Kid Koala

Carboard Gramophone Kit mk2 in development!

Added 2021-12-31 17:55:05 +0000 UTC

Hi Everyone!

It's a prototype kind of New Year's Eve at our workshop!

People have asked me if I was going to make the Jr. Hand Powered Cardboard Gramophone Kit available again since it was originally only available with the first pressing of 12 Bit Blues.

Well, it took a pandemic, and the answer is... "Sorta?!"

I've decided to work on a mk II version of the kit that will be able to play flexi discs up to 7" in diameter. (The 12 bit Blues kit played a custom 5" flexi vinyl that was designed to fit in the original CD pacakaging).

Here are some work in progress development photos of the new kit. I'm testing out some different options for the tonearm/cone cradle. So far this version is working well!

A simple counterweight system is required to give a little more weight to the needle so that it stays in the groove.

I measured the weight required for optimum balance, tracking is 2 g or the equivalent of these 2 washers...

The folded piece of cardboard currently wrapped around the cone is the same weight and needs to be on the front part of the cone in order to balance the needle. I'm going to adjust the design so that it fits better and also (maybe) include a little fingerlift so you can cue up the needle from the right as you would on a regular turntable.

Anyways I'm having fun here playing with cardboard and science! A finalized version of this kit will be included with a future release as well as a series of flexi disc scratch records!

It seems Montreal is headed into another lockdown as we deal with this next wave in the pandemic so we'll be here recording and working on things for you to eventually listen to, read and play! Thank you for your continued support!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!