The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all! I'm a freshly-minted member of the forum, and dang happy to be here based on the knowledge, experience and passion everyone is bringing to the table. As a musician, I've been a collector of guitars and other instruments for almost 15 years, but I happily stumbled upon my recent affinity with phonographs after my mother-in-law gifted her old HMV130 to me and my wife last week. Once it hit my desk, I became a bit obsessed about learning whatever I could about it. I'm still fresh on the scene, but happy with the things I've learned and happy to keep trucking on.

(Let me just stop and say what most people here already realize: The fact that somebody made this machine over eighty years ago, by hand, using springs and sprockets and ball bearings and other mechanical simplicities-by-themselves, and that it still works wonderfully is just a magnificent testament to quality engineering and craftsmanship behind the device. Don't make them like they used to an all that. Moving on...)

Okay - so the REAL question, and the one my headline teased everyone about, is this uber-mysterious sound box on my HMV130. My rookie mind was like, "this isn't a 5a or 5b - I must remove it and replace it!" But after looking at about 300 reproducers on Google Images, I deduced the structure of the device looked like an H.M. Ginn / HMG sound box, albeit without the cover I was used to seeing. I know there was some drama/separation in this company at some point, but I haven't delved too deeply into those stories.

As someone that appreciates something well-made, I'd be pretty stoked if I did, indeed, stumble upon a reproducer that is -per the forums/online chatter- highly desirable and highly accurate with regards to sound reproduction.

Can anyone shed any light on this could-be-something-could-be-nothing sound box?

Many thanks for any insight that anyone can provide!

Welcome to the forum, first of all!

Indeed you did stumble upon an EMG reproducer (note: not "HMG") and it looks to be a two-spring early type from about 1927/8. Note that in EMG terms, 1927 is very early. In Victrola terms, that's like the final days of acoustic machines. In Britain, EMG would not go on to make their best machines until 1933! Many houses were without electricity during the 30's but more importantly the large machines with paper mache horns sounded much much better than contemporary electrical reproducers of the day, hence why they were popular amongst the "serious" record buying cognescenti.

The HMV 130 dates from 1927-32 so the EMG reproducer is contemporary with it. An unusual combination that I have personally never seen before. The reproducer is worth about twice the price of the HMV machine with its correct 5a attached! Consider also that this reproducer is nowhere near the best example either EMG or (E M Ginn) EXPERT made.

Hi There
Welcome to the forum!
The first thing I noticed whn I read your post was the Edison Diamond Disc on your turntable. These should not be played with needle-type phonographs as it destroys the record. You need to find 78's, which are easy to distingush from the DD's becuase they are much thinner

Cheers
Brad

Hi Brad,

Many thanks - I quickly realized that when I dropped the needle for the first time and it sounded AWFUL! To ease the pain of others on the board, the disc was already in terrible shape to begin with, and I immediately switched to 78's after I realized that was the incorrect disc. Thanks again!

Hello there,

Another welcome to our fraternity. Be very careful---the addiction starts here !

Steve has covered all the important points and, yes, you have a very desirable reproducer or soundbox as we refer to such things on the other side of the pond. Yours has two springs for adjustment purposes---some have four.

One point to bear in mind is that use of such a soundbox allows you to vary the tracking which is an important consideration in relation to the wear of records. It is quite a complicated subject but to start with it might be a good idea to replace the EMG item with an HMV 5a or 5b both of which have bayonet fixings and which will show you the position of the needle on the record as designed and intended by HMV. You will then be able to match this when returning to using the EMG etc. Having said that, in my experience, HMV did not pay too much attention to really accurate tracking but the only way to check for sure is to use a specialist gauge. The EMG soundbox with its swivelling capability might then actually improve the situation !

emgcr wrote:Another welcome to our fraternity. Be very careful---the addiction starts here !

And another warm welcome. Don't worry, it's quite a harmless affliction. A 5a or 5b soundbox to go with the HMV 130, and then say a nice EMG Mk VIII to go with that soundbox...

Hard to tell exactly from the photos, but the pivot bar looks to be well out of line (knife edges jumped out of the grooves). However, if it sounds reasonable at present I wouldn't be tempted to fiddle - original EMG diaphragms are precious and very easy to damage. It's worth paying an expert to overhaul it properly.

There is a good looking 5A on Ebay at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-HMV-5 ... 2584cdd95a

There is a good looking 5A on Ebay at the moment

I wouldn't recommend that particular example to zepfool as it is chromium plated and the HMV 130 has all nickel plated internal fittings. I'm not sure about the condition of the pot metal back either. Can you see what appears to be a fault near to the edge of the rear flange? Could that be an area of decaying mazak?

Steve wrote:

There is a good looking 5A on Ebay at the moment

I wouldn't recommend that particular example to zepfool as it is chromium plated and the HMV 130 has all nickel plated internal fittings. I'm not sure about the condition of the pot metal back either. Can you see what appears to be a fault near to the edge of the rear flange? Could that be an area of decaying mazak?

The back looks very flat to me so I would think it is OK , yes it's chrome but I have seldom seeen nickle ones for sale

First welcome to this strange and weird hobby, which it is. I have never met more strange odd people in my life. (I am odd and strange for sure). That is a great sounding reproducer and you should be proud.

Never again play an Edison Diamond Disc with a steel needle, they are vertical cut recordings, that are microgroove. Only play lateral cut 78s, thin ones made by HMV, Columbia, Brunswick, Zonophone ect. Edison's can be played on Edison Dimond disc phonographs only.