Is this an HMV 163?

[OrthoFan]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/1239855749.html

Wish I drove, I'd check it out...

[MordEth]

Antique Voice of the Master — $250 (Hayward / Castro Valley)

Reply to: [email protected]
Date: 2009-06-25, 4:30PM PDT

Su Voce de Amor Victrola cabinet I brought back from Spain 45 years ago......(510) 760-5041 [email protected]

• Location: Hayward / Castro Valley, California.
• It’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests.

Craigslist PostingID: 1239855749

[bart1927]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/1239855749.html

Wish I drove, I'd check it out...

Based on the shape of the legs, I'm inclined to say that it is indeed a 163. The ID plate is located beneath the removable used needle container.

If it is a 163, it's a bargain. But make sure it is all original. Make the seller remove the grille if you have to, so you can see if the original re-entrant horn is still there.

Strange, that even European machines seem to be cheaper in America than in Europe. I visited a local dealer yesterday, he had two 163's, both in very good condition (but not serviced, so the motor and the soundbox probably needed some work) and he wanted 1500 euro's for each of them. (which is over $ 2000 at the current rate of exchange).

[richardh]

Looks like a mahogany 163 to me. A nice machine..albeit the smallest of the re-enterant machines. I agree with Bart that anyone buying the machine should really check that the correct horn is in there cabinet. Hope someone snaps this one up for this price.

RJ

[OrthoFan]

If I'm not mistaken, the HMV 163 was fitted with a metal six foot horn, which means that it should have the same performance specs as the Credenza -- 100-6,000 cps. Fitted with the more powerful Orthophonic sound box, in place of the 5a, it should sound very good, indeed.

I've been trying to find an old post that had the size specs of the HMV horns, but it looks like it was not captured by the Internet Archive

I think this is correct:

HMV 157 -- 5 ft. folded horn -- two partitions
HMV 163 -- 6 ft. re-entrant style horn -- four partitions
HMV 193/194 -- 7 ft. re-entrant style horn -- four partitions
HMV 202/203 -- 9 ft. re-entrant style horn -- four partitions

Can someone verify this???

[gramophoneshane]

I can only confirm the 202/3 at 9 feet. I'm not sure about the others, but they do sound right.

To check the horn in the HMV Re-entrants, the easiest way is to remove 2 screws that hold the back panel to the cabinet & lift the panel out. You should also be able to feel the horn section that runs across the centre of the grille through the grille cloth.

[bart1927]

If I'm not mistaken, the HMV 163 was fitted with a metal six foot horn, which means that it should have the same performance specs as the Credenza -- 100-6,000 cps. Fitted with the more powerful Orthophonic sound box, in place of the 5a, it should sound very good, indeed.

Can someone verify this???

I believe the HMV 163 is also fitted with the 5A soundbox. I can't recall any HMV reproducers that were labelled "Orthophonic", but I do believe the HMV 5A and 5B are very similar in design to a Victor Orthophonic reproducer.

[gramophoneshane]

I think "Orthophonic" was a registered name, used only by Victor. The 5a & 5b are similar to the Victor Ortho box, using the same sort of diaphragm & spider, but I think the needle bar pivots are slightly different. I believe the Victor box is a little louder than the HMV's, but I'm not sure how much better the bass response is because of it?
The HMV No.16 appears to be exactly the same as the Victor box, but the No.16 was press sealed & can't be opened for new gasket installation.

[richardh]

The 5a and 5b HMV soundbox are essentially the same apart from that one is nickle plated and the other is chrome finished. The correct soundbox for the 163 is the nickel version (this is the 5a)

RJ

[gramophoneshane]

The diaphragms are pressed with a slightly different design, but to be honest I can't hear any audible difference between the two.