HMV No. 18 sound-boxes

[Oedipus]

Congratulations to you both for rescuing these two sound boxes. I can't tell you what they were designed for, but I suspect they were part of a general experiment with sound boxes rather than intended for a specific machine. Bear in mind that they must be pretty close in date to the No 16 (1931), and there were still plenty of acoustic gramophones in production and planned then, many of which went overseas and were not sold in this country.

The square shape surely is purely a matter of style, but I would love to know if the diaphragm is square, and also what the stylus suspension system is -- it is completely hidden in the photos, and presumably can only be seen when the box is dismantled.

Poodling Around, you refer to an 'etched No 20' on one. If by 'etched you mean scratched by hand with a pointed instrument, this is probably an old (pre-war) EMI museum inventory number; there are quite a few sound boxes still in the Archive with such numbers on them, but with many numbers missing due no doubt to disposals over the years.

[Steve]

Thank you, Oedipus.

Yes, the suspension system is obscured by the fascia so until one of us is brave enough to pull one of these apart, we shall remain in the dark about it, I'm afraid.

The diaphragm must be square, I suppose, otherwise the curved edge would become visible through the four internal corners of the front fascia plate? It's a valid question though!

I think you're right about the date. The style is very early 1930s and Art Deco influenced. I'm a little curious about the decision to paint the fascia black. This would have completely broken with Gramophone Company tradition (or Columbia's for that matter) so I wonder if these were ever intended to pair with a chrome plated tone-arm.

[poodling around]

Congratulations to you both for rescuing these two sound boxes. I can't tell you what they were designed for, but I suspect they were part of a general experiment with sound boxes rather than intended for a specific machine. Bear in mind that they must be pretty close in date to the No 16 (1931), and there were still plenty of acoustic gramophones in production and planned then, many of which went overseas and were not sold in this country.

The square shape surely is purely a matter of style, but I would love to know if the diaphragm is square, and also what the stylus suspension system is -- it is completely hidden in the photos, and presumably can only be seen when the box is dismantled.

Poodling Around, you refer to an 'etched No 20' on one. If by 'etched you mean scratched by hand with a pointed instrument, this is probably an old (pre-war) EMI museum inventory number; there are quite a few sound boxes still in the Archive with such numbers on them, but with many numbers missing due no doubt to disposals over the years.

Thank you very much Oedipus.

Very interesting indeed. So both soundboxes may be unique - I kind of liked the idea though that there may have been another 19 of the black / silver one yet to be found !

Do you have any idea as to why the 'dog and gramophone' HMV logo's differ between the two sound-boxes I wonder ?

[poodling around]

Thank you, Oedipus.

Yes, the suspension system is obscured by the fascia so until one of us is brave enough to pull one of these apart, we shall remain in the dark about it, I'm afraid.

The diaphragm must be square, I suppose, otherwise the curved edge would become visible through the four internal corners of the front fascia plate? It's a valid question though!

I think you're right about the date. The style is very early 1930s and Art Deco influenced. I'm a little curious about the decision to paint the fascia black. This would have completely broken with Gramophone Company tradition (or Columbia's for that matter) so I wonder if these were ever intended to pair with a chrome plated tone-arm.

Pulling them apart ! That made me laugh in a good way ..... I will never be that brave !

Square diaphragms maybe - now there's a thing. Very interesting indeed Steve.

[Garret]

Thank you, Oedipus.

Yes, the suspension system is obscured by the fascia so until one of us is brave enough to pull one of these apart, we shall remain in the dark about it, I'm afraid.

The diaphragm must be square, I suppose, otherwise the curved edge would become visible through the four internal corners of the front fascia plate? It's a valid question though!

I think you're right about the date. The style is very early 1930s and Art Deco influenced. I'm a little curious about the decision to paint the fascia black. This would have completely broken with Gramophone Company tradition (or Columbia's for that matter) so I wonder if these were ever intended to pair with a chrome plated tone-arm.

Surely you could get access to an x-ray machine so we could all know the answer?

Garret

[Steve]

I'll take it into my nearest hospital. I'm sure someone there will understand.

[CarlosV]

I'll take it into my nearest hospital. I'm sure someone there will understand.

I suggest a borescope or endoscope. There are cheap ones that connect to the phone. You could stick its probe under the fascia and inspect what's hidden under it.

[VanEpsFan1914]

I wonder if they were meant to resemble an all-electric pickup instead of an old gramophone soundbox? HMV might have had Art Deco stylings at least in the concept-art stage which we didn't get to see in production.

[Garret]

I'll take it into my nearest hospital. I'm sure someone there will understand.

Surely you've heard of industrial radiography? An example can be found here: https://www.formatndt.co.uk/ndt-london/

Garret