The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Got these remains of a HMV 118 from a fellow forum member John nearly a couple of years ago. It is pretty gone, but there is still ebough left to save it. I like to think any gramophone can be saved as long as there is serial number tag left. After making that HMV 202 re-entrant horn nothing seems to be impossible. Luckily this example of an early 118 has got its original horn and tonearm along some other small bits. No motor, speed control, brake parts, platter, soundbox etc. The teak case is badly worm ridden and has only a few original pamels left. Lid sides have been turned inside out and there is very little to be saved from the original box.

Jaso wrote: Mon May 26, 2025 12:33 am Got these remains of a HMV 118 from a fellow forum member John nearly a couple of years ago. It is pretty gone, but there is still ebough left to save it. I like to think any gramophone can be saved as long as there is serial number tag left. After making that HMV 202 re-entrant horn nothing seems to be impossible. Luckily this example of an early 118 has got its original horn and tonearm along some other small bits. No motor, speed control, brake parts, platter, soundbox etc. The teak case is badly worm ridden and has only a few original pamels left. Lid sides have been turned inside out and there is very little to be saved from the original box.

An excellent restoration project I think.

It is certainly worth saving in my opinion.

If you don't want it I would certainly consider buying it from you ! It would fit right in with my gramophone collection.

Thanks but I’m keeping this one and restoring it. Have got an old pre-war Burmese teak slab that is going to be used for making a new case for this 118.

So your the one that got the 118! I had tried reaching out to John about this a few months ago, since the post was still marked as for sale.

As far as the machine goes and to your original question- the parts that were included seem find, as long as you can find the remaining missing components, you can get it going. The hardest part will probably be the motor.

I don't do a lot of woodwork but given the animal chewings and mold your Burmese will suit fine. Good luck!

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this one!

Garret

paradroid1793 wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 10:20 am So your the one that got the 118! I had tried reaching out to John about this a few months ago, since the post was still marked as for sale.

As far as the machine goes and to your original question- the parts that were included seem find, as long as you can find the remaining missing components, you can get it going. The hardest part will probably be the motor.

I don't do a lot of woodwork but given the animal chewings and mold your Burmese will suit fine. Good luck!

Doesn’t it just have a standard no. 32 motor?

leels1 wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 2:48 pm Doesn’t it just have a standard no. 32 motor?

Yes, that's correct. It is a common motor, very easy to find.

Motor was not a problem, had most of the mechanical parts in my stash. The most difficult part is the 118-only tonearm clip. Gonna make it next and have chrome plated with rest of the shiny parts. The fact that I also got a pristine 118 makes it possible for me to replicate the needed parts. Modified speed control parts from a HMV 109 to match the 118 specs. Eduardo kindly made copies of my original 118 transfers. The Calcutta dealer decal is particularly a nice one. Usually they are in very poor condition and missing big chunks. For some reason some of the photos upload sideways, can’t figure out why. Sorry about that.

It might be too far gone for most but since you have the parts and most importantly, the wood, it should turn out well. Keep us posted on your progress.

My two 118’s have some small interesting differences. I call them early and late models here, even they are made only a few years apart. Early model is probably made 1935 or before as it hasn’t got the new 1936 onwards tags and year code, later one is from 1938. Late motorboard has got extra holes for regulator and autostop lever. Autostop lever from a 109 works perfectly on the early one and matches olds screw holes. Early model has a chrome motorboard lift knob (this one is from a 109 and need chrome plating), late one is florentine bronze. Lock latches are different. Luckily had a black one (yes, gonna be chromed) that is identical to the long lost original and fits the screw holes and indentions of the original case.
Late madel also hasn’t got locating pins for the lid. Mahogany tinted nitrocellulose lacquer on the late model has lost most of its transparency on the outside. Motorboard shows the original luster. Early motorboard is has been coated with a black tint. Inside the cases early one is also blacked, late one is the same as top coats.