Gramophone Co. Ltd. De Luxe III
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:38 pm
I recently bought a Gramophone Co. Ltd. De Luxe III model from a fellow collector here in germany, who reduces his collection due to age.
The model De Luxe III is relatively rare and is one of the top-of-the-line machines of that time. In the UK it was not officially available, it is more of a kind of export model or it was available in various branches of the Gramophone Company. According to His Masters Gramophone (HMG book), it can be found in various overseas catalogs, including Germany, Egypt and India. Here https://grammophon-platten.de/e107_plug ... 38731.post you will find a german version of the De Luxe III.
The model shown here has instead of a G&T or the right-angled Gramophone Co. decals a "Nipper on red base" decal with the slogan "His Master Voice". It must therefore come from the transitional period, when the brand name "His Master Voice" was introduced - ie approx. 1909/1910
According to HMG, the De Luxe III was equipped with a brass or nickel-plated morning glory horn. In Germany and Egypt it was available with a mahogany wood grained horn. The machine shown here has an original HMV Speartip horn in mahogany.
The serial number does not give out a stamp in the wood of the baase, but there is a small label on the inside of the base. There are no other letters or numbers found on it. Therefore, of course, the question is on which country the machine originates from.
The seller bought the machine in that condition from a well-known British dealer over 25 years ago. He has received the information that it would be an Indian model which was produced in the UK for export. If it would be an indian model, then the base would have been presumably already manufactured in India, because the Gramophone Company already built in 1908 production facilities for the production of gramophones and records in Sealdah / Calcutta. However, the general condition of the machine is so good that i can not imagine a use in tropical conditions as well as a return to GB. I'll try to find out something from the british dealer, as long as he still remembers the deal and the provenance of the machine.
Additions, illustrations and advices on the possible country of origin are welcome! Maybe someone owns a catalog from Egypt or India or another country where the machine was offered.
The model De Luxe III is relatively rare and is one of the top-of-the-line machines of that time. In the UK it was not officially available, it is more of a kind of export model or it was available in various branches of the Gramophone Company. According to His Masters Gramophone (HMG book), it can be found in various overseas catalogs, including Germany, Egypt and India. Here https://grammophon-platten.de/e107_plug ... 38731.post you will find a german version of the De Luxe III.
The model shown here has instead of a G&T or the right-angled Gramophone Co. decals a "Nipper on red base" decal with the slogan "His Master Voice". It must therefore come from the transitional period, when the brand name "His Master Voice" was introduced - ie approx. 1909/1910
According to HMG, the De Luxe III was equipped with a brass or nickel-plated morning glory horn. In Germany and Egypt it was available with a mahogany wood grained horn. The machine shown here has an original HMV Speartip horn in mahogany.
The serial number does not give out a stamp in the wood of the baase, but there is a small label on the inside of the base. There are no other letters or numbers found on it. Therefore, of course, the question is on which country the machine originates from.
The seller bought the machine in that condition from a well-known British dealer over 25 years ago. He has received the information that it would be an Indian model which was produced in the UK for export. If it would be an indian model, then the base would have been presumably already manufactured in India, because the Gramophone Company already built in 1908 production facilities for the production of gramophones and records in Sealdah / Calcutta. However, the general condition of the machine is so good that i can not imagine a use in tropical conditions as well as a return to GB. I'll try to find out something from the british dealer, as long as he still remembers the deal and the provenance of the machine.
Additions, illustrations and advices on the possible country of origin are welcome! Maybe someone owns a catalog from Egypt or India or another country where the machine was offered.