HMV 194 Gramophone For Sale in California TOMORROW

[epigramophone]

An internet search for the supplying dealer found this :

[audiophile102]

This 194 arrived safely today, and many thanks to the person who brought it to my attention. I too was surprised it sold for this price, I intended to bid a good deal more. The past few years have been difficult, but the phono gods recently have been offering some solace. This one even has a dealer plate, and serial number 56… this must be low, early. The last shot offers a size comparison with a credenza… it’s a shade smaller but the sound, blown away.

I did a search on You Tube for a comparison of the sound between a 194 and a credenza and found none. please consider making one with a hot jazz record please.

[Inigo]

I've only known Credenzas by YT videos, so the comparison with the real thing isn't fair. But the 194 sounds incredible at home, and it reproduces treble crisp and clear, and bass warm and powerful. Play any Fats Waller record on it and you'll see... Also orchestral records, violin, cello and piano, and pipe organ! You'll get amazed. Play some Gigli records too....
Of course, the soundbox needs to be in perfect order, and all the joints in the sound path well greased and airtight.
The YouTube videos of credenza playing sound a bit muffled in the treble to my ears, but this could be the video recording.

[Mpellicano]

I am looking for a horn. I know of a cabinet that is missing the tonearm, grille, and horn. The cabinet is a sweetie, though.

[Burtemg]

I found mine for €200 on a closing fleamarket in Brussels... 1000 people must have past it without knowing it's value... It wasn't that good working and looking of course

[Steve]

I found mine for €200 on a closing fleamarket in Brussels... 1000 people must have past it without knowing it's value... It wasn't that good working and looking of course

It says a lot about "Joe Public", doesn't it? I mean, really, even if you know nothing whatsoever about gramophones, surely you would have recognised the most famous trademark in the world? The quality of the cabinet and the gold-plated fittings must also have nudged a slight curiosity from someone who peruses any flea markets. The fact that it is even working and can be demonstrated after almost 100 years might have intrigued someone.....you'd have thought? But finally, everybody has this Google Lens app now which instantly shows you what it is you are looking at. In most instances when the HMV re-entrant models are discussed the colossal selling prices usually enters the fray. With all that put together it is astonishing that no one bought it straight away. I wonder why anyone would attend a flea / collectors market if they are that blind to an obvious giveaway. Even if you didn't want it, you could easily flip it. The risk factor is zero.

Maybe the most famous trademark these days is Skechers and most people thought it was a radio-gram their grandad used to have? We here, amongst the gramophone cognoscenti, are a small and rapidly shrinking community. It seems we are decreasing by the day!

Congratulations, Burt, on the bargain of the year. Even though I have several of the largest EMG's and a 202, I still wish I'd kept my 194. It is a beautiful machine.

[Steve]

I am looking for a horn. I know of a cabinet that is missing the tonearm, grille, and horn. The cabinet is a sweetie, though.

Sad to say but it's highly unlikely any of these parts will be found. There were only a few hundred of these sold in Britain originally. It's almost a miracle if a complete one has survived overseas, let alone spare parts for it. I knew a collector who had a 194 missing parts for 25 years. He died before he ever completed the gramophone or saw it working.

[Curt A]

H. Taylor & Son, 29 Bridge St, Walsall - was a historic dealer with a fascinating building with carved facade.
This has to be one of the most interesting and well documented phonograph dealers that I have seen.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkAd_YG9gJs

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/article ... idgest.htm

https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/col ... ER_MBL1587

Taylors 29 Bridge St.jpeg (65.5 KiB) Viewed 1029 times

H Taylor.jpeg (42.67 KiB) Viewed 1029 times

[Steve]

Great finds, Curt, very interesting about the building too.

[OrthoFan]

I am looking for a horn. I know of a cabinet that is missing the tonearm, grille, and horn. The cabinet is a sweetie, though.

Sad to say but it's highly unlikely any of these parts will be found. There were only a few hundred of these sold in Britain originally. It's almost a miracle if a complete one has survived overseas, let alone spare parts for it. I knew a collector who had a 194 missing parts for 25 years. He died before he ever completed the gramophone or saw it working.

Here's a video showcasing an interesting (homemade?) solution for the larger HMV 202 with a missing horn -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmhwM2FYU9w

I wasn't able to spot any videos showing a Credenza VS an HMV 194, but there's a few videos on this page -- viewtopic.php?t=54155 -- showing the difference between a Credenza and an HMV 202.

In terms of horn size, from what I remember based on information posted on this forum, the Credenza has a six foot tone chamber (horn and tonearm), the 194 has a seven foot tone chamber, and the 202 has a whopping nine foot tone chamber.

OrthoFan