EMG Mark Xb ('Export') serial 657 in Australia - new member

[Emgian]

If you could provide photos of the gramophones you mention I would very much like to incorporate them into the listing.

Hi Jim,
I see you have successfully posted the info... I take your point that you are concentrating on EMG, but I will post pics of EM Ginn Expert 36" "All Range" here for general interest, as well as my Mark XA. Sorry about poor quality photos - the daylight was poor today due to approaching stormy weather, but the machines do look better in the flesh. I'll try to get better ones to replace them in the future.
The first ones are of the Mark XA which is in clean original condition with original pert 28.5" horn, acquired in the late 1990s from frank James. It came with the Collaro Induction motor which had replaced the original clockwork movement around 1932. The Mazac motor case fell to pieces so I replaced it with a Collaro Clockwork movement which matched plinth mounting screws, original winding escutcheon and tracking!

Mark XA Deck.JPG (38.91 KiB) Viewed 3532 times

This is the EM Ginn Expert "All Range" with original 36" horn, purchased from Roderick Wathen Esq. late of Findon Manor, West Sussex in 2001.

EM Ginn Expert All Range Deck.JPG (48.8 KiB) Viewed 3532 times

Sorry about the displaced photos but spent ages trying to post in order without success!

Best

Ian

[Jozwolf]

They are lovely instruments Ian! I have posted the photos of the Xa at Xa-110. My ducks are getting in line now: The Davey Rollright and some thorn needles I bought on ebay have arrived (in excellent condition), and a beautiful Meltrope III from Chunny also arrived. So now I can compare the mica (in its current state) and aluminium diaphragms. Just have to dig out some good 78s from the back cupboard.... where are they???

Thanks for your really helpful responses.

All the best,

Jim

[Emgian]

Hi Jim,
I'm pleased to help out! my soundbox tuning guide is very basic, there's a lot more subtlety for the advanced player to try. for example, Graham, Chunny and many others comment astutely on playing with diaphragms and tuning in this thread, which contains lots more interesting tips and tricks with the effects of mass and counterweights for EMG and Expert soundboxes: Post subject: EXPERT two-spring v four-spring soundboxes Posted: 2013 on TMF.

I will contact you by email from your page to discuss any other contributions you might like, eg: Hints Tips and Tricks for the beginner with clockwork motor overhauls to motors associated with EMG. I will have to edit my notes on these before I submit them to you for your help page! Enjoy your new toys, the whole world of enjoying broadcasting great music through the venerable EMG, particularly comparing and tweaking soundboxes, is immense fun! We all strive for a steady, powerful motor, and the very best fidelity from the soundbox...

All the Best,

Ian

[Jozwolf]

Great Ian. Look forward to your email. It is the easiest way to carry on this really constructive discussion. All the best, Jim

[Steve]

Ian,

I was "in contention" for that particular Expert Senior at one time but as I recall, the horn was sagging a little more and the after market horn strap support had punctured through the horn. I remember it sitting in the corner of an almost empty cottage feeling quite neglected. Mr Wathen turned down my offer justifying that "Ian Maxted has offered me £6,000 for it!" I questioned why he hadn't accepted your offer should that have been a true statement. I suspect you hadn't and you subsequently didn't!

Anyway, I'm glad it found a deserving home eventually and I'm impressed with the way you have managed to straighten the horn a little! Only you have the power to do this.

Steve

[Emgian]

Hi Steve,

Mr Wathen did mention a number of interested enthusiasts had inspected it, but £6,500???? Absolutely not! Not in that state! Not only that, I bought it on the single visit I made to him, after he had contacted me, so was unaware I was in a bidding competition! The horn was in a pretty bad way, and, though it now delivers an impressive sound, I still have some work to do finish repairing the brace/stay arrangement, and a little cosmetic conservation - one spare sunny day... I returned it to clockwork drive because the electric induction motor was faulty, and again the replacement plinth matched the existing screw mounting holes and original winding escutcheon. I remember he was amazed that I managed to squeeze it all into my old Volvo 940, including the record storage stand!

Best wishes,

Ian

[chunnybh]

Hello Everyone.
Jim sent me this interesting soundbox to re-build.
I am pretty certain the mica diaphragm is original to this soundbox.
I have several early 2-spring EMG soundboxes that have the exact same stylus bar with the thumb-screw in line with the bar. The stylus bar is EMG, for it to be drilled for steel needles and on a 4-spring is unusual. With that in mind, it must have been made for and tuned to play pre-electric 78's.
I did before and after tests using steel and thorn needles. I was surprised how good it sounded even before the re-build. It blasted at high notes but that was expected with petrified gasket rubbers.
I had to also change the mica with some NOS as the center was shot.
After the re-built and an afternoon of tweaking, the soundbox is just wonderful for acoustic records.
I will definitely set up the next soundbox I am re-building with mica.
Great fun.
Another odd thing with this soundbox. It has two extra holes at the back. These are not threaded. I am at a loss as to why they are there.

[emgcr]

Very interesting Chunny and, as you say, great fun. Many thanks for posting your results---always instructive and this one may well have been (re)designed purely for acoustic records ? The two holes on the back are not unusual and I have a few similar---see photo. Like you, I have no idea as to purpose unless they originally allowed for alignment dowels but such a facility hardly seems necessary ? Might they have accommodated dowels for travelling/postage purposes---again, seems unlikely ? Jim's circular needle drilling does seem to be unusual for the four-spring---mine all have triangulated holes.

[Jozwolf]

This is great news Chunny! Thanks so much for rejuvenating the soundbox whilst keeping its original character intact. As you say, great fun and I am really pleased it is giving such good performance on acoustic records. Am waiting with anticipation to hear it on my Mark Xa (Export). Heartfelt thanks! Jim

[Jozwolf]

Hi Chunny - the EMG 4-spring soundbox - rebuilt so expertly by you with fresh rubber replacing the petrified original gaskets, and a new mica diaphragm arrived this morning and I put it straight to work with a fresh steel needle onto Haydn's Symphony in D Major - 4th movement (the Finale - which as you know is in vivace tempo) played by the New York Philharmonic The difference from before is astonishing - it sounds truly magnificent! The range is extraordinary - with the bass blasting out and the flute skittering up into the high notes with clarity which, as a flautist and piccoloist, I find astonishing for such an old setup. And of course the sound sounds as if it is projected out of the speaker somehow to a focus a little in front of it so you really feel like you are there. Now I will try it on some of my older records and also with thorn needles. I expect lots of surprises. Now I understand why you are all so in love with the big horn EMGs!! My thanks to you for bringing my EMG Mark Xa (Export) so wonderfully to life!!

Jim.