HMV #32 Horn Gramophone

[gramophone-georg]

I have one of these exceptionally fine (in my opinion) machines with an oak "pyramid" cabinet and the 4 spring motor.

I have a few questions:

1. What is the proper color for the petaled horn? I have mixed a sort of pea green but I want to be sure this is correct before I spray. "Colonial" No. 33s seem to have a maroon/ red horn but I have seen the pea green color and black in pictures on the 32- with the black horned one having a comment that the horn likely pre dates the machine.

2. Should this have a #4 reproducer, or did later examples have orthophonic types? The machine in question came with an incorrect large all brass horn and a No. 23 soundbox. The soundbox sounds most excellent... but is it correct?

Thanks for any info.

1. The 23.5 inch Morning Glory horn had been around since 1906. It was available in black, green, maroon or brass.

2. The No.4 soundbox is correct for the Model 32.

The Model 32 pictured in "His Master's Gramophone", the definitive book on HMV, has a black horn.

Excellent info and what I was looking for, thanks.

[Torjazzer]

Exactly how well-built was the No. 4 reproducer? Was it made of pot metal?

[gramophone-georg]

Exactly how well-built was the No. 4 reproducer? Was it made of pot metal?

Most that I have seen were and they can be quite crumbly. The one I have earmarked for this machine is not. That said, even the ones that are pot metal and look like hell sound pretty fantastic once rebuilt if they don't fall apart in the process.

[[gandt]monarch]

Exactly how well-built was the No. 4 reproducer? Was it made of pot metal?

Most that I have seen were and they can be quite crumbly. The one I have earmarked for this machine is not. That said, even the ones that are pot metal and look like hell sound pretty fantastic once rebuilt if they don't fall apart in the process.

the no 4 sound box properly rebuilt is a very good sound box indeed.they not only come in pot metal there are a lot of brass backed ones out there.i have two 32's the mahogany came with a dark red morning glory horn and my oak model with a black morning glory horn,and yes they are very fine machines.

[gramophone-georg]

Exactly how well-built was the No. 4 reproducer? Was it made of pot metal?

Most that I have seen were and they can be quite crumbly. The one I have earmarked for this machine is not. That said, even the ones that are pot metal and look like hell sound pretty fantastic once rebuilt if they don't fall apart in the process.

the no 4 sound box properly rebuilt is a very good sound box indeed.they not only come in pot metal there are a lot of brass backed ones out there.i have two 32's the mahogany came with a dark red morning glory horn and my oak model with a black morning glory horn,and yes they are very fine machines.

I have seen way more brass backed HMV No. 4 units than USA Victrola # 4s.

Now we are back to the horn dilemma. I really like the green horn on the oak machine, but it is appearing that black is more correct... dammit.

My other question is that here in USA we got the "rivet" for twisting the horn into the elbow, but it looks like Europe got a knurled bolt. Is there a nut welded into the horn for this bolt, then?

[[gandt]monarch]

on a few of my morning glory horns i do indeed have a very small nut welded into the horns to receive the knurled knob,this is so on my mahogany/red horn 32.on my oak 32 [black horn] i have the curved slot to locate into a rivet elbow