The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Looks real to me. The seller seems to know what he is doing based on past and current sales and feedback.

I have zero reason to believe it isn't real. The description is very thorough and it includes an original catalog illustration and description. There's nothing at all 'crapophony' about it.

I've seen other Spanish phonographs that are similarly ornate in design. I think it's a knockout. If I have any room left in this house I wouldn't mind owning it myself!

I guess the 1922 date threw me off, but as noted the catalog pic matches the machine. It looks like someone did an excellent restoration job on it...

He also has a great Pathéphone for sale...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Luxury-Antique- ... SwDiBZLDrG

Certainly is a beauty, I had one of these once in original condition. I'd say this one's probably gone through a motor change, the speedcontrol is from a later machine and the crank's position is obvious - compare w. catalogue image also the turntable should be slightly larger. I could be wrong? The horn on mine was painted in several shades, these are very beautiful machines...wouldn't mind bringing it home either, its more likely from about 1910 - the catalogoue is dated january 1911...

Both machines are heavily restored and it is quite likely that both have parts that are not original. This seller is known for that, and some of the machines he has sold are frankenphones disguised as bona fide products. Caveat emptor!

I went back to the website and this spanish dealer has answered our questions on his website, I must say I find his arguments convincing, especially when I saw the video of this gramophone, where you clearly see the subtle changes in colour in the horn - these don´t come out in the photographs. If you use the link below and go to the description and scroll down to "Spanish gramophones, the great unknown" you will find his well motivated answers.

Another thing you will find is links to other spanish gramophones he has sold that he posts to clear up any doubts on why different motors were used etc. and I must say these are really worthwhile looking at: a feast for the eyes: a few of these models I´ve never seen before and they surely exist in very few numbers. Spains turbulent history - especially the civil war of 1936 was very severe.

This thread is getting interesting, there have been so few people before who have posted information on the spanish line of HMV which no doubt made some of the most striking outside horn gramophones ever!


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Antique-Sp ... Sww9xZC1zB

Personally I don't think the inlay on the front of the cabinet matches the catalogue photograph , and the veneer on the front doesn't match that on the sides.
It's been well refinished but I don't think it's a top dollar machine.
Just my opinion though

If you look attentively at the photos of the Pathé 8, you can see that the speed indicator arrow is a fake reproduction. The original one is completely different from that black arrow. He claims it is a completely original machine , which evidently is not true. This and other details are what make me wary of this seller, especially when dealing with a poorly documented and highly priced machine like the Spanish HMV.