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Edison Model B upper motor assembly. Originally equipped from the National Phonograph Company factory floor in West Orange, NJ with 2 minute wax cylinder capability, the machine was upgraded, probably after 1907, when Mr. Edison launched the "new" 4 minute nitrocellulose (plastic) cylinders.
Why the upgrade?
Edison was no "dummy". He knew that selling machines was far less profitable than selling recordings. Early 2 minute playing wax cylinder machines spun at 60 RPM. Wax cylinders had 100 grooves of recorded sound cut onto the wax surface for every one inch of linear surface.
Alternatively, The nitrocellulose, or 'Blue Amberol's" as Mr. Edison called them, were recorded with 200 grooves per inch of linear space, allowing for a 4 minute song to be played.
So, how can you play a 4 minute song on an earlier 2 minute machine?
THE BRILLIANCE OF EDISON REVEALED!!!
Since the wax and the Blue Amberols both played at 60 RPM's, Edison came up with a clever 'upgrade" option for folks who owned earlier 2 minute only playing machines so they could use their earlier machine and continue buying the new recorded releases on a 4 minute Blue Amberol. SO, HOW DID HE DO IT?
Edison designed a feedscrew that, with a flip of a lever, could rotate slower, or faster, depending if you wanted to play a 2 minute (faster) recording or a slower (4 minute) recording without affecting the 60 RPM speed that either cylinder required.How did the upgrade work?
If you look closely at the far left side of the assembly, you will see a sort of "switch" that can be moved to change the RPM's on the feed screw, which drove the carriage assembly across the record, faster for the 2 minute recording, or slower or 4 minute recordings. Seems simple, but can you personally imagine the engineering behind the concept. IN 1907! JUST, WOW!BOTTOM LINE FOLKS:
If all these parts were sold separately, from the carriage assembly, to the 2-4 minute "switch", to the feedscrew and the narrow shaft it requires, plus the swing arm and mandrel, not to mention the casting, these parts bought separately would EASILY cost $550.00 to "upgrade" your earlier 2 minute only playing Edison Home machine. So, when you look at the sell price, please understand the history, and individual part cost..
Thanks for viewing!
