Thursday, December 31, 2015

Getting Ready to Grease

Here is what the original manual says in paragraph e, f and g and figure 7.  I am pretty sure I cannot get Edison Grease so I will research a substitute.

Figure 7





A full copy of the owners manual can be found on many websites.  This one is easy to read.

Reprints and original copies can be found on Ebay





Monday, December 28, 2015

Adjusting the Speed

Now I want to get the speed of the playback calibrated.  The recreations (discs) should be played at 80 rotations per minute (RPM).  There are a lot of incorrect references to 78 RPMs on Ebay listings for Edison Diamond Discs.  80 RPM is correct.

The original Edison Instructions mention a special calibration disc and a pitch pipe to make the adjustment.  An alternative is using a stop watch and simply counting the revolutions.

The method I use is the "Stobelight" app on my iphone.  It is free.

Simply place a recreation on the A100, making sure it is properly cranked.  Then in a dark room set the Strobelight app to 80RPM.  Start the disc spinning and look at the label.  If the label stays stationary   with the strobe, you are set at 80RPM.  If it rotates with the strobe, rotate the knob located at the 10 o'clock disc position slightly to increase or decrease the speed.  Once the label becomes stationary the adjustment is complete.

That's it!


Sunday, December 27, 2015

The Missing Crank

Well I want to play my A100 but mine is missing the crank. The crank is needed to wind the spring that drives the motor. So I looked on Ebay and found a lot of choices. Long ones, short ones, external threads (like a bolt has), and internal threads (like a nut). Most cost about $35.

I wasn't sure which I needed, but looking at my A100 it looked like a shorter one with external treads is correct.  I read somewhere that most Diamond Disc cranks have the same threads, the length could be a problem if too short.

I didn't want to wait for a crank to be shipped to my on Ebay before I could test out my A100 and I didn't want to spend around a quarter of the cost of the entire Edison just on a crank.

I had a hunch that the crank used standard threads and I was correct.  I went to Home Depot and came up with a temporary fix.

A bolt (5/16 - 18,  2.5 inch Hex) and a Ratchet

Bolt installed in place of crank

Turn the crank clockwise until you feel the spring start to resist.  Do not overtighten.  Around 25 full turns on mine when it has been fully unwound while playing.

Now I have time to shop around for the proper crank...................

Amateur at work

I am about to get into some serious woodworking with the goal of making my A100 Edison Diamond Disc Player looking good.

I am not a professional restorer, so I might make some serious mistakes.  I may do things that a professional restorer would cringe at.   This is a learning process for me........




Let's See It Work

I turn it on with the left front lever.  Using the wooden handle on the right I move and then lower the reproducer.  Midway through I adjust the speed to improve the sound.



Great it works!  Now need to oil and calibrate the speed.

Needs some work!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Needs Some TLC.......

Scratched

Split and separating 

Bad Finish

Loose legs and layers of wood separating

My Edison A100

So I just got an Edison A100 Diamond Disc Player. It basically works. It most likely needs a tune-up of the mechanics and needs a great deal of work on the wood and finish. Since I am new to this, I am going to document my journey. I have found a lot of information online, but in just a few days I have found some useful details that may be helpful to others...........