel, or are are they more like a paper towel roll or a toilet paper roll?

[@briangriffin9277]

Crazy robot lady They're hollow but not as thin as paper towel roll.

[@oldradiosnphonographs]

According to the serial number on your machine it was made in 1902.

[@peterripson]

What does the recording needle look like. I've got a cylinder full of different phonograph needles, some look straight and some look like little arrows.

[@databits]

It is quite oddly shaped. Here's a photograph of one: edisonphonos.proboards.com/thread/1615/edison-recorder-sapphire-needed-help

[@budprepper3811]

You wont pay $50 for a nice machine like that? Wtf it's 50 bucks!?

[@voltazh]

Data,you are active in youtube.god as listened to my prays

[@databits]

Something was lost in translation, Juan. Can you try again?

[@videotape2959]

Data, you are active on youtube! God has listened to my prayers.

[@databits]

+VideoTape - God answers my prayers as well! Thank you!

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

Not sure how many people know this, but Tomas Edison also created the first talking doll. She had a wooden body and sort of poseible limbs and a Bisk head. I hope I’m spelling that right. *Shrug* Anyways it’s a type of porcelain from Germany. She talked by means of a tiny phonograph inside her chest. You would turn the crank continuously to make the record play. There were no governors or windup motors here, Folks. Just plain ole clumsy child speed. Luckily Edison thought enough to include some sort of gearing system that wouldn’t let you play the tiny very cheaply-made cylinders in reverse. These dolls were called demonic little monsters by the parents who purchased them. You could purchase one for ten dollars. That was about a year’s salary at the time. They were somewhere between fourteen and eighteen inches tall and weighed about as much as a healthy newborn child. Anyway sorry for the book of boring stuff you probably didn’t want to know. Thanks so much for sharing your hobby with us! I love your sound-recording experiments!

[@gtb81.]

yeah and it is really creepy too!

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

The Doctor yeah. I bet they were really creepy, but for some crazy reason I want to see one. LOL!

[@gtb81.]

i think i have seen a picture or a video of one, my mum has a talking doll from her childhood but it is a 70's one

[@sharronneedles6721]

The problem with this is children would get scared when the wax was word down, the needle would rub against the metal causing a screaming noise. That's why they were called "Demonic Lil Monsters".

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

Austin Britt Oh! That makes sense. I’ve searched everywhere, but I’ve never found any video or recordings of these things in action. Maybe there aren’t any considering their age and reputation. LOL! Anyway thanks for the information! I am fascinated by the history of talking toys of all types.

[@toniturnwald9890]

Hello 1st of all it's a really good film and also the explanation is very good. But I have a question was it possible for the Phonograph to duplicate for e.g. some sounds or speak ? Also, there was a few already finished playable wax-rols. How did they record that ? Do you have any idea? Because I found nothing about recording and duplicating of wax-rols. Thank you and have a nice day. cu Toni. PS. I must apologize for my bad English, but I"m from Bavaria ( South Germany )

[@Lucius1958]

Are you referring to the mass production of cylinders? In the very earliest days, each record was an original: the performer(s) would have to repeat the selection over and over, in front of a number of recording machines (depending on the performance: a solo artist could only use two or three; but a large band could use a rack of a couple dozen machines). A little bit later, someone devised a pantograph (a machine with a playback stylus linked to a cutting stylus), where one or more copies could be made from a single master. These copies were often of poorer fidelity than the original. Finally, Edison figured out how to electroplate the wax master (originally using gold electrodes, hence the "Gold Moulded" trademark); from this mould, sub-masters could be cast, which would eventually be made into production moulds. The Edison company had to calculate precisely the rate of contraction for the wax, so that the final product would come out at the proper groove pitch.

[@abdulazizalserhani28]

What happens if you clean those cylinders

[@timothydelaval1089]

ah i have one like that its marked international correspondence schools ics it has rewind too but no shaver head

[@floridian2023]

W.O.W.

