Another Exhibition Clone

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CarlosV
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Another Exhibition Clone

Post by CarlosV »

Just found this Amphion soundbox, another Anglo-French Exhibition clone. Side-by-side to an Exhibition both are identical, including the triangular needle hole. It seems that copying Exhibitions was a popular sport in Europe in the 1910s.
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Inigo
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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by Inigo »

Amphion wasn't also the name of one of the first enclosed horn console machines by Gramophone in the early years of Gramophone Grand era? Or was it Amplion? I think I've seen it in early Spanish Gramófono catalogues... Kind of similar to the uk gramophone Sheraton model...
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Steve
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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by Steve »

Inigo wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:29 am Amphion wasn't also the name of one of the first enclosed horn console machines by Gramophone in the early years of Gramophone Grand era? Or was it Amplion? I think I've seen it in early Spanish Gramófono catalogues... Kind of similar to the uk gramophone Sheraton model...
You're right. It's not a clone. Amphion is the French version of the Gramophone Grand and the name stuck for a while. It might have been used on other later models with the soundbox Carlos has found.

In other words I believe this soundbox is from the continental division of Victor / HMV and completely genuine.

gramophoneshane
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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by gramophoneshane »

I just love that after 42 yrs of collecting, I still get to see things I never knew existed and learn something new.
Bravo!

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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by epigramophone »

Not to be confused with the Canadian Amphion :
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Inigo
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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by Inigo »

Yes, yes.. And also in Spain, where our hmv branch was indeed a sub-branch from French gramophone until 1915. Although it seems that Frenchies allowed us since a given moment, to have our own different gramophone models. The Barcelona branch may have been assembling machines for the Spanish market earlier than 1915. Maybe we also had a pressing plant here, I've read somewhere that Barcelona had a factory since 1908. All these data from secondary sources, not confirmed.
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CarlosV
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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by CarlosV »

Steve wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:34 am
Inigo wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:29 am Amphion wasn't also the name of one of the first enclosed horn console machines by Gramophone in the early years of Gramophone Grand era? Or was it Amplion? I think I've seen it in early Spanish Gramófono catalogues... Kind of similar to the uk gramophone Sheraton model...
You're right. It's not a clone. Amphion is the French version of the Gramophone Grand and the name stuck for a while. It might have been used on other later models with the soundbox Carlos has found.

In other words I believe this soundbox is from the continental division of Victor / HMV and completely genuine.
Good to learn about it, Steve and Iñigo! No wonder that it looks identical to the Exhibition. I have some other imitations like a German Saturn that are almost identical, but have some differences, which is not the case with the Amphion. I have never seen an Amphion machine, though. Was it the label that the Gramophone Co used to commercialize machines in France before La Voix de Son Maître?

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Inigo
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Re: Another Exhibition Clone

Post by Inigo »

The French gramophone branch was managed by a personality, Alfred Clark, and that branch always had its own idiosyncrasies, and certain independence from uk mother house.
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