The Micro-Perophone Chromogram

[poodling around]

Good to know. Where did you find yours?

Has your MP22 got a bottom to it or can you see the underside of horn from the base? Alastair wasn't sure if it should have one but added one anyway, just to stop his cat from getting inside!

I bought it from ebay some time ago - a real bargain I thought.

It does have a bottom to it - photograph below.

The photograph isn't great but it shows that the screws seem to be in odd places to me ?

I guess that yours has the triple spring Thorens motor ?

Does it have the Micro-Perophone sound-box ? (What is 'free edge suspension ?).

Happy days always !

No idea what a free edge suspension is, maybe they suspended someone's free edge? My 22 came with two Micro-Perophone soundboxes and it is fitted with the standard double spring Garrard motor, the same as yours, I presume?

Thank you for the photo. I will resist the urge to remove the DIY base from mine now!

I will look out for a "scrap" MP22 to cannibalise for its original grille though, unless a good machine comes along at a reasonable price, in which case this one will be for sale again. I'm not sure why the previous owner thought it was original. I did ask if he was completely satisfied that it was but didn't receive a response to the question in time, before I'd gone to visit.

Ha ha !

Yes, the same Garrard motor I presume - although I haven't taken the motor-board off to have a look.

I have just realised that, from what epigramophone says, mine is probably an MP22a - with the counter-weight and automatic stop.

I fully understand your sentiments as expressed 'above' by the way.

There is a chance that I can 'point you towards' an MP22 which can be cannibalised for precisely the parts you need. But possibly only if yours is an MP22 and not a MP22a as the MP22a was slightly larger than the MP 22 - well, the lid certainly is .......................... (not many people know that !).

[Steve]

PM sent!

My grille aperture measures 15" wide x 23 ¾" high if that helps?

Incidentally, the original catalogue for a MP22 states that it also was fitted with counterweight and autobrake, so the distinction between the two variants is somewhat blurred to me.

[Steve]

My lid measures 19 ¼" wide x 21 ¼" deep to the extremeties and the height overall is 41 ½".

I'm not sure if they measured the lid to give the width and depth of cabinet originally (the lid overhangs the cabinet) but the sizes stated for MP22 were:

Height 42"
Width 20"
Depth 22"

My machine, anyway you try it clearly doesn't match the above sizes!

[poodling around]

PM sent!

My grille aperture measures 15" wide x 23 ¾" high if that helps?

Incidentally, the original catalogue for a MP22 states that it also was fitted with counterweight and autobrake, so the distinction between the two variants is somewhat blurred to me.

Many pm's sent in the hope of a happy ending !

[Steve]

PM sent!

My grille aperture measures 15" wide x 23 ¾" high if that helps?

Incidentally, the original catalogue for a MP22 states that it also was fitted with counterweight and autobrake, so the distinction between the two variants is somewhat blurred to me.

Many pm's sent in the hope of a happy ending !

Indeed, thank you very much but can you please provide an email address via PM here, as without it, I can't realistically make contact. It's not an ebay item currently but even so, there is only so much communication you can get before Ebay shuts you down. You cannot exchange email addresses using its messaging service.

Thanks if you can help!

[Steve]

Has anyone ever taken a photo of the inside of a horn of the Chromogram? I'm intrigued to see what those little bars are like, what they're made of and how they are positioned? Also, does anyone know if the bottom of the side cavities (between internal ply and external on each side) is supposed to be closed off or left open to the inside of the cabinet?

It's a fascinating design.

[poodling around]

Has anyone ever taken a photo of the inside of a horn of the Chromogram? I'm intrigued to see what those little bars are like, what they're made of and how they are positioned? Also, does anyone know if the bottom of the side cavities (between internal ply and external on each side) is supposed to be closed off or left open to the inside of the cabinet?

It's a fascinating design.

I could look at mine (MP22a) which I think is original - but (as I say to AI) you will have to re-explain what you mean like I am daft (AI says I can still use that word !).

[Steve]

Has anyone ever taken a photo of the inside of a horn of the Chromogram? I'm intrigued to see what those little bars are like, what they're made of and how they are positioned? Also, does anyone know if the bottom of the side cavities (between internal ply and external on each side) is supposed to be closed off or left open to the inside of the cabinet?

It's a fascinating design.

I could look at mine (MP22a) which I think is original - but (as I say to AI) you will have to re-explain what you mean like I am daft (AI says I can still use that word !).

In really simple terms a photo behind the grille looking into the horn would do the trick and then we can all see what's there and debate the purpose of any strange parts we didn't expect to see! As for the question about the sides, if you remove your bottom ply board, you can see the horn underneath. On either side of the cabinet between the internal plywood lining and the outside ply of the cabinet, there is a small gap about ⅜" (?) on either side. If the sound is designed to be absorbed into the sides of the cabinet (?) should these gaps be closed at the bottom or be open?

My MP22 has clearly been messed with (new fretwork grille, screen and loss of ply bottom etc) so I have no idea if anything might be missing, damaged etc. A small thin softwood 'dowel' about 17" long fell out yesterday on the floor after I moved the cabinet - my machine currently has no bottom fitted.

Thanks as always!

[Steve]

3 photos from my MP22:

The first 2 photos show a piece of pine (?) which measures approx. 16 ¾" long x ¼" x ¾" and is rounded off on one side of the shortest width. This is the piece I mentioned in my previous post that fell out from the side of the cabinet. Is it an original part of it and if so, what is its purpose?

The third photo shows the bottom of the horn inside my cabinet looking from underneath. The piece of timber, highlighted in yellow, securing it in place does not look original to me; it looks like a piece of weathered, cut-down garden chair leg! Has anyone else got access to their Chromogram who can verify if this looks right please? If I get a new ply base made to cover the bottom, where should it be fitted to, the questionable timber batten or the other flat edge below it, highlighted with green arrows?

Does anyone know how the grille is fitted to these normally? My current, non-original grille, is screwed from the front, at the bottom only, but the original grilles appear to have no screw fixings?

Many thanks to anyone who can assist.

[Steve]

Well, I think I might have answered my own questions: