Never say never!

[GavinM]

Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

[Steve]

Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

I hope you told him he'd bought an utterly worthless piece of junk. I never understand people who buy this stuff from supposedly reputable dealers but then don't go back and challenge them after the revelation of what they've actually bought.

[JerryVan]

Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

I don't know about HMV machines in particular, but a few legitimate makes used corrugated fasteners.

[Steve]

Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

I don't know about HMV machines in particular, but a few legitimate makes used corrugated fasteners.

If they are what I've got pictured in my head, HMV indeed used them originally.

[epigramophone]

Nothing new about corrugated fasteners. Here they are on my c.1911 Pathé Reflex :

[GavinM]

Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

I hope you told him he'd bought an utterly worthless piece of junk. I never understand people who buy this stuff from supposedly reputable dealers but then don't go back and challenge them after the revelation of what they've actually bought.

I was, of course, polite and wished him luck with his project!

[GavinM]

Nothing new about corrugated fasteners. Here they are on my c.1911 Pathé Reflex :

Thank you, Roger and Steve, I stand corrected. I've not seen them on original machines.

[JerryVan]

I hope you told him he'd bought an utterly worthless piece of junk. I never understand people who buy this stuff from supposedly reputable dealers but then don't go back and challenge them after the revelation of what they've actually bought.

Many times, the seller is as unknowing as the buyer. Still, I suppose, some reparation could possibly be made. I just wouldn't necessarily approach the seller with guns blazing, (so to speak). Also, there is perhaps a great reluctance by a buyer to admit they've been deceived.