The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

GavinM wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:21 am Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

GavinM wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:21 am Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

JerryVan wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:55 am

GavinM wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:21 am Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

I don't know about HMV machines in particular, but a few legitimate makes used corrugated fasteners.

Steve wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:38 am

GavinM wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:21 am Another thing to look out for to identify a crapophone is that on some of them the sections of the motor board are held together with corrugated steel fixings, which look horrible. Some years ago a man got in touch with me as he wanted me to have a look at a 'vintage' gramophone he was restoring. I went and I could see immediately that the machine was a crapophone and the motor board had those corrugated fixings. Unfortunately, this chap wouldn't believe me when I told him it was a repro machine, he was absolutely convinced it was a genuine vintage HMV and had wanted my advice on value!

I hope you told him he'd bought an utterly worthless piece of junk. I never understand people who buy this stuff from supposedly reputable dealers but then don't go back and challenge them after the revelation of what they've actually bought.

epigramophone wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:18 am Nothing new about corrugated fasteners. Here they are on my c.1911 Pathé Reflex :

Steve wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:38 am
I hope you told him he'd bought an utterly worthless piece of junk. I never understand people who buy this stuff from supposedly reputable dealers but then don't go back and challenge them after the revelation of what they've actually bought.