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HANDEL GRANDE LONG THROAT REPRODUCER IDENTIFICATION
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 10:44 am
by Lampman5
Hello Everyone
Purchased this reproducer many years ago and have been unable to find out any information on it. Similar size and construction to the Victor Exhibition reproducer but is marked Handel Grande which would lead me to believe it was European. Any ideas on the machine this came from or is it an aftermarket that could be adapted to several makes.
Thanks
Steve
Re: HANDEL GRANDE LONG THROAT REPRODUCER IDENTIFICATION
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 1:43 pm
by gramophoneshane
I could be wrong, but i don't think this is a "long throat" type soundbox as used on early traveling arm gramophones, but is just a generic European non bayonet style that slid into the tonearm, rather than over the tonearm like a Victor Exhibition does.
The tube at the back is normally around ½"-¾" long, like the Paillard and Thorens soundboxes below.
What length is the tube on yours?
Re: HANDEL GRANDE LONG THROAT REPRODUCER IDENTIFICATION
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 2:11 pm
by Lampman5
The tube is ¾ inches long on the reproducer.
Steve
Re: HANDEL GRANDE LONG THROAT REPRODUCER IDENTIFICATION
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 4:23 pm
by jboger
Gramophoneshane: I believe you are correct. I wrote the following long-winded dissertation before I noticed your response to the original post.
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I don't believe these are long-neck reproducers made for early front-mount machines. In a different thread I posted a picture of a Thorens reproducer that I too called a long-neck reproducer. It was found on a small rear-mount machine made ca. 1929. Yes, the reproducer could be older than the machine, but I don't think so. In any case, the 1929 tone arm was made to accomodate this sort of soundbox long after the front-mount era.
Now it may be true these soundboxes can be used on period front-mount machines. I know, because I did just that; I inserted my Thorens soundbox into a Columbia front-mount machine and it worked just fine. However, this same soundbox has no locking pin that locks the needle into the correct angle to the platter. I don't see such a pin on your Handel Grande. Furthermore, at least on true long-neck reproducers--those made originally for a front-mount machine--the neck is longer than ¾-inches.
So, in short, and in my very humble opinion, what we have here is a Continental soundbox made for a rear-mount machine in which the soundbox simply friction fitted into the tonearm. BUT if you would like to use it on a front-mount machine, I believe you could just as I had with my Thorens "long-neck" reproducer. But I don't believe either your or my soundbox was made for an original front-mount machine.
Re: HANDEL GRANDE LONG THROAT REPRODUCER IDENTIFICATION
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:21 am
by Lampman5
Thanks Everyone
Steve