EMG Xa with painted horn for auction on 1st April 2025.

[emgcr]

As with London buses---nothing for months then one after the other !

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... 8e902b9392

This one has the horn interior decorated in an unusual way, not appealing to everyone's taste, but still interesting historically I think. It has the early tonearm bearing and ebony rest which may mean it started off life as a Mk X. Only sight of the conduit would confirm or not---early examples were shorter and made of bronze although most of those had goose-neck tonearms. The horn is of interest as the final diameter is quoted at approximately 29". The Xb was 29 ½" and the Xa was 28 ⅝" so confirmation is needed. The auctioneers currently have everything in storage so are unable to measure precisely until 20th March. Judging by the thin "knuckle" half way up the casting this is a Xa horn. The electric motor certainly seems to be a replacment and the tonearm bearing may have been moved backwards although it is difficult to see from the indistinct photographs. This might have been carried out to achieve correct tracking following installation of the higher level turntable. It is good to see the four-spring soundbox still present !

[bearcat]

LOVE the painted horn.
Is that factory or aftermarket?
bob stutz

[emgcr]

Probably "after market" I imagine but EMG did pride themselves on offering "handmade gramophones" so the original buyer might have specified such a finish !

[Steve]

I saw this a week ago but thought no one would be interested due to the unconventional horn attached. My immediate thought upon seeing it was to buy a tin of brown paint. Then I saw it was selling on April 1st and assumed it was just an April Fool's. Either way, it's not for me, sorry!

But what do they mean when they say "having a later re-painted horn"? Do they mean the horn was re-painted many years after it was made or do they mean the horn is later than the base?

[emgcr]

But what do they mean when they say "having a later re-painted horn"? Do they mean the horn was re-painted many years after it was made or do they mean the horn is later than the base?

My guess is that this is an original Xa and that the horn painting was commissioned by an owner at a later date. The casework is very attractive with satinwood veneer on the centre top---like many.

[Steve]

But what do they mean when they say "having a later re-painted horn"? Do they mean the horn was re-painted many years after it was made or do they mean the horn is later than the base?

My guess is that this is an original Xa and that the horn painting was commissioned by an owner at a later date. The casework is very attractive with satinwood veneer on the centre top---like many.

Yes, I think it's a Xa too and I'd agree that it is probably more likely the horn was painted later for a child.

[epigramophone]

Only close examination would reveal whether those "angels" are hand painted or waterslide transfers.
I suspect the latter, as hand painting would be almost impossible going further into the horn.
I would try to expose the original covering in an inconspicuous area before reaching for the brown paint.

[Steve]

Only close examination would reveal whether those "angels" are hand painted or waterslide transfers.
I suspect the latter, as hand painting would be almost impossible going further into the horn.
I would try to expose the original covering in an inconspicuous area before reaching for the brown paint.

I agree about the transfers, not just for the excellent reason you have already pointed out but also because they are all absolutely perfectly identical, which would be no mean feat for an artist. And yes, I too would attempt to lift the blue off before reaching for the brown paint. However, if I didn't like the decoration (which I do not) I simply would not buy this machine as I agree with comments made that it is part of the history and arguably should be retained.

[JerryVan]

If you study the images very closely, they really are not identical.

[Orchorsol]

If you study the images very closely, they really are not identical.

Agreed.

If I were interested I would have some concerns - I see possible signs under the paint of past structural damage to the papier applique, possible lines of creasing/bruising or part splitting of some of the layers. Good photos of the horn exterior would be helpful.

Also, the paint looks rather shiny, which is a bad thing for sound. A careful coat of matt varnish might solve that however.