Adrian Sykes ELECTROGRAPH C. 1935.

Above; Original Sykes Electrograph Circa, 1935.

Left to Right; Sykes Electrograph. Test Mechanism. 1st production copy.
Left to Right; Sykes Electrograph. Test Mechanism. 1st production copy.

In 1935, around a full Decade after cylinder recordings ceased production on a Commercial scale,  English Inventor Adrian Sykes patented on December 5th of that year, an Electro-magnetic top works to Electrically Amplify a Cylinder recording using the lower section of an Edison Diamond "B" mechanical reproducer. We were very fortunate in finding a surviving example of 1 of these Electrographs & as this December marks the 90th anniversary of Sykes exceptionally Maverick Device, we decided to attempt a limited edition Copy using modern materials, while staying true to the Original design. 

Our copy Electrograph on a 1907 Edison Triumph Cylinder Phonograph
Our copy Electrograph on a 1907 Edison Triumph Cylinder Phonograph
Left, Sykes Original Electrograph, Right, Our 90th Anniversary copy.
Left, Sykes Original Electrograph, Right, Our 90th Anniversary copy.

The Prototype body shell was 3D printed by Dredzik & was finished prior to batch production much like a Multi-coil pickup cover. The Electrograph houses a single coil of around 2.2 K Ohms D.C Resistance & has an adjustable pole piece within the coil to vary the air gap between the pole & the Metal Reed that picks up the signal vibrations from the stylus. The Electrograph is very interesting as when it was released, the target demographic had already moved on to other types of recorded media & as has been pointed out on the excellent Christerhamp.se website, it was a Commercial dead-end from day one. Had it been released during the 1920's when Gramophone reproducers were moving towards Electrification it may have helped the Cylinder machines to keep up with the Disc record Industry. 

90th Anniversary copy of Sykes Electrograph
90th Anniversary copy of Sykes Electrograph

Above; Our 90th Anniversary edition copy of the Electrograph

Adding a Diamond "B" reproducer weight/stylus assembly to our 90th Anniversary Electrograph copy.

tape the top to avoid scratching the cover
tape the top to avoid scratching the cover
remove the 2 screws
remove the 2 screws
remove the reed
remove the reed
fit the wire loop through the reed
fit the wire loop through the reed
refit the reed ensuring it sits straight
refit the reed ensuring it sits straight
replace top rubber isolator, phenolic plate & screws
replace top rubber isolator, phenolic plate & screws
temporarily fit weight/stylus assembly
temporarily fit weight/stylus assembly
mark the approximate position of the rear loop on the stylus bar
mark the approximate position of the rear loop on the stylus bar
snip the wire slightly over length to form the stylus bar loop that needs to match exactly the stylus angle of a standard Diamond "B" reproducer
snip the wire slightly over length to form the stylus bar loop that needs to match exactly the stylus angle of a standard Diamond "B" reproducer
fit the newly made loop over the stylus bar
fit the newly made loop over the stylus bar
re-fit the "B" weighted section as per a standard diamond "B" reproducer
re-fit the "B" weighted section as per a standard diamond "B" reproducer
re-fit the stylus axle pin
re-fit the stylus axle pin
ALWAYS use a cylinder recording of no value to test that you have the correct stylus angle & that the device is not removing any material from a cylinder in use or is causing any damage whilst playing.
ALWAYS use a cylinder recording of no value to test that you have the correct stylus angle & that the device is not removing any material from a cylinder in use or is causing any damage whilst playing.

Using a Diamond "C" weight & Stylus bar on our Electrograph

This is possible but the limit pin & the limit loop are reversed on the Amberola "C" reproducer. To fit our Electrograph, the lower weighted section of the "C" reproducer needs to have the limit pin removed & re-drilled to accept a limit loop of the same size as is fitted to the top section of the Diamond "C" to use with our Electrograph.