1935 Sykes Electrograph pickup (replica by Herrick Pickups) for Edison Blue Amberol and Columbia Indestructible cylinder records

[electrolaman]

Weakness Now Herrick pickup with Fender 10G driving VE12-51E Electrola out headphone.MOV

 

I recently acquired one of the Sykes Electrograph replica attachments being made by Martin Herrick of Herrick Pickups in the UK. These were manufactured in 1935 to play Edison Blue Amberol or Columbia Indestructible cylinder records. As did the original Sykes only suppled the upper part of the pickup. You have to sacrifice an Edison Diamond B Reproducer for the weight and stylus. In my case I went the extra and had a new diamond stylus installed by Wyatt  Marcus. 

 

The original Sykes design was made for being used with a 1930s radio with a phono input. I tried  the Herrick replica through the phono input of my 1933 RCA Victor "All Wave" Model 140 tombstone radio and it sounds quite good for a vintage sound with some treble-bass adjustment available. The replica by Herrick works also  works on more modern audio equipment like a guitar amplifier on music amplifier. I acquired a small Fender guitar amp to try it out and it sounds quite good.  With the amp you have some treble-mid- bass adjustments possible. I also tried using the Fender as a pre-amp and put the signal through the radio input of my 1928 Victor Electrola VE12-15E and it too sounds good for a vintage sound. 

 

 

 

 

 

Swonderful Herrick pickup playing out Fender 10G speaker.movWeakness Now Herrick pickup with Fender 10G driving VE12-51E Electrola out headphone.MOV