The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just came across a Garrard 'Super' Gramophone motor c.1924 or so. I'm totally impressed. It is the most superb phonograph motor I have ever seen (in my 5 years collecting)! I had no idea Garrard got such an early start in the phonograph business.

Here is the Garrard range of motors from a G A Bryan's 1927 trade catalogue.

Yes it really is printed in that colour!

A grand motor and the inspiration for the HMV No. 52 that followed it.

Now if only I could find a machine with one of these Garrards inside it as an excuse to play it!

Look at the prices! In today's money £60 for the single spring No.12 and £275 for the Super.

Thanks for putting this online. By the way if anyone has a Garrard Super with the designation "BB" on the plate, I am searching for one.

The cabinet housing this motor is awesome, though the puny little horn seems wholly inadequate for such a high end item. Made with almost paper thin wood and something like heavy waxed paper lining.

If the Garrard motor is original to the machine, it is almost certainly of British manufacture.

Impressive cabinets housing indifferent acoustic systems were often produced for sale in high class furniture shops, and appealed to customers for whom appearance was of paramount importance.

It is a pity that someone has removed the legs, but it should be possible to source suitable replacements.

Looks like my Vesper Gramophone. Vesper used some Henry Seymour parts.
Mine has the same horn but it opens out the back. So placed in a corner the small horn reflects off the walls and sounds surprisingly good.

The Super motor must have been a later upgrade. Incredible to see one made it to the States. Shame the legs have been chopped off.

chunnybh wrote:Looks like my Vesper Gramophone. Vesper used some Henry Seymour parts.
Mine has the same horn but it opens out the back. So placed in a corner the small horn reflects off the walls and sounds surprisingly good.

The Super motor must have been a later upgrade. Incredible to see one made it to the States. Shame the legs have been chopped off.

Your cabinet must certainly have been built by the same shop. I believe yours is a bit later, about the time Garrard started producing their own turntables instead of marketing their motors to high end cabinet makers.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing! CDB

An enclosed motor! I never saw the like. Have you peeked inside?