HMV Pigmy Grand (Serpentine)

[Oedipus]

It's difficult to be certain from the photos but this Double Spring model looks to be mahogany rather than oak. If so, that's another addendum for any future edition of HMG. Incidentally, there is no objection to quoting from this book, PROVIDED that the source is acknowledged!

the 'Double Spring Pigmy transfer shown in the book is the only example I have seen (not that I have seen many Double-springers). It was in the centre of the back panel, and as far as I can remember, about on a level with the elbow.

The lid stay is a standard, very flimsy affair as found in Monarchs, and could easily be replicated.

I attach some photos of another double-spring model, this one without the transfer. Talking of transfer, the 'Nipper on a plinth' transfer belongs to 1910-11; the Nipper and Royal Appointment seems to have been used only in 1909.

[CarlosV]

I notice your horn has a black plate at the rear of the horn to protect it from any stray oil thrown by the governor.
Is that protective plate metal or something else?

I am a little surprised that there wasn't some sort of bracket or walled off section inside for the tonearm to be placed when the tonearm was removed, to prevent it rolling around, possibly into the motor, while packed to the carrying case for transit.

The plate is a thin metal sheet, probably steel. As to your question about the transport, I recall seeing a transport case for one of these, and it had a dedicated volume to accommodate the (disassembled) arm, on the side of the place for the machine.

[jamiegramo]

Certainly if you blow up the pictures I would put my money on mahogany. So Shane may have the only 'known' double-spring Pygmy in mahogany which certainly gives incentive to the restoration.

Although the single-spring version in Satinwood is more commonly seen, I have always found the use of Satinwood interesting in itself because I can't think of another Gramophone Co. 'hornless', 'table model' or even 'external horn' machine that was offered in this wood. At least not as standard. It seems to be something that only appeared with the larger special order cabinets.

[Steve]

I have the oak double-spring Pigmy Grand as well as the mahogany single spring version.

The double spring does have a gold decal on the rear of cabinet as well as the unique Pigmy Grand decal to front.

[gramophoneshane]

Thank you everyone for the additional information, particularly Oedipus for the additional photos.

Carlos, I notice the double spring machine lacks a metal plate on the horn. I guess it was deemed unnecessary in the slightly bigger cabinet.
Strangely, the metal replacement horn in my cabinet appears to be the same shape as the original, so I may use it as a template for a new wooden horn.

Unfortunately my machine is definitely oak, but the think the lighting and darkened finish makes it look more mahogany-like, so no new variation discoveries here sadly.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments and help.

[Oedipus]

I think the metal plate on the horn is not original. It is probably a repair (there's no need to protect the horn from oil, in fact oil is useful, it discourages woodworm!)
Incidentally, the size of the box is very little different for the double-spring version. Front to back is the same, side-to-side there's less than half-an-inch in it. The big difference is in the plinth and the motor board.

Steve, I'm intrigued by your 'unique decal' on the front -- could we have a photo? I've only ever seen either the 1909 Royal Warrant transfer, or the 1910 Nipper-on-a-plinth, neither of which is unique to the Pigmy Grand.

[CarlosV]

I think the metal plate on the horn is not original. It is probably a repair (there's no need to protect the horn from oil, in fact oil is useful, it discourages woodworm!)

I does not look like a repair. There is no visible damage to the horn, and the plate, besides its accurate shaping, is completely inserted under the corner fitting. As to the purpose, it is open to speculation. Certainly woordworm would not be a concern for the manufacturers, as it assists in planned obsolescence: the earlier they start to feast on the machine the better, incentivizing customers to buy a new one.

[gramophoneshane]

I have to admit Carlos, I was wondering about if the metal was original or not. I've never seen a single spring in person, so really didn't know myself one way or the other.

I only thought it may not be original after Oedipus posted his photos because
1) The two spring machine didn't have one.
2) Because on your machine, the two quarter mouldings along the rear top and side of the horn, don't meet up flush in the corner as they should.

It looked to me as if the side moulding has been removed and nailed back in place, but it couldn't seat back in its original position.
I'm guessing the thickness of the tin is probably around the size of the gap between the mitred corners of the moulding.

It certainly appears to be nice and neat, and it may well have been on the machine since a week after the original owner purchased it. I suppose we'll never know.
But personally, I don't think it distracts from machine, either visually or value wise.
It looks period correct, at least in the photo, and it's part of your machines 110 yr old history.

[Steve]

Steve, I'm intrigued by your 'unique decal' on the front -- could we have a photo? I've only ever seen either the 1909 Royal Warrant transfer, or the 1910 Nipper-on-a-plinth, neither of which is unique to the Pigmy Grand.

Just to be clear, I was referring to what I thought was unique to the Pigmy Grand model, namely the 1909 Royal Warrant decal, as I have never seen any other machines with this decal.

I was not inferring that my machine was different to other Pigmy Grands. Indeed my machines both have the identical decal to that shown in your pictures above.

Sorry for any confusion caused on my part. I am intrigued to see pictures of other non Pigmy Grand machines with the same decal though.

[Inigo]

Curiously I remember having read Spanish adverts from one of the prominent Spanish Gramophone dealers for this model, called PIGMEO in Spain

EDIT: found !!!

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Edit 2
Interesting integration with other adverts of the same dealer, crossing the prices of the other gramophone models

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