HMV #32 Horn Gramophone

[gramophone-georg]

I have one of these exceptionally fine (in my opinion) machines with an oak "pyramid" cabinet and the 4 spring motor.

I have a few questions:

1. What is the proper color for the petaled horn? I have mixed a sort of pea green but I want to be sure this is correct before I spray. "Colonial" No. 33s seem to have a maroon/ red horn but I have seen the pea green color and black in pictures on the 32- with the black horned one having a comment that the horn likely pre dates the machine.

2. Should this have a #4 reproducer, or did later examples have orthophonic types? The machine in question came with an incorrect large all brass horn and a No. 23 soundbox. The soundbox sounds most excellent... but is it correct?

Thanks for any info.

[Garret]

Can you post a photo? The horn paint may well be original, but I wouldn't be able to tell without a photo.

Garret

[gramophone-georg]

Can you post a photo? The horn paint may well be original, but I wouldn't be able to tell without a photo.

Garret

Garret- Just so we are clear:

The machine in question came with an incorrect large all brass horn and a No. 23 soundbox.

The pics I'm referring to are on Google. Here they are if they are what you're referring to:

Green horn



Another one:



Black horn:



Red horn:



The red horn seems to appear mostly on Mahogany and Colonial machines. Not sure it would be correct for oak.

[Phono48]

The machine in question came with an incorrect large all brass horn and a No. 23 soundbox. The soundbox sounds most excellent... but is it correct?

The No.23 soundbox was made in the 1930s specifically for the bottom-of-the-range HMV portable machines, models 87 and 88. Horrible, pot-metal things, very prone to distorting and cracking. Definitely out of character for a fine machine like yours.

Barry

[Garret]

I saw one of these for sale on an Indian classifieds site that I check, but was unable to snag it. Stupidly, I also didn't save a picture. However, the green was closest to this one:

http://www.thetalkingmachine.co.uk/page/gramophones/21/ (scroll down to the one with the green horn at 700 GBP)

[gramophone-georg]

The machine in question came with an incorrect large all brass horn and a No. 23 soundbox. The soundbox sounds most excellent... but is it correct?

The No.23 soundbox was made in the 1930s specifically for the bottom-of-the-range HMV portable machines, models 87 and 88. Horrible, pot-metal things, very prone to distorting and cracking. Definitely out of character for a fine machine like yours.

Barry

Hi Barry: This #23 actually seems pristine- and, as I said, sounds quite good. No sign of swelling, cracking, or any other pot metal issues either. However, if it's not correct I'll install one of the HMV #4s I have around, since that seems to be what it calls for. It looks like this one only with the HMV trademark in place of the Columbia, and no stampings on the back of it at all.

http://www.graham-ophones.co.uk/communi ... 292952.jpg

Maybe it was someone's idea of an "upgrade". My first thought was "India Crapophone garbage" until I played a record with it.

[gramophone-georg]

I saw one of these for sale on an Indian classifieds site that I check, but was unable to snag it. Stupidly, I also didn't save a picture. However, the green was closest to this one:

http://www.thetalkingmachine.co.uk/page/gramophones/21/ (scroll down to the one with the green horn at 700 GBP)

Yes, so that green appears to be an original HMV colo(u)r, then, eh? This is what I was hoping as I really like it... a lot. I just want to be sure it is indeed correct for this machine.

[Phono48]

Maybe it was someone's idea of an "upgrade". My first thought was "India Crapophone garbage" until I played a record with it.

Granted, they do sound good. I have five of them, Columbia and HMV, on various portables, and with one exception, they have all swollen to the extent that they have split the chromium surround. They also have a nasty tendency to "twist", so that the two pivot points for the needle bar are out of alignment, and don't allow the bar to swivel freely. If it wasn't for want of keeping the machines original, I'd chuck the lot in the bin!

Barry

[Orchorsol]

Yes, so that green appears to be an original HMV colo(u)r, then, eh? This is what I was hoping as I really like it... a lot. I just want to be sure it is indeed correct for this machine.

I have an HMV Model 32 with its original horn in very original (i.e. terrible) condition and it's that same green; to my untrained eye and from memory, it doesn't appear ever to have been refinished. I'll try to post a photo here sometime soon but since I don't use the horn, it's a bit buried and inaccessible.

I use this extremely timeworn machine with an EMG Mk IX horn and it sounds fabulous. When I got it, somebody had long since replaced the internal plumbing and 'turret' in typical Indian street metalworker style. This was an acoustic disaster since the internal conduit was more like a moped silencer! So I made something much better (albeit makeshift) with a smooth internal expansion. I've never tried to find the original part(s) and don't suppose I would have any luck if I did!

[epigramophone]

I have one of these exceptionally fine (in my opinion) machines with an oak "pyramid" cabinet and the 4 spring motor.

I have a few questions:

1. What is the proper color for the petaled horn? I have mixed a sort of pea green but I want to be sure this is correct before I spray. "Colonial" No. 33s seem to have a maroon/ red horn but I have seen the pea green color and black in pictures on the 32- with the black horned one having a comment that the horn likely pre dates the machine.

2. Should this have a #4 reproducer, or did later examples have orthophonic types? The machine in question came with an incorrect large all brass horn and a No. 23 soundbox. The soundbox sounds most excellent... but is it correct?

Thanks for any info.

1. The 23.5 inch Morning Glory horn had been around since 1906. It was available in black, green, maroon or brass.

2. The No.4 soundbox is correct for the Model 32.

The Model 32 pictured in "His Master's Gramophone", the definitive book on HMV, has a black horn.