The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

hello all!

I repaired a hmv 102 a few months back and managed to get a decent hmv 5b soundbox which unfortunately had a small tear in the diaphragm. I managed to patch up the hole and it sounds okay when playing with no obvious blasting or distortion except during certain peaks of a song.

I am looking to get a new diaphragm to replace the one I currently have but i haven't been able to find any..I managed to get one from ken priestley in the UK but it too had a hole in it! could someone point me in a direction where I could get one?

I read that the 5b soundbox is copied or has been copied by other manufacturers (Columbia?), so would it mean that the diaphragm can be used in the hmv soundbox as well? the one I have has 5 or 6 holes in the diaphragm for slotting in the spider and the diaphragms I have seen on eBay usually only have 3 holes..

thanks a lot!

oh that was settled with him some time ago, sent it back to him and he gave me a refund so it isn't a problem, thing is that he doesn't have anymore in stock so i'm looking for alternatives but so far no luck

ok he's just replied me and told me he has a 5a diaphragm in stock now..

what's the difference between a 5a/5b soundbox? is it just the diaphragm? is there a great difference in sound quality between the two, if at all?

i can see from the image he sent me of the diaphragm that the pattern on it differs from the one in my 5b, is that all? would that make a difference in sound?


(as you can tell i'm a noob but i'm really curious and interested to learn about this!)

thanks!

i received the diaphragm yesterday and installed it...my gramophone sounds much better now!

i made a simple guide and posted it up here if anyone ever needs to have an idea how to replace the diaphragm of their HMV soundbox:

http://projectrepair.blogspot.com/2011/ ... -no5b.html

ptjw wrote: what's the difference between a 5a/5b soundbox? is it just the diaphragm? is there a great difference in sound quality between the two, if at all?

From what I've read, one had front nickle plated and one chrome, different diaphragms, and maybe different metal in the front halves, but read conflicting things on the latter two. Can anybody say for sure?