The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In this advert https://www.marktplaats.nl/v/antiek-en- ... 45826d5acd a HMV gramophone is offered for sale. The cabinet is identical to the 156 that i own, but the horn seems vastly different. The motorboard differs as well and the tone arm is in the center of the machine, the soundbox does not look like a number 4 . It has a holder for tungstyle needles. Would this have been a predecessor to the 156, or a different model using the same cabinet. I am quite new to gramophones but I would love to learn more.
Kind regards, Rein

That's a 'Frankenphone' - the HMV cabinet has had all different parts fitted internally. The motor is a Columbia one made by Garrard (you can see the old winder hole plugged on the side of the cabinet) and the horn is a poor quality one, definitely not HMV.

In 2016 I assisted with the dispersal of a deceased estate. The machines included an Edison Diamond Disc mechanism installed in an HMV156 cabinet. Estimated at £50/80, it made £70 at the SAS sale on 22nd February 2017. Unfortunately it was not pictured in the catalogue.

Thanks a lot for your replies.