Regal

[Curious1]

I think you are right. I don't know what the legal position was in Australia, but no UK Regal or Columbia machine of this period would have had a gooseneck tonearm as it would have infringed the Victor/HMV patents.

The horn looks to be of German/Swiss origin and is known as the Peacock Feather pattern.

I have to come clean about the horn I know it is not original to this machine your points about patent infringement are pretty convincing - so Regal as possibly a Columbia derivative would have had a straight tone arm? It would be great to see some contemporary catalogue images for reference wouldn't it?

I'd say that was an honest machine worthy of some work.
Almost certainly constructed from European components it may have been assembled in Australia to get round import taxes.

Steve

That sounds plausible I know for a fact that this happened with British motor cars.

Is it typical that the needle will not touch or get close to the spindle with machines like this? Is it possible that the back bracket or tone arm have been replaced? Jerry

I would have thought not. The needle on this arm falls about three quarters of an inch short of the spindle but then again the needle on my HMV 103 falls about three eighths short and I know that is an original untampered with original. Does anyone know how much is safe for our records? I have had a look at where the bracket is fixed to the cabinet and it all looks pretty original - witness marks and bolt holes

The arm looks like a modified Victrola off of a VV IV or a VV VI. The little screw in the crook is a dead give-away.
Harvey Kravitz

I didn't know what a VV IV or VI looked like so I googled some images. Would what you suggest require turning the tone arm from a Victor hornless phonograph upside down and wouldn't that mean that the soundbox faced the spindle rather than the outside of the turntable?

[stevel]

This may be a dumb question but is the soundbox body a one piece casting or does the soundbox screw to an adaptor which then fits to the tonearm?
I'm wondering if its the latter if its been assembled at the wrong angle?
Steve

[Curious1]

This may be a dumb question but is the soundbox body a one piece casting or does the soundbox screw to an adaptor which then fits to the tonearm?
I'm wondering if its the latter if its been assembled at the wrong angle?
Steve

Hi Steve
the sound box is a single casting with a small back plate which is insulated from the main body by a rubber gasket held in place by three screws I have no idea what purpose this apparently superfluous addition serves. The sound box push-fits into the tone arm - no bayonet here. The mica diaphragm and gaskets are in poor condition. I am toying with the idea of taking it all apart and cleaning and replacing the mica and gaskets. More pictures to follow when daylight comes?

Regards
Gavin

[Curious1]

Sound box and tone arm pictures

[stevel]

Sound box and tone arm pictures

In your first picture it looks as though the needle holder is set a bit less than 45 degrees to the playing surface - I've always thought it should be 60 degrees.
Would it be any nearer the spindle centre at that angle with a needle fitted?

Steve

[epigramophone]

This picture is taken from the 1913/14 UK Columbia catalogue and shows the original tonearm, soundbox and horn. The Regal soundbox was fitted to most of the Columbia range at that time.