The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

I am Shawn Borri a constant annoyance to the phonograph collector community. I like to learn about recording, on various formats. I make blank cylinders, and have an original professional studio recording head, used to make original master cylinders, possibly from Edison's studio.

Edison master machines recorded at 97.3333 tpi to make masters for the master, mother, working mold process. I own an original studio recording head and the master feed screw, the one I have though is set up for 194.33333 for four minute, the master machine had a gear on the mandrel and this feedscr...

Maybe I am crazy but any piece of equipment I get in, that is made before 1970, I usually at least replace any large electrolytic capacitors, without hesitation! Motor starting capacitors, filter caps any wax paper caps, like coupling caps.

I have experimented making wax cylinder blanks since 2000, and have sold more than I can keep track of, somewhere over 10,000 of them. Their are two of us who make authentic metallic soap blanks in the U.S. and we are friends, Chuck Richards, and myself. I had always been pressured by the collector ...

This is some photos of the recorder on my lathe, and some photos of the most complete recording lathe at Edison Historical Park.

I never thought I would ever seen one of these in person, yet own, and use it. It is an honor to have and use. It did not have a diaphragm or cutting stylus attached to it when I purchased it two years ago at the Union mechanical music show. Shown here with a copper stylus holder, and newer (had a r...

I have also spent time the last few years talking to Chuck Richards. I have thought it a good idea to standardize the blank formula and process used in the United States to make blanks. I asked Chuck and he said that it was good that I tried his method, as it proves that it can be duplicated by foll...

This is an early test made within a week after I purchased this recorder. It is believed to have been used by Walter Miller to make Edison cylinders and Diamond Discs. The sound quality of it, is actually much better now. I have a glass diaphragm in it, with 2 rubber gaskets with layers of burnt rub...

Cylinder records in general are a metallic soap. As far as Chuck Richards, Paul Morris, and Myself believe. Edison's team had spent great deals of money and time, months and years to develop cylinder record formulas. Starting in 1888-1889 the base aluminum stearate compound formula # 871 which is al...

First of all it is from the late 30s, early 40s. Know that all of the capacitors should be replaced the electrolytic and waxed paper foil kind. The cutter head needs to be cleaned and adjusted, and the power wire to the motor is probably dry rotted, all other wires being cloth covered are usually fi...

E. MorritI will use Mineral oil as stated, thank you! It has been awhile I still have photos of the horns you made for your recording setup. Steve E. That is a really interesting cutter head, the Universal Microphone Co. I think they were around in the late 20's early 30's too I remember my grandfat...

Working on a Rek-O--Cut Master Master Pro overhead, and a Fairchild 199 lathe drive. Have some questions. I usually work on making Edison cylinders but we are putting together a machine to record lacquers on. I need to know what the frequency response of an RCA 19822 head is. And what is the proper ...