[NJARC] Record speeds

[Aaron Hunter]

Jim

When did Edison set the standard at 80?  "From Tinfoil to Stereo" states 
the speed for Edison cylinders in 1897 was 90 RPM; 1898, 120; 1899, 140; 
and 1902, 160 which became the standard for 2 and 4 minute cylinders.  
Edison language cylinders used a slower speed, I think 120.

The Edison disk or Diamond Disk, wasn't released until about 1911, long 
after Berliner and then Victor had been on the market.  Edison's Diamond 
Disk speed of 1911 was 80 RPM, which is also the speed Columbia had been 
using for their disks up until the electric recording era.

My understanding of a correctly adjusted governor for a Diamond Disk 
machine is the maximum speed was set to 80 RPM.  According to the 
"setting up" manual, The instrument is "carefully adjusted to run at 
this speed (80) before it leaves the factory".  "If the speed is found 
to be more than eighty (80) turns, it may be corrected by turning the 
speed adjusting knob slightly to the left until the correct speed is 
obtained."  "In rare cases the speed may be found to be less than eighty 
(80) turns; if so, it may be corrected by turning the adjusting screw, 
which will be found in the speed adjusting lever beneath the 
top-plate."  These adjustments are for the machines produced after 
1915.  The earlier belt drive machine adjusts differently.

Aaron

>
>Getting back to the original question that started this thread, Edison
>chose 80rpm and most likely set the standard.  78rpm is close enough
>not to make that much of a difference in a spring powered motor.  There
>seems to be enough control on the motor governor to go from 70 to 90 or
>so RPM with my Edison Diamond Disk Phonograph.
>Regards,
>Jim
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