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I wonder if anyone has an opinion about this soundbox in terms of how good it is ?

Also, does it have a different size tone-arm fitting to that of the No 4 and 5a soundboxes ?

Thanks for any help you can give.

(I couldn't find any previous threads about this soundbox incidentally).

I think they were a cheap soundbox for cheap machines.
They used pot metal in their construction, and one of mine has swollen enough to crack the chrome plated mask/front where it forms the narrow edge of the body.
Mine both sound fairly good in my opinion, but not as good as a 5a/b.
If I remember correctly they fit the same size tonearm as a No.4.

You have a picture of it?

The HMV No.21 is a rebadged Columbia No.15, an excellent soundbox. The cheap HMV soundbox is the No.23.

anchorman wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 2:47 am You have a picture of it?

Hi anchorman,

Yes, photographs 'below'.

epigramophone wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 3:43 am The HMV No.21 is a rebadged Columbia No.15, an excellent soundbox. The cheap HMV soundbox is the No.23.

Thank you as always epigramophone.

I had the feeling that it may be a good soundbox as it is heavy and seems well constucted.

Two things puzzle me though. Firstly, the one I have has a different inscription on the reverse side - it only has the patent number and not the HMV model number. (I can't find the patent on-line either). Maybe this is an early one ?

The second thing is it is slightly too small to fit an HMV 101 tone-arm - which leads me to wonder if the fitting size is unique ?

poodling around wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 5:33 am

The second thing is it is slightly too small to fit an HMV 101 tone-arm - which leads me to wonder if the fitting size is unique ?

This excellent soundbox was fitted to the HMV 97, which has a smaller bore arm.

Barry

Phono48 wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 5:46 am

poodling around wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 5:33 am

The second thing is it is slightly too small to fit an HMV 101 tone-arm - which leads me to wonder if the fitting size is unique ?

This excellent soundbox was fitted to the HMV 97, which has a smaller bore arm.

Barry

Aha. Fantastic !

Shame that I can't use this then unless I can make an adapter. (Or buy an HMV 97 - no room for that though tbh).

Thank you very much indeed Phono48.

poodling around wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 5:33 am Two things puzzle me though. Firstly, the one I have has a different inscription on the reverse side - it only has the patent number and not the HMV model number. (I can't find the patent on-line either). Maybe this is an early one ?

I have two HMV 97s, a green and a black. The green ones' 21 soundbox has simply "Made in England" on the back, and the black ones' has nothing at all, completely plain. As the 21s were also used on the Columbia 204 (numbered 15A) could it have been more logical to remove all markings on the backs so that they could be used for both machines? It would seem logical, as some of the 204s I have also have also have plain backs to the soundboxes. If so, then that would indicate that the one pictured by emigramophone (above) is an early version, and yours and mine are later.

Barry

Phono48 wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:39 am

poodling around wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 5:33 am Two things puzzle me though. Firstly, the one I have has a different inscription on the reverse side - it only has the patent number and not the HMV model number. (I can't find the patent on-line either). Maybe this is an early one ?

I have two HMV 97s, a green and a black. The green ones' 21 soundbox has simply "Made in England" on the back, and the black ones' has nothing at all, completely plain. As the 21s were also used on the Columbia 204s could it have been more logical to remove all markings on the backs so that they could be used for both machines? It would seem logical, as some of the 204s I have also have also have plain backs to the soundboxes. If so, then that would indicate that the one pictured by emigramophone (above) is an early version, and yours and mine are later.

Barry

Maybe. But the HMV one has the dog and the columbia one the musical note. So, inter-changing would not have bothered them ?