Recording video in the 1950s

[Mike Watterson]

Unfortunately, the cylinders I have are damaged throughout their entire thickness. Surface milling is not enough. Heating the wax may cure the situation, but the cylinder will not be perfectly even. Indeed, at this stage a lathe may be a good solution.

Perhaps stupid ideas:
Heat on a rotating support? Some sort of rotisserie? Might collapse!
Or in a vertical sleeve (maybe PTFE lined?).

Since 1895
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliner_Gramophone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipper#Advertising_icon

However, what is the base used for the wax on the cylinder?
My own search suggests Edison didn't invent it, but swapped cardboard base for all wax, so no base material.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph...evelopment
(Almost all Edison's inventions were by his staff or someone else)

What melting point is it?
See https://machinablewax.com/technical-data/
note needs security exception as cert wrong/expired.