repairing early "hard rubber" reciever shells & mouthpieces

[HarrySmith]

This was recently posted to the lists by an experienced, long time collector. I thought it was interesting so I am reposting it here:




In answer to several of your follow up questions:  I just use a soldering
iron to drip the wax into the crack or blemish. It dries hard in less then 2
minutes. Then, just shave it flush ever so carefully with an Exacto knife.
Remember: this wax is soft, so it is very easy to cut off too much. If you
do err, just drip a few more drops and shave more carefully.
I bought a few of these broken cylinder records about 20 years ago and still
have a few pieces left.  It is a real easy repair. When I am satisfied I
just use Min Wax satin clear Polyurethane spray, to give the receiver shell
or mouthpiece a protective covering.



Further note regarding melting broken Edison Records to repair
cracked/broken receiver shells and mouthpieces.  I mentioned using black
Edison cylinder records, because 99% of the early parts were black. However,
for those lucky enough to have some of the earlier brown hard rubber
receiver shells and mouthpieces, there are also Edison records in this
brownish color.  My observation is that there are many more surviving Edison
cylinder records then there are receivers shells and mouthpieces. Even a
good record can usually be purchased at a flea market for less then $10.00.

[Bill]

Thanks, Harry - I think.

I have a S-C (I think) magneto wall set with a hard rubber (again I think) receiver shell with some chunks out of it. See the fifth photo here

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7165.0

I didn't realize that the material was similar to wax, rather than rubber. The post you quoted seems to suggest that a restoration is as simple as buying an old wax cylinder record from a junque shoppe, breaking off a chunk, melting it with a soldering iron, and dripping it into the gouges.

Wow! Can it really be this simple? The melted wax actually bonds to the rubber? Has anyone done this?

I am already a TCI member. I guess I need to subscribe to the list.

Thanks again for posting.

Bill

[HarrySmith]

That one came from the ATCA list, not TCI. The member who posted it says he has been doing it that way for a long time. I cannot vouch for the method as I have not tried it but, one cheap old cylinder would be worth the investment and would probably last a lifetime!

[G-Man]

Here is the thread as it appeared yesterday on the TCI Listserve.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:11 pm
Re: For Sale: Edison wax records

In answer to several of your follow up questions: I just use a soldering
iron to drip the wax into the crack or blemish. It dries hard in less then 2
minutes. Then, just shave it flush ever so carefully with an Exacto knife.
Remember: this wax is soft, so it is very easy to cut off too much. If you
do err, just drip a few more drops and shave more carefully.
I bought a few of these broken cylinder records about 20 years ago and still
have a few pieces left. It is a real easy repair. When I am satisfied I
just use Min Wax satin clear Polyurethane spray, to give the receiver shell
or mouthpiece a protective covering.
Walt Aydelotte

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: For Sale: Edison wax records

Just so everyone knows: The wax used by Edison in their cylinder records
has a very low melting point, and the black ones (assuming they are broken)
are SUPERB to melt into cracks in both Receiver Shells and mouth
pieces............ I have been using broken Edison Cylinders for about 30
years.
Walt Aydelotte

Re: For Sale:  Edison wax records
--- In singingwires@yahoogroups.com, "Walt Aydelotte" <aydelotte01@...> wrote:
>
> Further note regarding melting broken Edison Records to repair
> cracked/broken receiver shells and mouthpieces.  I mentioned using black
> Edison cylinder records, because 99% of the early parts were black. However,
> for those lucky enough to have some of the earlier brown hard rubber
> receiver shells and mouthpieces, there are also Edison records in this
> brownish color.  My observation is that there are many more surviving Edison
> cylinder records then there are receivers shells and mouthpieces. Even a
> good record can usually be purchased at a flea market for less then $10.00.
>
> Walt Aydelotte



-----Original Message-----
AMVTCHUP@...
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 5:38 PM
Subject: For Sale: Edison wax records

I know it is not telephone related but maybe someone also collects old
record stuff. So For sale 100 Edison wax records. I do not know too much
about these but they look blue or black cylinder wax style. Various
conditions with wear and some chipping on the edges. The cardboard holders
arealso there and are in various conditions most missing the tops but have the
Edison Record name with picture of Thomas Edison. I have not inventoried
the records recordings so not sure what songs are there. $300 plus exact
shipping. And they are coming from Edison NJ formally know as Menlo Park
NJ where Edison had his work shops. Not that it makes a difference just
thought I would throw it in.

Thanks
Andy Cupola

[Greg G.]

I wonder if old 78rpm platters would work too?  I've had lots of broken ones that just went in the garbage.  In fact, I have a few now that I just fished out of the garbage.  It doesn't sound like they're made of the same material as Edison records, but they're certainly more plentiful and easy to come by w/o having to destroy an intact one.  Thrift stores usually have a few broken ones in their record stack.  I could always experiment with one and see, I suppose.  I'll try it and let you know.

[ReneRondeau]

Early 78s were made of a shellac compound.

As a 50+ year collector of phonographs I can say with some authority that "wax" cylinders are not really wax, even though it's a commonly used term even among advanced collectors. It's a more convenient description than "metallic soap", which is what they're really produced from. The chemical compounds were extremely complex in their formulation.

That said, they do melt in a similar manner to wax so it could very well work for this application. And since it is harder (and more brittle) than wax, it should make for a more durable repair than if you opted to use a black candle, which is paraffin and remains soft when it cools. Black cylinders are quite hard.

If you do want to attempt this, don't try to use blue cylinders. Edison Blue Amberols are extremely common but they are made of celluloid, with a plaster core. They don't melt, they burn almost explosively.....