Edison Diamond Disc Surface Cleaning

[Craig Maier]

The question sometimes arises as to the proper surface cleaning method for Edison Diamond Discs. Rule #1: Never use water. (If water gets into the core of the record, it will be destroyed.) We use medical grade 91% isopropyl alcohol which can be purchased at most pharmacies.

We apply it to the surface needing to be cleaned with a cotton swab rubbing it onto the record in a circular motion in the same tangent as the record groove. We are careful not to let the alcohol get onto the edge of the record or on the label and/or center hole. Next, we remove the alcohol with a clean cotton swab, again using a circular motion tangential to the groove cut. If there seems to be residue left on the cotton swab used to dry the record, then we repeat the process using the alcohol. We only recommend the use of isopropyl alcohol.

On an Edison Diamond Disc Record sleeve (50497) it says:

"If records become soiled and need cleaning, wipe with cloth dampened with alcohol. Wipe dry with small piece of silk velvet.

DO NOT USE WATER"

[Craig Maier]

Here's some more information on Edison Diamond Disc Re-Creations (Records). They were produced from 1912 until 1929 and could not be played on conventional 78 rpm machines. Their speeds was 80 rpm and the cut was in the vertical plane, rather than the lateral direction per most 78s of that time. (This vertical displacement can be de-coded using the Diamond Cut Productions, Inc Virtual Phono Preamp or VPP). The record's surface was a phenolic resin (Bakelite) and had an inner core that was made from wood flour added to a glue binder. They were 10 inches in diameter and very thick compared to ordinary lateral cut records. The groove pitch was 150 per inch allowing up to 4.5 minutes of recording time per side. They could only be played on special Edison players because of the vertical cut nature of the modulation signals on the recordings.