The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Not mine, but quite nice.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMPORTED-FROM-E ... SwX~dWoAFE

Wow, I'd be tempted. What's the story on the horn in this model? Looks as though there might be some kind of folded job tucked into the cabinet (my assumption, since that's clearly an Ortho sound box and tone arm).

Henry wrote:Wow, I'd be tempted. What's the story on the horn in this model? Looks as though there might be some kind of folded job tucked into the cabinet (my assumption, since that's clearly an Ortho sound box and tone arm).

This model has a so-called "saxophone horn" (from the shape).

this is an unusual machine to find in the US... but I've seen this person's listings before and they always seem somewhat questionable, mainly regarding what he's done or claims to have done to "restore" what he sells. for example, he writes that... "I have cleaned and polished, greased and oiled the motor, and it plays through each 78 rpm record in one winding!" ... regardless of what he might mean by the last phrase, based on the photo of the motor, his notion of "cleaned and polished" seems pretty suspect.

Yeah, I noticed that too. Clearly he missed the motor canister, and maybe more. In fact, the whole works under the motor board looks grungy to me. That's not a huge issue, though, and one that some mineral spirits and alcohol could remedy.

What is the concensus on the quality of sound coming from a machine such as this?

I'd also want a couple more shots of the reproducer - the front is never shown, so it's difficult to tell what work it might need.

Right again, Brian. Plus it's nowhere near us anyway.

Henry wrote:Right again, Brian. Plus it's nowhere near us anyway.

too often the problem around here... although at least being in the northeast US, relative to others, I don't think we can complain. I couldn't imagine collecting these things in Colorado or Nevada, or say, England.

What on earth made him choose that colour for the turntable felt?

The "saxophone horn" HMV machines were an interim range with no Victrola equivalent. It has been said that HMV were reluctant to pay Victor for the Orthophonic design, so instead developed their own in late 1925 to cope with the demands of the new electrical recordings. The bottom of the saxophone horn occupies the boxed in section in the centre of the record compartment.

The saxophone models were no match for the Orthophonics, and by late 1927 HMV had fallen into line with their Re-Entrant range.

As to the Model 162 on offer :

The soundbox is an HMV No.4 with mica diaphragm as pictured below.

The turntable cloth should be a dark brown felt.

In good order the No.32 double-spring motor should play both sides of a 12 inch record on a full wind.