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Just a quick question, can a Victor Exhibition fit on an HMV machine? Are the HMV and Victor versions the same?

Others will surely be able to reply in more detail, but I do know that until 1919 the Exhibition boxes used on Gramophone & Typewriter and H.M.V. machines were actually of Victor manufacture.

Oliver Mundy.

Codex78 wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2024 12:44 pm Just a quick question, can a Victor Exhibition fit on an HMV machine? Are the HMV and Victor versions the same?

Probably. I have Victrola VV-IX which happily takes an Exhibition which was US made, but exported for use by The Gramophone Company, in the UK.

Oddly enough the Victrola isn't that happy taking UK made soundboxes like the HMV 4 and a Zonophone branded Exhibition I have. The slot in the tonearm I think is just a fraction too far back so although the soundboxes go on, they won't rotate into position.

My HMV 162 takes all 3 soundboxes just fine, though the Victor made Exhibition is slightly less tight, however this could be for a number of reasons.

Thanks for your replies. What's the diameter of the opening in the back of the Victor version? I can try to compare with my HMV one.

The difference, if any, is minimal. I have three Exhibition, one British and two American, and all three fit ok in the gooseneck of my french HMV tabletop gramophone Style III or no.58. I can also fit ok there the HMV no4 soundbox.

Codex78 wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2024 5:56 pm Thanks for your replies. What's the diameter of the opening in the back of the Victor version? I can try to compare with my HMV one.

I've not been able to reliably measure a difference in inside diameter, though they must be close as all 3 fit on both tonearms.

The L shaped slot on the Victrola VV-IX does seem to be fractionally longer (but only 0.1mm or so) than the one on the HMV 162, which seems to be enough to stop the pin on the UK soundboxes moving into the other part of the slot when the soundbox is rotated.

Net effect is that I have many soundboxes that should fit the VV-IX but don't

You can always ream out a bit off the tonearm end with a grinder to make the L shaped slot just a bit shorter... Just an idea....

Inigo wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 1:05 am You can always ream out a bit off the tonearm end with a grinder to make the L shaped slot just a bit shorter... Just an idea....

Yes indeed. What I will probably do is make an adapter that fits in the existing slot. The advantage of that approach is that I don't have to modify the machine and I can also build in some angle to the soundbox to improve the tracking. Thanks

Good!