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Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 9:39 am
by epigramophone
Henry Albert Seymour (1861-1938) was the leading British pioneer in the field of improvements to sound reproduction.
His book "The Reproduction of Sound", published in 1917, was the definitive work on the subject at the time.

In 1923 Ellis Michael Ginn and his brother-in-law David Phillips set out to create the perfect gramophone, and it was to Henry Seymour that they turned for guidance. The Seymour Superphone was their inspiration, and their early EMG machines made extensive use of Seymour's components.

I recently acquired a copy of Henry Seymour's catalogue, which I reproduce here to share with you :

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 10:47 am
by OrthoFan
Many thanks for posting this. I see that the Seymour Loud-Speaker horn ...
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... anticipates Columbia's Plano-Reflex design ...
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...by several years!

OrthoFan

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 1:46 pm
by emgcr
Many thanks Roger---extremely interesting and here are some photos of one of his Superphones.

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 1:49 pm
by emgcr
....and a soundbox box.......

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 11:55 pm
by Lucius1958
It would be interesting to make a video comparison of the "Superphone" against other machines of the period; depending on how the "Hornite" diaphragm has aged versus mica diaphragms.

Bill

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 3:06 pm
by Oedipus
Yes, it is impossible to assess synthetic diaphragms like the Hornite and the Cliftophone, because we just don't know how they have deteriorated with age.
The Seymour loudspeaker does not anticipate the Columbia Plano-Reflex, because it does not have flats on the outside of the bends. It is simply made up of sections of tapered tube joined at angles, like the Waveola horn.

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 10:54 am
by OrthoFan
Oedipus wrote:...The Seymour loudspeaker does not anticipate the Columbia Plano-Reflex, because it does not have flats on the outside of the bends. It is simply made up of sections of tapered tube joined at angles, like the Waveola horn.
Many thanks for the clarification. I enlarged the image of the loudspeaker horn and can (now) see what you mean.

OrthoFan

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:32 am
by condenser
Is there any chance of putting the Seymour catalogue back on? I would love to see it. I have a Seymour Superphone.

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 4:37 am
by epigramophone
condenser wrote: Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:32 am Is there any chance of putting the Seymour catalogue back on? I would love to see it. I have a Seymour Superphone.
It will take me a little time to find and scan it again, but if you are an APS member it can be viewed on their website.
Meanwhile I am sure that we would all like to see pictures of your Seymour Superphone.

Roger.

Re: Henry Seymour Catalogue

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 5:06 am
by emgcr
I am not sure if this might be the catalogue referred to but, if not, may still be of interest ? Sorry it is back-to-front !