[@jarodfrucci18]

Cool I have a ediphone too it doesn't work but it was free so

[@blakebergersen296]

Little FYI don’t touch the threads

[@BrosOfArmz]

Today this would get demonized and or deleted with a warning of banning account for demonstrating it with the song of Dixie. Lol

[@shellophone]

There are plenty of records to choose from without celebrating America’s racist past.

[@tommagnum6302]

The original horns might cost $50 or more but you will get better sound. Much better.

[@TheRailroad99]

sounds like the Fallout 4 radio :D

[@melted_pistons]

From where in Pennsylvania you say?

[@TheWASHINGMACHINEBOY]

who else expected the spanish lesson to be teaching you spanish?

[@legofanguyvid]

So in 1903 we were at war with Spain right? Or was that later?

[@vylbird8014]

Earlier. The Spanish-American War, I guess you mean? Ended in 1899. It was a complicated diplomatic mess of a war, but the short version is that it was about Cuba, and the US won very quickly. But the US didn't actually want control of Cuba, they just didn't want a European power to have an outpost so dangerously close to American territory, so they supported Cuban independence instead.

[@radionicpowers5938]

w o w

[@Jimmy-lm2eg]

this edison standard phonograph is best

[@databits]

Yes, its dope.

[@Jimmy-lm2eg]

thanks for reply

[@Marusija8]

👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️❤️❤️

[@Phono-fun]

Why did you decide to sell it on Ebay?

[@databits]

It was part of the agreement with the finance committee. There will be more in my future I hope!

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

i know tinfoil today means aluminum foil but in edisons day it was actually tin- the metal- the element! tin foil is brittle a lot like lead foil but it would become rigid after recording once a recording was made it was done no more recordings could be made on the same foil the existing believe until the 2010s was that a recording on tinfoil could only be played back about 10 times before it became illegible modern experiments show that 50 plays where possible or even more if spoken louder into the recording machine

[@josiahdittman9365]

Don't touch the groove of the record the oils from your fingers can make the mold much worse.

[@sswaghfilms1419]

he copied the idea from that invention in the original "Dracula" book with the fancy recording/playing device...forgetting the name, but the Dr. used it with his patients.... So the book came out at least 20 years before this invention. Also he didnt invent the lightbulb, maybe first to use tungsten if you want to be all fancy with it.

[@Lucius1958]

FYI, "Dracula" was published in 1897, 20 years *AFTER* the phonograph was invented.

[@gtb81.]

can you play 2 min records on a 4 min player?=

[@Lucius1958]

No.

[@LiviuDragon]

its a clockwork mechanism

[@Jimmy-lm2eg]

how do you do get that?

[@databits]

Get what?

[@Jimmy-lm2eg]

databits how to get the edison standard phonograph!

[@thekitowl]

Jimmy eBay. Although you’ve probably sussed that out by now.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

a 2016 starting date the phonograph is from 1905 that's actually 111 years old not a hundred! and, sorry for being so anal!

[@Wookieproductions6]

Databits can u do some more wax cylinder phonographs and gramophone vids

[@databits]

I have two edison dictaphone machines that are electric motor driven sitting in my basement. I am unable to find original blank wax cylinders for them to test them. As soon as I find the cylinders, I will for sure.

[@Wookieproductions6]

databits thanks

[@TheNarrowgauger]

Databits, there's a few different people who supposedly sell blanks: www.edisonia.com/shop/shop.htm www.richardslaboratories.com/index.php/purchasing-information www.vulcanrecords.com/ And I'm sure there are others.

[@cpufreak101]

i should never own a recording model. i'd just put a bunch of dubstep on it. the pros are that it might last the next 100 years

[@SailorMaxie]

Like if you want Metallica on a wax cylinder.

[@lsswappedcessna]

Probably stole this from Tesla, too.

[@briangriffin9277]

The KZbin Phantom Official Tesla was a genius but a very strange bird.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Doesn't matter how weird someone may have been. It's how they benefitted society.