Paillard GGR 255

[Damfino59]

I am sending this out to the EMG owners. Is there anything I should know about the Paillard motor in my Mark VIII? One thing I did notice is the speed regulator did not change in style from the Paillard motor in my Sonora Nocturne from circa 1920 vintage. Also I can see why there was a change in style to the curved cygnet style. This horn is 50" long! I will need to rearrange the phono room for this.

Thanks,
Glenn

[OrthoSean]

Those motors seem to be rather unchanged over the years. Simple design and easy to work on. You'll hopefully find lots more help here once you have the machine. I'd really like to see some better photos of it than the ones on the auction website. The sound from one of these machines will be unlike anything you've ever heard from an acoustic phonograph, my EMG is my "daily driver". The auction example seems to be a pretty early example, too, although I'm not sure it has the correct soundbox on it. That horn is in great shape!

Please post some photos!

Sean

[Damfino59]

Hi Shawn,
I'll post some photos as soon as I can figure out downloading from the iPad to flicker.
You are right that the reproducer is not an EMG. It is British made and seems to be sort of variation on the Meltrope sound box. The mounting style is a cross between the Columbia Viva-Tonal and a Sonora. Getting something like this is always an adventure,
Regards,
Glenn

[OrthoSean]

Hi Shawn,
I'll post some photos as soon as I can figure out downloading from the iPad to flicker.
You are right that the reproducer is not an EMG. It is British made and seems to be sort of variation on the Meltrope sound box. The mounting style is a cross between the Columbia Viva-Tonal and a Sonora. Getting something like this is always an adventure,
Regards,
Glenn

If it has a tonearm like all EMGs I have seen (and it looked like yours does), it should be a simple pressure fitted reproducer, no? You may find yourself going a little overboard with different reproducers (I did!). I have two EMG soundboxes, one that came with it and one I bought from UK eBay which I've finally rebuilt. I also have a Meltrope I and III. All of them are great to have and each has a unique sound on different records. Buying my Mk IX was the best move I ever made!

Sean

[Damfino59]

Yes it is a pressure fit. The rubber isolator is sort of like the Viva-Tonal with a simple Sonora slip fit. No bayonet. I will be on the hunt for an Emg two spring box, along with the Meletrope. I'm back to work tomorrow so I can get some iPad help at the college. I'm an old AV geek there! Glenn

[OrthoSean]

Just my $.02 here, but I would grab something like a Meltrpoe I first, they're not that expensive and you get the option to use bamboo with them. You'll pay three times more for a two spring EMG box, mine was about $425 with shipping, including a nice original box and some literature, but I think that was on the cheaper side. The Meltrope was in the $100 range and I find it to be very nice!

Sean

[Orchorsol]

Great to hear that another EMG has turned up, and good luck with it Glenn. I'll look forward to photos of it! Is there a link to the auction mentioned? I'll be interested to see whether it's the earlier type with the near-horizontal horn or the later type at a slightly higher angle, which address is on the nameplate, etc. Endless fascination with these wonderful instruments.

I have no experience of the Paillard motors (of my EMGs/Experts, two have electric motors and my Mk VIII has a Collaro) but others here have. I agree with Sean's comments on soundboxes - my first machine came with a Meltrope III, which gives good results, but I soon tracked down an original soundbox which was a further revelation in sound quality.

[emgcr]

Hello Glenn and many congratulations on buying an EMG Mk VIII---you will never regret it.

Over here in the UK we are guessing that this is the one you bought and, to save you the trouble, have posted the auction photos below. I hope you will not mind but I shall delete if you would rather not have them displayed ?

As I am sure you know, these models came in two modes---"standard" and "deluxe"---the latter having a hinged lid to reduce soundbox noise and help fight dust. These are clearly shown on page 33 of the definitive book The EMG story written by Frank James---see first photo.

Your example is fascinating and I have never seen another like it. First impressions would tend to suggest that the superstructure might have been added at a later date and that it was originally a "standard" model. However, all these gramophones were "hand-made" and it could have been supplied with this specification to order. These are rare gramophones, but other "deluxe" models seem to have the lids hinged from the back which encompass the full depth of the deck-board---not always the full width, however. Yours is unique with the opening top lid---an interesting idea !

Andy mentions the two types of horn and yours would appear to be a later model with the Wilson horn angled slightly upwards---earlier examples were mounted in a more horizontal fashion. I shall post photos showing the difference in due course.

The soundbox, as has been said, has nothing to do with EMG.

Best wishes, Graham.

[Steve]

Was this a recent auction? Can someone please post a link to it? Does anyone else think the "lid" has nothing to do with it but is a customer "after-market add-on"?

[emgcr]

I do have the details of the auction Steve but would rather the new owner post them if he so wishes.