The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Recently picked up a Hymnophon Picnic model. Works great, all the parts are there. I could find very little info on these machines or the company. Player is a small 'suitcase' type with an internal horn. Any idea when this German company made these?

Hymnophon was a an active company in the 20's the 30's. While I don't know much about their history, the machines I have come by are superb. My main stand-up machine is also one, tuned with a Goldring reproducer:

[youtubehq]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGnG4QAiC68[/youtubehq]

I am so satisfied with it, that so far I never intended to aquire a Victrola. Btw. the brand name is subject to frequent misinterpretation by English speaking people as the German word 'Hymne' does mean anthem, not hymn.

This is amazing! Just listen to the bass! Normally acoustic gramophones that produce good bass have trouble with the treble, but this one just sounds so natural. Are you not fooling us? Playing the record on a modern machine and showing an old machine? It's almost too good to be true. I'm jealous.

Peter.

The tonearm appears to owe a lot to HMV, and I'm better the soundbox is one of those Paillard boxes based on the HMV/Victor No.4, except it's ⅛" bigger (and the needle bar pivots are reversed).
I've always thought they were one of the best mica soundboxes ever made.
I notice the one in the video has slopped sides to the turntable. It doesn't have a late 20s Garrard motor by any chance?

The tone-arm looks a bit like a mix between the swan neck and the re-entrant one, because it has a taper. It could well be a Paillard fabricated set-up, but it definitely sounds great, far better tha any other other non-famous brand I've ever heard. Great bass and clear as a bell. And that with a 'mica' diaphragm'.

Wow, sounds fantastic.

Clay

Great sound! Here's more on the Charleston Chasers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Charleston_Chasers. Take a look at that personnel list and you'll know why the solos are so great. I suspect that Jack Teagarden is the trombonist on this particular cut, as he had better chops than either Glenn Miller or Miff Mole.

Here's a pic of my 'Picnic'.

I guess that's a P.