This example was unearthed at Harewood House in West Yorkshire. It had been in storage and the curators at Harewood House Trust decided to put it out on display. It caused quite a stir so they decided to find out more about the gramophone. They contacted me through my website and I was only too happy to let them know what they had and sent them details on this rare beast. I was planning a trip to the UK so asked if I could come have a look at and document it. They were very obliging and a date was set up for my visit. I suggested I bring a few tools along to see if I could get it working. I was told as it was part of the Trust and as such, any work on it would have to be approved, which could be a lengthy process.
Harewood House is a must see venue. The grounds and buildings are simply stunning and the car park was full on a Monday morning. I was told the gramophone belonged to George Henry Hubert Lascelles, the 7th Earl of Harewood. He was a huge Opera fan and was head of an array of impressive musical societies, so quite apt that he should own one of the best acoustic gramophones ever commercially made. He was quite a character and had his fair share of intrigue and scandal. Come on! he was president of Leeds United Football Club from 1961 until his death in 2011.
Back to the gramophone.
Unfortunately, the gramophone is currently only for display and does not work. The motor needs repairs and the soundbox may need rebuilding. The two examples I have seem have had the same damage to the horn. The diagonal brace rod, which is meant to help support the horn, has punctured through the paper horn. All quite easy repairs, and I have encouraged the curators at Harewood House to have these repairs done, so that the beast can be played and perhaps even used for concerts.
I’ve put together a draft web page on this All-Range. It’s not live yet but can be viewed and critiqued here.
http://www.gramophonemuseum.com/expert- ... range.html
Details: Expert All-Range with 36” diameter horn:
- Sits on a matching Expert cabinet with drawer.
- All the fittings and pipework are identical in size to the Expert Senior, at least on this example.
- Unique support brace attached to the rear of the case, suggesting a different cast. Which one came first?
- Fitted with an electric “Connoisseur motor, manufactured by A. R. Sugden in 1948”. It has a vertical idler wheel to rotate the turntable. Thanks to “physicist” for identifying the motor.
- Expert 4-spring soundbox in its original box.
- The cabinet drawer contents are pictured below. A pair of Davey bamboo cutters, Davey Dressing tube, Davey Rollright, a BCN Fibre Needle Sharpener and accessories, a Pathé reproducer for playing vertical cut records and a variety of fibre and steel needles.
- A key was found with the gramophone that did not fit the gramophone. On wandering about the music room, I discovered two corner cabinets in the music room that were locked. The key fitted and opened to reveal record cabinets, suggesting that is where the gramophone was located when it was last being used. On my visit, it was exhibited in one of the small dining rooms.
- Unusual item is the “Ultra- Paradox” counterweight device with a “Lifebelt” and printed instructions. I can see everyone rushing off to make one.
- Could it be an early Expert Senior with unique but primitive looking back bracket brace and perhaps the horn upgrade came later?
- Could the motor also be a later upgrade?