The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Alright, I'll try to put some oil on it and see where it leads me.
Concerning that horizontal bar, I also thought it seemed out of place but wasn't sure. It's my first external horn gramophone, and my knowledge is very limited as I said. So should I remove it? And is something else supposed to be at it's place instead?

It occurs to me that you should try to watch photos on Google asking for hmv back bracket or horn support or something, maybe you'll find something

I checked and I found an HMV back bracket on a video (the one in black), and also found pictures of Victor external horn machines (they seem similar) You're right, something's up with this part, though I'm not sure if it's just installed incorrectly or if it has nothing to do here. I don't know how to pull it off though. It looks like it's a ring fitted inside the tube, but it's edges are rusted and some kind of small bar is holding it.

Definitely I think that the inner ring with cross bar and that central pin protruding towards the horn in your tonearm bracket is placed upside down and must be reversed.

Alright, I'll try doing that. I'm struggling to get it out though, it's rusted and there's a piece around the pin that holds it in place. Should I just put some oil and pull as much as I can or is there an actual way to take it out?

The ideal would be to have actual images of one of these correctly installed...

Along with what Inigo states, I really would hesitate to take anything apart and make any changes until I knew how the assembly was originally intended to be. I must say, I have 2 HMV tone arm examples and neither of them have that exact same construction. Right now, I would just go with the original advice of disassembly and inspection, looking primarily at the lower pin, the one that sits in the back bracket.

Alright, I'll try to do that Monday. How do I disassemble it though? I can't move the tonearm enough to disassemble all that.

These parts are all them readily to disassemble. Some rust is preventing it. I would put penetrating oil or wd40 or something to free the movable parts and let it rest to do its job, then try to extract the upper ring and set screws etc. Thorough examination and patience, and always soft treatment to avoid breaking something.
Be patient and delicate and eventually you'll get it right.

Alright, thank you! I'll try to see what I can do this week.