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There seems to be quite a few variants of the HMV 5B soundbox on ebay from a seller in India. Last month there were even some 5a's. They all look genuine but in terrible condition. Does anyone have any thoughts about them?

chunnybh wrote:There seems to be quite a few variants of the HMV 5B soundbox on ebay from a seller in India. Last month there were even some 5a's. They all look genuine but in terrible condition. Does anyone have any thoughts about them?

I've seen them too. They look like crap and I assume sound similar. I think the weather conditions in India (high temperature and humid) are not ideal for storing soundboxes (especially those partially made of pot metal).

I bought 2 x 5b & 1 x 5a from India about 4 years ago, & am happy with all 3. One 5b was broken at the back flange, but I knew that before I bought it, & I only really bought it to replace the cracked body of my original 5a from my 202 (which I still haven't done).
The paint on one other was perfect, & the other I had to repaint, but both good ones had nothing wrong with the pot metal backs, diaphragms or nickel/chrome plating. I didn't even replace the gaskets in the good 2 & still use them regularly as is. I think a lot of my videos of the 202 on youtube have actually used the 5b since I got it.
Perhaps I just got lucky??

I bought an "Indian" 5b several years ago. No corrosion at all, it was a beauty.

I've purchased several. Two were OK, but one was a dud -- bad diaphragm.

I see they are still on sale from the India seller on eBay. Has anyone had further experience with them since ‘12?

Thanks!

Ron

I haven't purchased any of these in the last 8 or 10 years. They are more expensive now than in 2010. Back then, they were selling for around $50-60 each plus postage ($8 or so).

Are we discussing reproduction or original old stock items?
I understood that the machines originally assembled at HMV's Indian factory used mechanical components shipped from the UK and that only the cabinets were Indian made.
It is entirely possible that an Indian manufacturer has been able to produce replica components, including soundboxes.
UK dealer John Sleep http://www.windupgram.co.uk stocks reproduction backplates for HMV soundboxes.

epigramophone wrote:Are we discussing reproduction or original old stock items?
I understood that the machines originally assembled at HMV's Indian factory used mechanical components shipped from the UK and that only the cabinets were Indian made.
It is entirely possible that an Indian manufacturer has been able to produce replica components, including soundboxes.
UK dealer John Sleep http://www.windupgram.co.uk stocks reproduction backplates for HMV soundboxes.

They're originals, but sometimes in poor condition due to corrosion.