The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Inigo wrote:My friends, perhaps this is another model variation, as it is clearly labelled Exhibition Junior, but is the hmv version, not Victor:

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Don't take care of the balance springs, this is a modification made as the original springs (same as the standard exhibition) were broken, so I made two new U wire springs as in the 2-spring EMG/Expert soundbox. Btw, they work fine! See the video, from which this photo comes...

Everyone is correct here! Victor also made a differently badged 'Victor O Exhibition' for export to the Gramophone Company who sold it as the 'Exhibition Junior'. There was also one badged for 'Zonophone'. The 'Exhibition Junior' as it appeared in the States was different and was never offered in Europe. I have a differently badged Victor, Gramophone Co. and Zonophone Type O or Junior and they are identicle apart from the script and trademark.

The first one is curious indeed. I question whether this was an at home modification, or something done in the Victor workshop. It's starting point was an early Victor Exhibition. Even the needle bar started out as stock (evidenced by the hole for the thumb screw). I find the carving out of the back interesting. I've seen folks do this to lighten a reproducer when modifying it to a long throat (lighten the reproducer).

Could be a proto-type of the lever release? A board machinist? Creative hobbyist?

Never seen anything like it before.

As for other types of Exhibitions....we've had some posted

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The very first one might have been used in some homemade phonograph as part of an automatic needle changer, from some primitive attempt at something like the old Gabel Automatic Entertainer.

If I were making a record changer I could see doing something like that where the tonearm returns and it automatically kicks the old needle out and feeds a new one.