The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Good morning gentlemen.

I have a HMV portable with an Exhibition soundbox which is smaller than the usual Exhibitions found on tabletop gramophones (see picture). I don't know how much common these are, as I've never seen them referenced on the internet.

As usual, the white rubber ring surrounding the mica diaphragm is hardened and needs to be replaced. I saw some websites which offer replacement and rebuilding directions for standard Exhibition soundboxes, even selling a kit sometimes, but no one covers this smaller model.

My question is: the white rubber tube which is sold as a replacement for standard Exhibition soundboxes, will be of the correct thickness also for the smaller Exhibition? Or did these use a thinner rubber tube?

Also, what about the isolator on the back? Reproductions are not available, as far as I know. Is the isolator also important in order to improve the sound? Or is the white rubber ring far more important than the isolator?

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

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That's a standard "HMV Exhibition" and therefore the normal gasket material and replacement rubber isolators will work just the same. HMV didn't make a different size Exhibition for the Model 100 Portable. It used the same one as on all its contemporary machines.

If you're going to rebuild it yourself, this should help:

http://www.nipperhead.com/old/rep_exhib.htm

For the back flange ("isolator"), try this source:

http://www.rmrmfg.com/phono.html

Note that you must send in the metal part that's inside your old flange so the new flange can be cast around it.

This source uses very good tubing for the front gaskets in their rebuilds; don't know if they sell parts separately, but try them:

http://www.victrolarepairservice.com/index.html

This source has everything you'd need for parts:

http://www.antiquephono.com/victor.htm



Hope this helps, and good luck!

Oh dear, I knew I shouldn't have cut my hair... now I'm being mistaken for a gentleman!

Well, as it seems all of the pertinent information has been covered in terms of rebuilding and resources, I won't be redundant here.

The only thing I could possibly contribute to this conversation at this juncture is to point out that we are not all gentlemen.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your replies.

I have written to APSCO (http://www.antiquephono.com/) in the meanwhile but they didn't reply. Is this holidays time in the States, so it is likely that the shop is closed? They seem to sell both the gaskets and the isolators, with no need to send in any part.

I also had in my boomarks the Rocky Mountain Rubber Isolator page, however those web pages seem to have had no update since at least a decade. Are they really still in business? Has anyone dealt with them lately?

Yes Rocky Mountain Rubber Isolator is still in business? They are not cheap at $25 for one isolator, but I think they are the best. And I have dealt with them lately.