[NJARC] Record speeds

[Jim Whartenby]

Aaron
Alex also mentioned that there were numerous speeds used from the
beginning of recordings.  It seems that for the first 20 or so years,
there was no manufacturing standard for either any one manufacturer or
the industry in general.  Like I said in an earlier post, "it is my
understanding" about the 80rpm speed.  If you have a book that states
differently, then that is what it is.

In hindsight, I should have put "standard" in quotes as there obviously
wasn't a standards committee as such.  But there must have been some
kind testing done to check the trade off of fidelity versus playing
time. It is still interesting that thirty years after the invention,
the two successful phonograph manufacturers had speeds so close
together.

You have the book and the "time lines", so who did set the defacto
standard?

I have no interest in cylinder machines but I do have a later (late
1920s) Edison Phonograph.  It has always been the family since it was
bought by my mother's father. Even have the original sales receipt. 
The owner's manual mentions speed adjustments just as you describe. 
Yet, it sounds like Donald Duck when it is set to the maximum speed so
it must not be holding up after 80 odd years!
Regards,
Jim

--- Aaron Hunter <ahunter01 at comcast.net> wrote:

> Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 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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