[Phono-L] Melville-Clark reproducer ring inquiry

Andrew Baron andy at popyrus.com
Tue Jan 1 03:18:37 PST 2008


> Hello all and Happy New Year ~

On behalf of a close friend of mine, I'm searching for a diaphragm  
retaining ring for the reproducer on his Melville-Clark Apollo player  
piano/ phonograph.  The reproducer is in fine condition, but is  
missing the diaphragm, gaskets and threaded retaining ring.  I can  
easily help him with the diaphragm and gaskets, but couldn't find  
anything close to the retaining ring in my own parts collection.  The  
ring would be slightly smaller in diameter than an Edison DD retaining  
ring, and would have a slightly coarser thread.

It's an interesting reproducer with an unusual cross bar arrangement,  
and still has its original needle set screw (thumb screw) which has a  
conical jewel stylus mounted in its center, for playing Edison records  
(I assume), when the tone arm is repositioned for hill and dale  
reproduction.

Any help at all with the retaining ring or letting me know whether  
this reproducer is common to other phonographs would be sincerely  
appreciated.  The platter appears to be Columbia, but the reproducer  
doesn't resemble any Columbia reproducer that I've seen.  The piano  
itself is quite a lovely piece, very original and well preserved, and  
with the nicely engineered spring motor in place of a conventional  
wind motor, to turn the piano rolls or the phonograph, according to  
the selector lever.  The spring is silently ratchet-wound by pumping  
the foot pedals, and appears to have an adjustable clutch to prevent  
winding too tightly.

Thanks in advance for any help or insight with the reproducer ring.
Andy Baron
Santa Fe, NM


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