What is this machine?

[stetam]

Indian? Spanish? And value?

[OrthoFan]

That looks like an HMV 31a Gramophone -- SEE: http://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio- ... MV_31A.htm

OrthoFan

[stetam]

Thank you very much!

Stetam

[kirtley2012]

Going of cabinet height, I'd say it was a HMV 32, the 31's had shorter cabinets due to having the smaller double spring motors, the 32's are larger and have the quad spring motor, very very nice machine, though the cabinet has likely been refinished?

[epigramophone]

I agree with OrthoFan that it is a Model 31a, as pictured in "His Master's Gramophone" Page 67, Fig 2.57. It is Indian made and has the "fat" tonearm with the No.5a soundbox.
The Model 32 (HMG Page 65, Fig 2.54) has the narrow bore tonearm and No.4 soundbox.

Stetam does not say whether it is for sale, and if so for how much, but it is certainly a desirable and uncommon machine.

[stetam]

I agree with OrthoFan that it is a Model 31a, as pictured in "His Master's Gramophone" Page 67, Fig 2.57. It is Indian made and has the "fat" tonearm with the No.5a soundbox.
The Model 32 (HMG Page 65, Fig 2.54) has the narrow bore tonearm and No.4 soundbox.

Stetam does not say whether it is for sale, and if so for how much, but it is certainly a desirable and uncommon machine.

It is at a local auction and I am bidding. Thank you for the info.

[kirtley2012]

I agree with OrthoFan that it is a Model 31a, as pictured in "His Master's Gramophone" Page 67, Fig 2.57. It is Indian made and has the "fat" tonearm with the No.5a soundbox.
The Model 32 (HMG Page 65, Fig 2.54) has the narrow bore tonearm and No.4 soundbox.

Stetam does not say whether it is for sale, and if so for how much, but it is certainly a desirable and uncommon machine.

Ah of course, I must have been tired!, yes 31A it is, amongst the best of the machines HMV made, I have a regular 31 and theyre really well worth having

[poodling around]

I agree with OrthoFan that it is a Model 31a, as pictured in "His Master's Gramophone" Page 67, Fig 2.57. It is Indian made and has the "fat" tonearm with the No.5a soundbox.
The Model 32 (HMG Page 65, Fig 2.54) has the narrow bore tonearm and No.4 soundbox.

Stetam does not say whether it is for sale, and if so for how much, but it is certainly a desirable and uncommon machine.

Ah of course, I must have been tired!, yes 31A it is, amongst the best of the machines HMV made, I have a regular 31 and theyre really well worth having

I agree. Absolutely fantastic, beautiful machines - I would certainly love to have one, one day !

[Inigo]

For UK and Europe they made models 25 and 32. The 25 had the 2 spring motor no32, and I want to remember.... maybe a10 inch tt. The 32 was bigger, with the 4 spring motor 34 and a12 inch tt. Both used the thin swan neck tonearm and no4 mica soundbox. Maybe the sound system of both were the same.
Pity they stopped there, and changed to fat tonearm and ortho soundbox only in the Asian local branches, where the use of acoustic machines lasted much longer. I don't know if any European branch made these later styles.
In Spain, I believe, they discontinued the external horn models sooner, and even I bet (lack of Spanish later hmv machine catalogues) here they never made the no25 and 32. The machines you see advertised in Spanish record catalogues of the late 20s and early 30s advertise tabletop models, consoles and uprights, and the portables, but no external horn models.

[Steve]

I think you're getting confused. Both the 25 and 32 have the 4 spring motor and 12" platter. The 25 had a goose neck with Exhibition soundbox and standard backbracket with new design to account for the tapering sides of the cabinet. The 25 pre-dates the 32. They share the same cabinet with speed indicator window to motorboard.

The 32 has narrow bore tonearm and no. 4 soundbox with a plug-in horn to top of motorboard (linked to tonearm underneath).

The 31 is an Indian model similar to 32 but with a narrower (rectangular not square) cabinet and no. 32 double spring motor only. The 31A has the fat arm and no. 5A soundbox.