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I wanted to post this machine a long time ago but never really found the patience to do it. Here it is:

Make: Hymnophon
Model: Unknown
Serial # none
Year(s) Made: Germany, ca. 1930
Original Cost: Unknown
Case/Cabinet Size: 46 x 51 x 103cm (20" x 18" x 40.5")
Turntable/Mandrel: 30cm (12")
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Goldring Juwel Electro
Motor: Single or Double Spring (currently not sure)
Horn Dimensions: 25 x 40cm (10" x 16"), 64cm tall (25")
Reproduction Parts: lower door knobs
Current Value: not sure
Interesting Facts: The light wood color and art-deco shape give it an unusual appearance.

Favorite Characteristics: Fabulous sound thanks to the large saxophone horn.

The reproducer did not originally came with the machine but as I did not have it, this Goldring model which is actually an almost-clone of the No. 4 did have the very best sound of the six different reproducers that I tested which even included an Orthophonic. This Goldring has an even larger mica diaphragm than Victor's No. 4 has.

Btw. the German word "Hymne" from which the brand was derived does mean "Anthem", not hymn. It therefore will not only play religious records :

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1PhJkyFkHU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAOrBGE7PL4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reP2a-uKj1I[/youtube]
Pls. don't mind the poor video quality, these are my first YouTube videos with an old cam. It's quite funny to read the feedback posts as several visitors did insinuate me to have dubbed the sound with an electric transfer. The only trick I used was a decent studio microphone that would be placed directly into the open horn.

Wonderful! It almost shakes my faith in my Credenza! Thanks for sharing!

Nat

Beautiful machine and so clean! I'm sure with that large diaphragmed reproducer and sax horn it must sound really good in person.

Europe's continued refinement of the acoustic phonograph after it has been largely abandoned for electic technology in the US yielded some very interesting and good quality machines.

You say that the "Goldring Juwel Electro" reproducer is an almost clone of the Victor no. 4? I wonder then if it would fit on a Victor or HMV horn machine and what that might sound like?

Regards,
Bruce

The diaphragm is ¼" bigger than the No.4. and they do fit straight onto the HMV/Victor arms. They can be found branded with numerous names, but are a Paillards product. I haven't noticed any difference in sound quality between these & a No.4, but they do have more volume.

Maybe it's the new gaskets which do their part for a better volume. The no. 4 gasket (of which great repros are available) is totally different.

I love the pure white gasket material which is very soft compared to most others.

There are some spots on the wood which look like water blotches but I don't believe they are. I cannot get them off without touching the original finish so I decided to leave them. Maybe there's some miracle polish around that I haven't considered yet?

Very nice, Norman!

I'd love to find one of those reproducers to mess around with just for comparison's sake.

Sean

Norman,

I love the Art deco styling! And the sound WOW! Wonderful machine, thank you for sharing it.


Regards,
John

yes... that's such an interesting phonograph, and that cabinet is something to see... I've certainly never seen or read of one before. where did you find something so unusual?

I got this one from a friend of mine several years when he got his Credenza. Of course, the Victor is way more powerful but I really enjoy this machine very much and it is really narrow compared to a Credenza.

Beautiful machine!