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Congratulations on your two purchases Paul - wonderful to see, and to hear that you're restoring the new arrival. Do please keep us posted!

Yes the VIII is the one on eBay . Its an early one with Mica box .Although I was using a meltrope in the pictures of the dance .I am the short one by the way....The tall one is Mac my neighbour friend .

I have been spending some money recently !

I tried contacting the G. Emporium on Facebook , but my posting disappeared ,I will see if I can get some info from them .

Some more pics of the restoration will be posted at the weekend . The cabinet is looking very nice indeed . It has been stripped and refinished with oil .I will re assemble it Saturday .

Here are some more pictures on the mk VIII
I had to get a friend to rebuild the tonearm bearing as it was very floppy and didn't run smoothly . The cone that is supposed to be turned in the base part of the bearing wasn't there at all ..So he had to turn it up, much to my concern about ruining it! ,and make a new concave ring on the arm. Its much improved now .

ALVES wrote: The measurements of my cabinet are .
20 and three quarters
17 and half
11 inches high .

How does this compare to the larger cabinets ?

Here are the measurements of three (random) larger standard (full lid) Mk X base units in inches:

Case No......1.........2..........3

Depth......21 ½.....22 ½.....21 ⅞

Width......19 ¼.....19.........19 ½

Height.....11 ⅛.....11 ¾.....11 ¾

These measurements do not include feet which are sometimes inset but often external adding up to an extra inch overall. As you see, there are small variations consistent with "hand made gramophones" but all slightly larger than the sloping lid model.

Thank you ,Interesting .Not much bigger though . I included feet on my measurements ,
I have noticed that in one of the pictures I posted of similar slope lid models ,the turntable is set way to the left .
They really are all potentially different in some ways . I would love to know what dictated this .

ALVES wrote:One other observation .
The underside of the motor board and the cast iron tube conduit board ,both of which are solid oak have chalked XII
The rebate in the front of the cabinet is also stamped XII

Very interesting and I cannot think of the reason---there was never a Mk XII as far as we know ! Possibly number 12 in that series---who knows ? May we have photos of each please ? By the way, your reference to cast iron is interesting---are you sure ? Conduits are usually aluminium (or bronze very early on).

I will take some pictures tomorrow .
It may be the 12th made ?
Its possible i have it wrong so will check that too .The conduit on the mk VIII is i am sure cast iron as it had brown surface oxidisation.

It is definitely not iron ,just checked it with a magnet .The under deck parts painted black the upper part is plated .

ALVES wrote:.....I have noticed that in one of the pictures I posted of similar slope lid models the turntable is set way to the left.....I would love to know what dictated this .

The ultimate governing factor is tracking. The distance between tonearm axis and motor spindle centre (or alternatively, needle point) has to conform mathematically to geometrical formulae for a given tonearm design so that the smaller the case becomes the fewer the options regarding position.

You will find a more detailed explanation here: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 11&t=15253

Thank you for another interesting link .
I have been looking up things on this forum on and off for months but I don't seam to be able to navigate it well so I have not seen that before .

The odd thing is that they vary so much .,But may be thats to do with whatever motor is fitted .

I have noticed though that all three of machines of mine .Expert junior,EMG VIII and the Xa all appear to differ as to where the needlepoint comes to past the spindle ,yet the Two EMGs are totally original ,the Expert has an electric collaro conversion .

Heres a pic of my Expert Junior which is in very nice condition.

I will post pics of the xa reassembly later when i can get myself to start the job.