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Here are two very similar but at the same time, completely different machines.
A very large colonial HMV 118 with a large #32 motor and all parts original. Lovely dovetail joins in solid wood. Weighs 11.9kg
The other has a Bestophone decal which may or may not be original. It has a Garrard 30 motor, missing soundbox . The body is light plywood and crudely nailed together. Weighs 8.7kg.
I'm guessing the 118 was assembled at the Dum Dum factory and the other was a copy made by someone working at the factory.
Any thoughts?

Interesting!
I wonder how the Bestophone has made the horn, as I suppose the 118 has a good tinplate exponential horn, larger but similar to that of the 102.

Inigo wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 12:13 am Interesting!
I wonder how the Bestophone has made the horn, as I suppose the 118 has a good tinplate exponential horn, larger but similar to that of the 102.

Yes, Iñigo, the 118 has a deeper 102 horn, with the same shape. The 118 is a nice looking and sounding machine, although the sideways orientation of the lid impedes the amplifying effect of the lid over the horn that the 102 allows.

The Bestophone is evidently an imitation. I remember seeing other copies of the banded box HMV models with different brand names. This and the other imitations look contemporary to the originals, but it is hard to confirm the assumption, as there is no reference from ads or catalogues.

Here are some more pics. The horn on the 118 is a lot larger than than the one on the Bestophone.

chunnybh wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 6:06 am Here are some more pics. The horn on the 118 is a lot larger than than the one on the Bestophone.

Very interesting.

I seem to have a variant some-where between your two gramophones .

(I can't seem to find any information relating to the 'Bestophone' gramophone company incidentally).

Anyway, my version has not been re-motored as there are no extra holes anywhere. It seems to be original 'as it was first constructed.

Mine also came with an HMV 5a sound-box which had been repaired using a cotton thread type material which may suggest 'making do' at the time.


Similarities to your HMV 118.

I note that the 'needle container' hole is on the left hand side - but is it placed differently in terms of relative height ?

Similarly, there are dove tail joints in the solid wood case Also the 'cut in' design of the case matches. (ie. Narrower design).

The horn seems to be the original HMV 118 design ? (Is it really I wonder ?) Mine is a different colour to both of yours as well.


Similarities to your 'Bestophone'.

Same or similar carrying handle.

It has a Garrard No. 30 motor.

The tome-arm resting clip seems to be in the same position.

The motor board is light plywood.

The same four square shaped resting legs on the same / similar base.


So, I have always thought that the majority of the case and horn are original old stock from the HMV Calcutta factory and that the Kakoo Calcutta factory bought these and made up the rest as best it could.

Otherwise, I was also advised by a fellow member on here that at the time in India the buyer could specify a particular motor etc and have an HMV 118 made to their own specifications.


Incidentally, what are measurements of your two gramophones I wonder ? (height / width/depth) ? Are they the same ?

chunnybh wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 6:06 am The horn on the 118 is a lot larger than than the one on the Bestophone.

Not bad; it is narrower, but same length. Probably also true exponential but under a different calculation. Looks good. How's the sound?

Thanks for the pics of the "Bee-K-Phone"
Apart from the box joints (not dovetail), and winding escutcheon, it looks just like the Bestophone.

They measure the same 17"x 12" except for the height. HMV118 being 9¾" and the Bestophone 9½".
With the amount of dark lacquer on the cabinets, I can see why a nailed together case would have been far cheaper to produce and perhaps the customers got exactly what they paid for. The hardware seems to all be from Europe and the Garrard 30 motor would have been a fraction of the super heavy HMV #32.
I'll try and get a video together soon.

chunnybh wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 11:21 pm Thanks for the pics of the "Bee-K-Phone"
Apart from the box joints (not dovetail), and winding escutcheon, it looks just like the Bestophone.

They measure the same 17"x 12" except for the height. HMV118 being 9¾" and the Bestophone 9½".
With the amount of dark lacquer on the cabinets, I can see why a nailed together case would have been far cheaper to produce and perhaps the customers got exactly what they paid for. The hardware seems to all be from Europe and the Garrard 30 motor would have been a fraction of the super heavy HMV #32.
I'll try and get a video together soon.

Very interesting indeed.

Oh yes, I can see now that they are box joints and not dove-tails on the 118 and mine - just like the way in which teak HMV 101's were constructed for example.

Mine is between 9 and a half and 9 and three quarters high incidentally.

It would be really great to see a video of the Bestophone !