5b Soundbox

[Teak]

Is this a Soundbox for a 202?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157759392850 ... olid=10050

I do also remember gunmetal finish on newer Models?

[epigramophone]

The soundbox you have pictured is in the Florentine Bronze finish used on some late HMV cabinet models such as the 158.
Apart from the earliest examples, the 193 and 202 used the 5A soundbox in Oxidised Silver finish, as here :

[Teak]

I thought about the 158 as well, but I was thinking it had more of a brown tint to it.

My 202 tonearm looks very much like the picture.

The 158 bronze looks different to me:

I can’t remember if any other hmv had this silvery gunmetal finish.

[epigramophone]

I will let any other 202 owners comment about the colour, but here are more pictures of the oxidised silver finish on my 193.
After almost 100 years of use, some of the oxidisation has worn away, leaving the silver plating beneath.

[Teak]

How very interesting. Mine aged very much different than yours!

[Steve]

Is this a Soundbox for a 202?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157759392850 ... olid=10050

I do also remember gunmetal finish on newer Models?

IMG_6794.jpeg

It certainly appears to be "BLUISH" silver to me and not bronze.

[Steve]

I will let any other 202 owners comment about the colour, but here are more pictures of the oxidised silver finish on my 193.
After almost 100 years of use, some of the oxidisation has worn away, leaving the silver plating beneath.

Roger, all 193's and 202's had that "stripey" appearance from new. The bluish areas might have been achieved originally with a compound containing sodium nitrate applied with a hot air gun (according to Ian Maxted's theory) to stain the silver before lacquering. The bright silver areas could have been polished to create the two different colours before finishing. Ostensibly, the whole of the furniture was silver plated before the "colouring" took place to give the appearance of aged fittings.

[Steve]

I thought about the 158 as well, but I was thinking it had more of a brown tint to it.

My 202 tonearm looks very much like the picture.

IMG_6798.jpeg
IMG_6802.jpeg

The 158 bronze looks different to me:


IMG_6800.jpeg

I can’t remember if any other hmv had this silvery gunmetal finish.

I'm sure that was a 202 soundbox front and bezel on Ebay but somewhat curiously the back and diaphragm was changed to a 5B from a 5A! No wonder it sold for £50 within seconds of it being listed!

With that said, Roger's 5A looks very typical of how the soundbox is "highlighted", and should normally look, to show areas of bright silver amidst the bluish tone, presumably to appear like rubbing from age. The soundbox on Ebay does not appear to have any such highlights? This is where the quality of Ebay photos is critical. I have seen chrome 5A's poorly photographed in dim light that makes them appear bluish in colour. If this one was bronze, the photos were terribly misleading!

[Teak]

Well, we will find out, I bought it, of course!

[Steve]

Well, we will find out, I bought it, of course!

Aha! I look forward to hearing what you've bought.