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Soundbox in hand, I am still not 100%.
Looks quite correct, in tone and colour, still very different from the others.

Teak wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:57 am Soundbox in hand, I am still not 100%.
Looks quite correct, in tone and colour, still very different from the others.IMG_6840.jpeg
IMG_6842.jpeg

No, it doesn't look quite right. If I could see it in the flesh I'm sure I would be able to tell but in the photo it looks almost like a standard 5B which someone has attempted to darken to match the 193/202 oxidised silver plating.

I am sure the plating is correct. I am just not sure if it is a very odd 202 soundbox or very silvery gunmetal florentine bronze.

Teak wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 12:18 pm I am sure the plating is correct. I am just not sure if it is a very odd 202 soundbox or very silvery gunmetal florentine bronze.

Only 5A's were ever silver-plated (not 5B's) or came with the florentine bronze finish, and both are as distinctive as each other with the latter definitely being an absolute bronze colour, not gun metal colour. In your photo the silver also does not appear to be blue enough to match the 193/202 finish. Either way, it's a puzzle!

I would argue that later gramophones as the 179 came with 5b with florentine bronze finish. But really, who knows.
It sounds good though!

Teak wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 2:09 pm I would argue that later gramophones as the 179 came with 5b with florentine bronze finish. But really, who knows.
It sounds good though!

The 179 was an Australian model?

According to HMG, the following UK machines were fitted with Florentine Bronze soundboxes :

Model 152 (No.5a)
Model 158 (No.16)
Automatic Models (No.5a)

I have examples of both soundboxes in my collection.

I believe the 158 was also fitted with a bronze 5A.