The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Price seems a bit hard to me, these soundboxes used to be pretty common. Ubuy says 79 pounds! I used to buy them for half of that!

Call that expensive? try this one!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203443489029 ... %3A2047675

As we say herein (in Spanish)... MY MOTHER...!!!

From what I could see, it looks to be brass and not pot metal. Brass ones are getting very hard to find and pot metal ones seem to be selling for about this same price.

The brass ones are the most common in my experience. I also don't believe many buyers even realise the difference or care so long as it's working and not broken.

It's like the chrome v nickel factor. I've lost count of how many times I've asked dealers and sellers which it is they have and invariably get told they don't know!

The example Roger pointed out might be a little pricey but unlike most no. 4's it is the rarer early variant. Worth £150? Probably not but its still hard to find sold separately.

What's the "goo" in the photo of the backside? It looks odd to me, and I've dealt with many HMV #4s. I've not seen one like this.

Possibly a crude amateur attempt at volume control. Whatever it is, it needs to be removed.

No goo... It's the transparent diaphragm and the needlebar attachment seen in the centre viewed from the back of the soundbox through the hole in the backplate !