A EMG Model 1X oak cased gramophone

[Orchorsol]

Here is the Mark IX I won from the auction. The identification number is ‘885’, but I am unsure of the exact production date this relates to. It would be great if anyone could help! I did use the forum, 'EMG Register to assist dating and EMG/Expert synopsis', but the links appear to have all expired.

The gramophone came with an off-brand soundbox. I used an Expert soundbox initially, but I really needed an E.M.G. horseshoe style. To my surprise, two days after I got the E.M.G., I saw a listing on Facebook Marketplace for many gramophone-related things (soundboxes, needle tins and more). Within this listing, I saw what appeared to be an EMG horseshoe soundbox. I messaged the seller at 1 am (when I saw the listing). To my surprise, he responded instantly. The following day, I set off on a 10-hour round trip at 8 am to collect the lot. I changed the rubber on the soundbox as it was in poor condition.

An unusual turn of events! I have attached images to this post.

Congratulations Adam! As Graham (emgcr) has said, that's a stupendously improbable piece of luck to have found that soundbox in short order.

Many of us EMG and Expert afficionados use BCNs - happy to send you a few free samples if you'd like (not at all meaning to do the salesman thing though - it's mostly for the love of it that I carry that on).

Inigo, extrapolating the serial numbers and dates is fun I agree, but the production was probably very far from linear!

[Inigo]

Yes, i can imagine...

[Adamp1gramophone]

Well Adam, many congratulations---that is quite a story ! To find the correct soundbox so quickly is extraordinary---well done indeed. What an exciting journey you must have had.

Thank you for showing the number which does give a vague idea as to date of manufacture. EMGs were numbered in the nineteen-thirties and post WW2 (Experts had no numbers) but there was no distinction made between models. Also, sadly, there are no records that anyone has found so far showing what exact dates those numbers referred to so it is usually necessary to make an educated guess. I have a note on file from Frank James saying that a Mk 10a No.412 is known to have been made in 1932. I own a Mk IX which had a broken horn when I bought it revealing the newspaper from which it was made. The Daily Mirror was able to confirm the date as 8th July 1948. The stamping on the deck-board shows No.2118. We thus have definite parameters and it would seem that your No.883 may have started life in the mid nineteen-thirties ?

I am fascinated by the fact that you had an Expert Senior four-spring soundbox in stock ?!

I did not receive the notification on this post! However, a rather unusual turn of events! I now have a second Mark 9, but this time it has an electric motor. I’ve created a second post sharing pictures! I’m searching another 2 spring horseshoe soundbox for this second machine. I’ve found that it did have the correct soundbox but a recent custodian switched this for a Meltrope III. I’m trying to reach the recent owners to see if I can buy the correct horseshoe from them!

I actually collect soundboxes! I have a couple of EMG and Expert soundboxes. They are much smaller than gramophones so my wife is always happy for me to get more of them!

[Adamp1gramophone]

If we could think of 412 in mid-1932 and 2118 in mid-1948, and taking as valid the years 1932-1940 and 1946-1948 for full production (no production during the 1940-1946 era) we have a ratio of 1706 units in ten years, so 170.6 units per year, or 15 per month, assuming one month vacation each year. It sounds a bit incredible... But...!
Then number 883 would fall in the spring of 1935.
It's pure speculation, though...

Sorry, but I love numbers...

I love the estimations! What would you date 2083 as?

[Adamp1gramophone]

Here is the Mark IX I won from the auction. The identification number is ‘885’, but I am unsure of the exact production date this relates to. It would be great if anyone could help! I did use the forum, 'EMG Register to assist dating and EMG/Expert synopsis', but the links appear to have all expired.

The gramophone came with an off-brand soundbox. I used an Expert soundbox initially, but I really needed an E.M.G. horseshoe style. To my surprise, two days after I got the E.M.G., I saw a listing on Facebook Marketplace for many gramophone-related things (soundboxes, needle tins and more). Within this listing, I saw what appeared to be an EMG horseshoe soundbox. I messaged the seller at 1 am (when I saw the listing). To my surprise, he responded instantly. The following day, I set off on a 10-hour round trip at 8 am to collect the lot. I changed the rubber on the soundbox as it was in poor condition.

An unusual turn of events! I have attached images to this post.

Congratulations Adam! As Graham (emgcr) has said, that's a stupendously improbable piece of luck to have found that soundbox in short order.

Many of us EMG and Expert afficionados use BCNs - happy to send you a few free samples if you'd like (not at all meaning to do the salesman thing though - it's mostly for the love of it that I carry that on).

Inigo, extrapolating the serial numbers and dates is fun I agree, but the production was probably very far from linear!

I have BCNs! Probably from you (if you’re the Burmese Colour Needles website chap!). Do you happen to have a 2 spring horseshoe you might sell too!?

[emgcr]

What would you date 2083 as?

We know for certain that 2116 used newspaper for horn construction from 8th July 1948. Therefore, in my estimation, yours being 33 numbers earlier, probably makes it 1947.

[emgcr]

I apologise for the typo that seems to have crept in. My own Mk IX bears the number 2116, not 2118 as stated above. I have tried to correct the original post but unsuccessfully.

[Adamp1gramophone]

What would you date 2083 as?

We know for certain that 2116 used newspaper for horn construction from 8th July 1948. Therefore, in my estimation, yours being 33 numbers earlier, probably makes it 1947.

Thanks Graham! That aligns with the information on the plaque. On my post about the newly acquired Mark 9 another forum member posted this link:

viewtopic.php?p=230298&hilit=EMG+IX#p230298

It seems the couple were married for 11 years until 1958!