The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EMG-SOUNDBOX ... %7Ciid%3A1

The seller says that he has not seen one like this before, but no doubt someone here will have done and can identify it.

That's a pretty unique EMG 2-spring soundbox. Does anyone recognize the body. I'm sure it's from a branded soundbox. Shame about the torn diaphragm, amazed that it still plays so well. Love the video....another lovely Xb. Is that an Oversize?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-xQxCWOtu4

It is a Xb and looks very nice as you say. I messaged the vendor who replied as follows :

"I’ve had the Xb for about 15 years, bought it in London. It is in exceptional condition and has its original EMG record cabinet, you can see part of it in the video. I can’t remember seeing a date under the turntable."

I was asking for the serial number (if any) and wanting to know more about the assymetrical stylus/diaphragm position but he doesn't know why that occurred. I would not buy for that reason---cannot be conducive to good sound reproduction in my humble opinion, although paradoxically the sound in the video is pretty good ! Helpfully, he forwarded a fine photo of his soundbox and a standard four-spring for comparison--see below. It does seem to be a unique box and perhaps home-made using bits from various sources including an early EMG two-spring ?

Alastair, Frank and I all agree that either the stylus bar is too long or the diaphragm is misaligned.
The stylus bar plate fixing also appears crude by EMG standards.

Yes indeed---a bit of a dog's breakfast ! The diaphragm looks to be reasonably central (photos can be deceptive) but the stylus bar is certainly too long which problem could be solved by interspacing a metal distance piece between the platform and case. Such may not be easy to do depending upon how the existing blind fixing is achieved. Having looked at the eBay photos very carefully it appears possible that the platform is fixed to the case with needle-holder machine screws ! There then remains the problem of the damaged diaphragm. Not an item to chase after in my opinion.

Sold for £227.00. 7 bidders/13 bids.