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HMV Frankenphone ?
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:39 pm
by poodling around
I thought that this was very interesting.
I really do like the tone-arm with the 'Gramophone co Ltd' and angel/cherub thing on it. I wonder when these were produced etc ?
It also seems to have an interesting three spring motor (maybe).
The HMV 'logo' seems unusual too ?
If this is indeed a Frankenphone I wonder what the original HMV model was ?
Anyway, I like it except it seems (to me) quite expensive.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364223463416 ... R7bjj9PyYQ
Re: HMV Frankenphone ?
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:44 pm
by Steve
It's a cut down
"Junior Grand" or a Baby Grand, perhaps?
How cute! They've ripped out the record storage cupboard and reduced it in height accordingly. It's a no nonsense version, although the winding handle is a replacement, the lid has had another shaped piece added to the top and the lid transfer is not original to it.
It appears to have been done quite well, apart from where the tonearm has been elevated and I'm not sure why? Also, why apply that Pathé style adaptor to the tone-arm if you're going to be playing lateral records backwards? Huh?
Maybe Oedipus will grow to like
this version of the Junior Grand!
As for price, yes, it's unrealistic. You'd be lucky to get £300 for an unmolested JG in this dismal market, let alone an unofficial version made for your (French speaking?) grandchildren.
Re: HMV Frankenphone ?
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 2:13 pm
by poodling around
Steve wrote: Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:44 pm
It's a cut down
"Junior Grand" or a Baby Grand, perhaps?
How cute! They've ripped out the record storage cupboard and reduced it in height accordingly. It's a no nonsense version, although the winding handle is a replacement, the lid has had another shaped piece added to the top and the lid transfer is not original to it.
It appears to have been done quite well, apart from where the tonearm has been elevated and I'm not sure why? Also, why apply that Pathé style adaptor to the tone-arm if you're going to be playing lateral records backwards? Huh?
Maybe Oedipus will grow to like
this version of the Junior Grand!
As for price, yes, it's unrealistic. You'd be lucky to get £300 for an unmolested JG in this dismal market, let alone an unofficial version made for your (French speaking?) grandchildren.
Thanks as always for you 'appraisal' Steve.
Very interesting.
Re: HMV Frankenphone ?
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 4:03 pm
by Steve
Just think for the price of a cut down Junior Grand you could buy a very rare colonial 179 in teak, which has not been cut down and sounds 10 times better. The only snag is the good one is in Oz!
Re: HMV Frankenphone ?
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:41 am
by Oedipus
Nothing wrong with the lid transfer; see HMG Page 249. It's the 'Thin-frame picture', second from top on the RH side. That rather blurry photo was also from a Junior Grand, but one that had not been cropped. I once had the same transfer on a Monarch Junior.
Re: HMV Frankenphone ?
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 11:44 am
by Steve
Oedipus wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:41 am
Nothing wrong with the lid transfer; see HMG Page 249. It's the 'Thin-frame picture', second from top on the RH side. That rather blurry photo was also from a Junior Grand, but one that had not been cropped. I once had the same transfer on a Monarch Junior.
I stand corrected over the transfer, so thank you for that. What threw me was the awful blurriness of it which reminds us of those late reproduction machines from India and China. Why did they drop the ball for a short period with these poorer quality images?