The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone and Happy New Year.

I have in my collection this beautiful La Voz de Su Amo gramophone made in Barcelona.

Normally, the tip of the soundbox should reach the center of the tourntable, but as you can see from the pictures, it doesn't.

The gramophone features an original HMV tonearm. I have several in my collection and have tried them all, but there isn't one longer than the one shown in the pictures.

I was wondering if there is a specific HMV tonearm for this type of machines or if the distance of the soundbox from the center of the turntable is normal.

Thanks for your kind attention.
Enrico

Rather than a longer arm, perhaps you need to source a shorter back bracket?

Dear Jerry,
you're right, I explained myself badly because of the linguistic difference. The original HMV arms of that type I have in the spare parts have no significant differences in length. I noticed instead that there are two types of brackets that have a difference when compared: one is slightly shorter and lower and the other is slightly longer and higher. Obviously, the shortest bracket is already mounted on my Spanish HMV gramophone. So I was wondering if there is a third version of the bracket or, more simply, if the gramophone is fine as it is. With the stylus of the soundbox slightly set back from the center of the turntable. The gramophone plays the records without any problem, and the needle reads the groove until the end of the record. But I still care that the gramophone is correct from all points of view.
Thanks,
Enrico

Can you be sure that the case is correct and original to the machine? Just a thought!

Yes it is. It's an original Spanish HMV.

Please find attached and below some pictures of other machines:

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/540220917793730525/

Just a thought,
in your 4th picture the back bracket doesn't look quite upright.
If its leaning back slightly that could effectively shorten the arm length.

I think it's just a visual effect of the image because the bracket is mounted correctly ...

Thanks,
Enrico

the base transfer is very odd shouldn't be square on such a machine and the base is very crude and has clunky feet , doesn't really look that good , the same transfer is on the other machine and again clunky feet , Barcelona is a problem for machines such as this as the Banus Banus family were producing remakes / remodels for 70 years !

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=31878&p=189823&hilit=banus+banus#p189823

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=32383&p=192407&hilit=banus+banus#p192407

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=17638&hilit=banus+banus

Do you judge on the basis of reliable information, or is this just your opinion (however, perhaps not very polite if not corroborated by reliable knowledge!)?

Barcelona is where the "Compagnia Francesa del Gramophone" had its headquarters, as you can see on the attached pictures. I have also attached some pictures taken from the book of Joan Trius, who is a Spanish gramophone collector. As you can see, there are similar machines.

Then of course my gramophone may be a fake, but I rely on reliable information to arrive at such a judgment.

Thanks,
Enrico

Joan Trius i Nin has an estimable phonographic museum, product of his acquirements. See his catalogue Fonògrafs:
Gramòfons: Museu J. Trius: Vilafranca del Penedès (2000), Vilafranca del Penedès

Enrico, don't the pictures 123 and 124 from the book or catalog also look like the arm was a bit short? Could it be that they were made this way, maybe caring more about the beauty of the case then proper tracking? It is a beautiful machine for sure.

Andreas