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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Unusual-His- ... 4216195733

Did anyone spot this on Ebay recently? It's an oak cased version of the child's hornless gramophone HMV made from 1923 to 1927.

It must be very rare.

Wow. It looks nice on top, but under the hood it sure looks cheap!

Garret

The 55 was the epitome of cheap and basic but the standard model intended for a child had a cheap softwood case painted white (with lead based paint!) with nursery decals applied.

What makes this particular version unique is the oak case. Why go to the extent of reproducing a unique cheap painted model in an oak case? Its not even as though they used up a leftover case and varnished it instead of painting it with the intention of selling it to the budget conscious adult market. They had alternatives available anyway but this was made purposefully in oak - a version which incidentally is not in "His Master's Gramophone" book either. So is it unique to the Scandinavian market?

For future reference

Thanks, Shane!

Its easy to forget this until one day when the Ebay photos have disappeared.

Hi Steve, I noticed this on eBay and wondered about it. Apart from some replacement screws it seems to be correct. Perhaps member Oedipus will see this and throw some light on it.

Maybe the number found on the inside plate, 881, may assist in its future identification.

This is similar to the Victor Victrola Model #VV-1-2 (Aladdin), which was available with either a stained or painted case with decals for children.

Curt A wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:33 pm This is similar to the Victor Victrola Model #VV-1-2 (Aladdin), which was available with either a stained or painted case with decals for children.

Screen Shot 2021-03-31 at 3.28.31 PM.png

Looking at the Model VV-1-2 tonearm mount it may have had a slightly better horn arrangement than it’s european cousin. Interesting though that it was also offered in a stained case perhaps there was an intention to do the same with the 55 over here.

jamiegramo wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 5:58 pm

Curt A wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:33 pm This is similar to the Victor Victrola Model #VV-1-2 (Aladdin), which was available with either a stained or painted case with decals for children.

Screen Shot 2021-03-31 at 3.28.31 PM.png

Looking at the Model VV-1-2 tonearm mount it may have had a slightly better horn arrangement than it’s european cousin. Interesting though that it was also offered in a stained case perhaps there was an intention to do the same with the 55 over here.

The difference being that the Victor had, in both configurations, the same identical cabinet. Obviously this HMV was made separately in oak. They wouldn't have made just one of them so it's a curious thing that no others have apparently appeared to date.

That horn could be easily improved adding a third side, a bottom part shaped so it is very near the tonearm entry, gliding up (in the upside down position of the photo) to the horn mouth. Difficult to cut in shape so it matches the straight sloping side at the right, and also the curved side at the left. Maybe a mockup on thin cardboard could be used to get the shape, then replicating it in wood, and sealing it against both sides. If it were mine, I'll give it a try...
Even seems to have room for making a longer horn arrangement, with a graduated tube going from the tonearm entry to the horn mouth, returning back to the tonearm and then opening wide with the same shape explained above. You could fit a 3 feet horn only adding an attachment so made that it would be removable, fitted índice the original horn! What a project!