E.M.G Mk VIII with a Frank Darrieulat case

[BassetHoundTrio]

That Mark VIII is a stunner! Obviously the work of a master cabinet maker - gorgeous indeed. I have never seen one like it, but of course EMGs aren't that common on my side of the pond.

This EMG Mk VIII belongs to Iain Warner. He is currently trying to sign up to this forum but is having problems. I assume the admin folk are working on this issue.
Hopefully Iain will join us soon on this discussion.

This is an E.M.G Mk VIII with a Frank Darrieulat veneered case. Iain kindly sent me some pictures and it was the first of it kind that I had seen. Iain pointed out another one in an earlier post on this forum. I had missed it. "Can't see the wood for the trees".
Here is the earlier post.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=17895&p=104268&hil ... 55#p104268

I'm working on a feature page on this EMG on my website.
http://www.gramophonemuseum.com/emg-gra ... eulat.html

[Curt A]

I have never seen a record cabinet like that, very similar to the EMG cabinet.
The Globe Wernicke Co also made office file cabinets, oak barrister bookcases and apparently record cabinets...

[Ahmed]

That is gorgeous!! Mind you, it's taking an already large cabinet and making it rather humongous but it's pretty, so all is forgiven

I note slight differences on the machine compared to mine, namely the needle cups and bullet break.

[Orchorsol]

Fantastic to see, thanks everyone for sharing!

[chunnybh]

I'm intrigued by the Brown's cabinet and the lovely looking Mk IX.
Can we have a few more pictures of both.
Thanks

[IainW]

Hello, This is my 1st post as I have just joined the forum on the recommendation of Chunny.
I bought the Mk VIII in question from a secondhand dealer here in Norfolk in the 1980's. Already owning a few HMV's I was on the lookout for an EMG, and was quite unaware this machine was in any way unusual.
The horn had a minor split in it but it was not until around 2007 that I decided that I ought to see if it was feasible to get it repaired and eventually I was recommended to contact Frank James. Frank asked me to send him some pictures of the damage and on seeing these replied saying that he could repair it and he invited me to bring it across to him near Ross on Wye. It was only when Frank saw the cabinet that I understood it was something out of the ordinary, at that time Frank said he had never seen another one like it. While the EMG was with Frank he replaced the motor with a Paillard one from his stock that he could tell from the holes in the motor board would have originally been fitted. When acquired it had a cheap Garrard motor, presumably replacing a broken Paillard.
Sorry to learn of his recent death, I have read the wonderful tributes to him here on the forum and can only echo these with the hospitality offered when staying at his farmhouse when I delivered the gramophone for repair.
It is only since looking on this forum that I saw there is a picture of a similar Mk VIII cabinet posted by emgcr back in 2014, and now a Mk X with the same design. Would it be correct to assume that this style would after all have been a 'standard' design offered by EMG?
Iain

[emgcr]

Good evening Iain and a hearty welcome to the forum.

Your Mk VIII is indeed most splendid and greatly to be admired---altogether a wonderful piece of crafstmanship. In answer to your last question I do not think it would be correct to suggest that this was in any way close to being a standard model. Quite the opposite I suspect and the three you mention are the only cases of that design that any of us have ever seen I believe. I am afraid I cannot now remember where I found the other Mk VIII photo but have an idea it may have come from/via Steve ? The Mk X lives in a musical family in Surrey.

Many congratulations on being the deservedly proud custodian and I very much hope it brings you great happiness.

Graham

[chunnybh]

Welcome to the forum Iain,
Glad you could finally join us.
As mentioned earlier, yours is a very rare example of a Mk VIII. I'm very fond of anything with a Wilson horn and this example is simply stunning. If you get the time can we please have a video of it playing.

Chunny

[IainW]

Thanks for the words of welcome. Regarding posting a recording of the machine in action please be patient. Up till now my means of recording for posterity have been with a 16mm clockwork camera.
Iain

[Inigo]

Welcome!
indeed, if you can use a mobile phone camera... It works well! I do my recordings for you tube this way...