The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Currently I'm looking to find my first front mount disk machine to fix up. I'd also love to get a nice L-door and maybe a school house Victor, but from a space perspective that would be a hard sell to my wife Table top machines are easier to get away with
Andreas

Hmmm: dream machines...........

An Opera would be nice; or a U.S. "Peerless" (that grille! That white enamel! Those double reproducers!); a Columbia BC, perhaps; a Louis XV DD; an HMV 460....

One might as well dream big...

A red leather gilt HMV 101:
http://www.gramophones.uk.com/informati ... _101_.html
These are really quite beautiful in real life, as well as having the great sound of a common black 101.

Most that turn up are amazingly tatty. These have a kind of faded glory, which still appeals to many people. The best examples are another thing entirely: luxury, quality, beauty. They shine like a jewel.


Of course a large EMG or Expert machine would be nice, but I think some of Graham Rankin's modifications, especially those for reducing the number of sharp turns in the sound path, are useful, so maybe a modern hybrid would be best. I suspect we may not yet have heard the absolute best sounding acoustic gramophone!

Another problem with coveting an EMG as the ultimate in acoustic sound reproduction is the crackle on so many of our beloved British pressings from the EMI stable (HMV, post merger Columbia, etc etc). All the EMGs I have heard have reproduced this crackle far too well. Owners just get used to it, but for me it detracts from the music. It is nothing like the genuinely enjoyable experience of listening to a laminate or foreign pressing on one of these machines.

Pete, let me second that "WOW." Enjoy!

Clay

Yes, one of Graham's EMG style machines would be the ultimate. I have seen them under construction and heard some of my own records played on them. Most of them use redundant HMV510/511 cabinets, which are much better looking than EMG/Expert originals.

Graham's YouTube channel also is well worth visiting.

Although I already have too many machines, I have never owned an Edison Disc Phonograph and would quite like to try one.

As a result of First World War import restrictions, DD machines and records did not go on general sale in Britain until 1920. They failed to make much impact in a market largely dominated by the conventional "78", and do not survive over here in large numbers.

Machines can be found at reasonable prices, but getting hold of good discs can be more difficult.

Pete,
That is a very nice grouping! It's always fun to peak at other collections. Thanks!!!

VE 10-35X, Berliner Trademark, Edison Opera, Pathéphone Model E

In no particular order

Amberola 1B and/or Opera in Oak, perfect original condition. Dreaming big...

Oh, I forgot....

GEM w/ Polyphone Attachment
Conn's Double Bell Wonder

Yes, and I can dream too!

My wish-list tends to change regularly but the machines, in reasonable condition, I've been searching for many years are:

Amberola 1A - with M Reproducer and Lyre grill
Edisonic - preferably a Beethoven but I would accept a Schubert at a pinch!

Tim W-W