Types of EXHIBITION reproducers

[chunnybh]

Hello Everyone.
Is there a detailed page anywhere dedicated to the EXHIBITION soundboxes.
I notice there are loads of different markings on basically the same reproducer.
Some EXHIBITIONS are marked G&T, Made in USA. His Masters Voice, Made in England, Victor Talking Mach' etc.
Is there a way of dating the soundboxes by their markings?. Were some of the Made in USA also sold in London, Berlin, Paris?.
Also, some are drilled for steel needles and some for bamboo. Is this just random or is there a date from when they were drilled for bamboo too?.

[epigramophone]

The Oakley/Proudfoot book "His Master's Gramophone" has an appendix on soundboxes, which covers the various Exhibitions sold in the UK.

[Zeppy]

In the US, the switch over from the round chuck to the triangular one to take the fibre needle happened in 1909. The pre-1909 reproducers also had a curled adjustment nut for the balance nuts, and the later had a hex nut. There were also differences in the text on the face, and the back, the raised portion that connected to the isolator at 90 degree angle versus the later sloped. However, Victor dealers would upgrade you from the round needle chuck to the triangular for a charge, so don't be surprised to find a body that looks pre-1909 with a triangular needle chuck. and of course there was also the Exhibitions with the quick release lever (also pre-1909...I have no idea how long these were in production)....and of course, they eventually produced the pot-metal Exhibition A.

On the UK side, I don't have the above referenced book, but I know the earlier one (gramophone and typewriter company), were made in the US, as were the Gramophone Co., and the ones with nipper. The "his master's voice" were English made. I have no idea what years they were produced. I have a small collection of Exhibition variations, so I figured, I'd share some pictures.

[GregVTLA]

Do you have any more information on the "Exhibition A" reproducer? I was unable to find anything more about that on the forum.

[Zeppy]

The Exhibition A was used in the 1920s with the Victrolita (VV 1-1 and the kids version VV 1-2). Made with pot metal, these guys tend not to be in very good condition. Some slight differences between it and the brass Exhibitions (the use of the No2 isolator, the way the two halves fit together).

I only have an incomplete one, and never dared to try to rebuild it/complete it figuring it would fall apart if I tried.

I think I have one or two more variations kicking around...I'll try to post them some time tomorrow.

[GregVTLA]

Well, good thing the brass ones are super common. Thanks for the picture! I'll make sure to have a spare exhibition on hand whenever looking at a 1-1 or 1-2

[chunnybh]

Thank you Zeppy. That is exactly what I was looking for . Thanks

[Zeppy]

A few more I had kicking around the house.

HMV Exhibition 0/Exhibition Junior (with the scribing angel)

And an English Gramola, which besides being manufactured by the company, in the UK, and nearly identical to an Exhibition, I know nothing about.

[mattrx]

I got this pot metal exhibition recently. It came to me on a VV-50. I know it wasn’t stock for that machine, but thought I’d post pics for posterity. It was rebuilt and repainted as expected. Fits vv-130 well. Not often does this roproducer turn up in this condition or in this era of phonographs as it is much earlier.
Mattt

[GregVTLA]

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like the Exhibition A is of MUCH less quality then the Exhibition. How does it sound?