Okay...this is my first eBay guide I have ever written, so it isn't 100% perfect. Just please try to follow along with what I've written. Thanks.

As you already know, this particular guide is intended for those who have just bought, traded, or inherited an Edison Disc Phonograph. I should point out now, however, that if your phonograph has one of the scarcely-found electric motors, this guide can't be of assistance, because the directions given apply only to the more commonly found spring-motored phonographs. I will also point out that this guide is intended for those who own a working phonograph, as this isn't a guide for those who own a broken phonograph and come here hoping for directions to fix and restore it.

Edison phonographs were made from 1912 until 1929. They were designed to play Edison Diamond Disc records which were superior in sound quality, strength, and playing time than other records on the market at that time. Lucklily, since Edison wanted only the best materials for his phonographs and records, many of them have survived into our present day-the phonographs often needing just a slight tune-up to get them working again (i.e. a new grille cloth with a reproducer rebuild), and the records often just needing a good cleaning with isopropyl alcohol. If you wish to hear some old Edison discs again, follow along, and I'll have you hearing a record in no time!

1. Open the lid of the phonograph.

2. Select the record which you would like to listen to.

3. See that the arm is at the extreme right of the turntable.

3. Put that record on the turntable (cleaning it beforehand, if you like).

4. Grasp a firm hold on the crank at the right side of the phonograph, and turn it clockwise.

5. As you turn, you should feel resistance from the mainspring gradually increasing. Stop turning immediately when you feel solid resistance; you can't turn the crank any more without forcing it. If you don't stop immediately, you could break the mainspring due to too much compression.

6. Push the lever on the left side of the turntable in. The turntable should now spin.

7. If the turntable spins slowly or unevenly, try adjusting the speed by use of the regulator, whoch is the knob at the NW corner of the turntable board. Turn the regulator towards you to increase speed. The turntable should be spinning at 80 r.p.m..

8. If the turntable spins really fast, try adjusting the speed by use of the regulator, which is the knob at the NW corner of the turntable board. Turn the knob away from you to slow the speed down to 80 r.p.m..

9. Swing the arm over to the edge of the record, and SLOWLY set it down on the edge of the record by lifting the control lever. After doing this, do not push the arm, as the arm and needle will move across the record by itself by use of the feedscrew assembly.

10. Make sure that the limit pin is in roughly the center of the limit loop, and adjust the volume by pushing the volume slide to the left to make the sound louder; push it to the right to make the sound softer.

11. Close the lid gently, and pull up a chair and listen!

12. After the song is finished, get up, and open the lid.

13. Lift the arm and needle assembly by pushing the control lever down, and swing arm to the extreme right again.

14. Press the lever to the right of the turntable to apply the turntable brake.

15. After the turntable has stopped, lift the record off of the turntable, and put it back where you found it.

16. If you wish to hear another selection, repeat instructions listed.

17. If you wish to close up, close the lid, and if you have the time, let the mainspring run down. This helps preserve the mainspring. Just be certain to give the crank one turn after the mainspring has run down; this helps to get the mainspring in position in the barrel. 

TIPS:

*Be sure to grease and oil your Edison motor gears at least once per year, preferably more. I use white lithium grease and sewing oil for the motor parts. Do not grease the mainspring however; if your mainspring needs more grease, just simply contact the service places I've listed below-they can give you a description of what to do. They can also work on reproducers, grilles, governors, etc. in addition to mainspring services.

*Do not tamper with mainsprings! I'm serious here! You actually can die or be horribly cut from a mainspring. Mainsprings are very long-up to 40 feet in some cases, are extremely powerful, and they can be sharper than a butcher's knife. If your mainspring ever needs work, send it to a trained professional where they will work on it for you. It is better to spend $65 for a mainspring service than to lie permanently in a casket. 

*If you want your cabinet and various wooden parts on your Edison to look its best, apply Old English Lemon Oil to a soft, clean rag, and rub it into the cabinet. The wood will soak up the lemon oil, it will feel/smell/look better, and the wood will be preserved better and longer.

*It may sound silly, but give your Edison love! Yes, love! Edison built these machines to last, so play it often and you can even get little accessories for your Edison, if you want (such as dolls that dance to the music that you play on your Edison!) If you give it just a little TLC, it WILL return the favor.

 Enjoy your Edison!

Service Places for Edison Disc Phonographs:

1. Victrola Repair Service (located in Vermont)

2. Vintage Music Co. (located in Minnesota)

3. Bill's Clock Shop (located in Ohio)