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Does anyone have any information on this one? I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like it before.

Off hand, I'd say it's a Franken-Phone.

For starters, the exponential (swan-neck) style tonearm dates from the late 1920s, and is not correct for the period. (I don't see much of a taper, so maybe it's just two sections of pipe joined together and stuffed into the opening under the horn.)

The cabinet is an old chest or box.

The round plaque above the carrying handle is from an HMV gramophone, circa late 1920s.

The turntable also appears to come from an HMV gramophone.

The sound box looks like it's from a cheap, off-brand portable, circa 1930s.

The Horn does look like it may have come from a real gramophone, but the elbow may be a reproduction--can't quite tell.

I bid fifty cents!!!

Thanks for the info! I will bid a buck!

Here are some more pics:





After taking a closer look, I am embarrassed that I entertained the thought of this being anything but a frankenphone!

The saddest part is that the brass bound box they've used for the cabinet was probably worth more (or was far more collectible) before they applied Dr Frankenstein's handywork to it, than now
As it stands now, it's only worth the price of an HMV 2 spring motor & a dented up brass horn- I presume the motor was taken from the 157 that supplied the ID tag.

I hate it when they ruin something authentic and decent to produce this junk.

Ortho_Fan wrote:Off hand, I'd say it's a Franken-Phone.

For starters, the exponential (swan-neck) style tonearm dates from the late 1920s, and is not correct for the period. (I don't see much of a taper, so maybe it's just two sections of pipe joined together and stuffed into the opening under the horn.)

The cabinet is an old chest or box.

The round plaque above the carrying handle is from an HMV gramophone, circa late 1920s.

The turntable also appears to come from an HMV gramophone.

The sound box looks like it's from a cheap, off-brand portable, circa 1930s.

The Horn does look like it may have come from a real gramophone, but the elbow may be a reproduction--can't quite tell.

I bid fifty cents!!!

Elbow is a repro, and a HMV 157 looks like this.
http://www.gramophones.uk.com/items_wan ... ahoga.html

What does the thin / connector end of the horn look like?

The reproducer is OK, Edison Bell was a mainstream company in the UK. Probably - looking at the winder, the motor & turntable are also from the 157

All in all the machine is only good for a few spares and firewood from the ruined box

I noticed on the site that Sidewinder linked to above that Howard Hope states that the 157 was fitted with a saxophone horn. I was under the impression that these used a folded metal horn, divided into two sections. (The standard re-entrant horns used in the larger HMV models and the Credenza, 8-4, 4-40, etc., were divided into four sections.)


(HMV 157 from the site of a Japanese collector.)

Ortho_Fan wrote:I noticed on the site that Sidewinder linked to above that Howard Hope states that the 157 was fitted with a saxophone horn. I was under the impression that these used a folded metal horn, divided into two sections. (The standard re-entrant horns used in the larger HMV models and the Credenza, 8-4, 4-40, etc., were divided into four sections.)

That's my understanding also. None of the sax machines I'm aware of have grille cloth. Plus they are all equipped with the wonderful HMV #4 soundbox.

Ortho_Fan wrote: a folded metal horn, divided into two sections.

This is correct.

I bought my first 157 just the other week and have always wondered what type of horn they had. I believe they were called "double exponential", but are they re-entrant? Hope these photos shed some light. They should all have 5 or 5A soundboxes. I wonder if the grille on my example is later than the usual arch design?

HMV publicity from the period states:

This model is fitted with a new His Master's Voice patented tone chamber, ball bearing tone arm and No. 5 Soundbox, and is designed throughout in accordance with scientific principle of matched impedance. Sunk needle bowls for used and new needles together with clips for tungstyle needle tins. Automatic lid stay operated by one hand. Two record (12 inch) motor, 12 inch turntable, self releasing automatic brake operated by moving tone arm to extreme right, speed regulator and automatic speed indicator.

Mahogany £25, Oak £22.

Height 36¼ inches, Width 18¼ inches, Depth 20 inches. Internal fittings: nickel plated and enamelled, external fittings: oxidised brass.

Regards, Glenn.