Bettini Phonograph Reproducers
Written by: Joan Lehman

Here are a few wonderful Bettini "attachment" Reproducers for an Edison Home Phonograph model A. In order for better sound of his favorite Opera singers of his era, Gianni Bettini first patented his "spider" type reproducer in 1889.

In this example, with a patent date Aug 1889/1892, the nickel plated outside of the unit is called carriage, and the side arm is called the half-nut bar, the bakelite body.

Bettini's patent was the first patent with quadruped-shaped "spider", with multiple legs attached to the center of the diaphragm of mica. Among other improvements, Bettini was hoping to increase the bass and reduce the 'blasting' effect of the recordings, which we can still hear today, while playing some of the old cylinders of this era. But today, this is part of the fun of listening to some of our old recordings!

Many of the Bettini "spider" stylus had concentrically legs, of even lengths, although only a few had varying lengths, bearing against the diaphragm at a number of points and culminating in a single recording pin. The "spider" transmits more force to the recording pin.

Gianni Bettini developed some very sophisticated talking machine technology in the second half of the 1890's. His pivotal work had to do with the communication of sound vibrations from a reproducing stylus to a vibrating diaphragm, with his "spider" effect.