The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Looks like the dirt and muck was actually her "mud mask!"

Great machine and I like how this is turning out. The rest ought to shine up nicely as well.

Not a good detective here... anyway, underneath the gramophone was this sticker that settles the year - sept. 22, 1913 - and the arm came out very well - I used the hand cleaner first and then just a quick shine with a chrome - polisher. Backbracket was less impressive but ok. Next step is motor and soundbox. Motor is noisy, but I have one of the same design, but larger - in another machine and its very silent, so we'll see.

Everything looks tons better. You are off to a good start. Jerry B.

The reference to 'wartime supply problems' in HMG refers to the use of a double-spring motor, not to the type of gears. These coarse gears (I didn't know they were called 'double cut') were normal on all Gramophone Co machines until 1914 and probably later; the war probably delayed a change until 1919. When war broke out, the company was in the process of taking on the manufacture of its own motors at Hayes, but this was delayed, and there may be a correlation between the change of gears and the start of 100% local manufacture.
The soundbox on this machine was normally the Exhibition Junior, and I think it unlikely that, even allowing for wartime supply problems, it would have been fitted originally with such an outdated horn. But the drooping elbow is a common problem with the'plug' type. The flanged elbows found on G & T machines are far superior.