The sound is really great, like something you would have playing in an old theatre before the movie starts. Or its perfect for some ghost/haunted house type thing. Beautiful machine, ensure it keeps going and its loved.
What a fascinating machine! Leave it to the British to construct something so beautiful and sophisticated. Only a few words can truly describe this gramophone, and I'll have to borrow them from Mr. Waugh..."Simply too too divine."
Brand new, this must of cost over 1,300 pounds !!! WAY ahead of it's time, and so GORGEOUS !! Thank you for posting this video, with wonderful descriptions !!
Fantastic machine sounds wonderful when that was first made I bet that was the top of the range in the 1930s great to see and of corse Jack Hylton is a superb band leader I enjoyed that very much great stuff.
@paulcirc yep it is an acoustic machine. Actually, I have owned other Victor Orthophonic machines and they sound very similar, if carefully rebuilt. As you can see from the video - if there is an open gasket or air leak, the sound deteriorates. This machine sounds especially fine a.) because it has an oversize large horn (yep size matter) and b.) because it has a metal horn (vs wood horns on most Victors) That accentuates treble. And of course I chose records that would sound impressive.
It sounds fantastic! You have the patience of a Saint. You did a great restore job. It took me a solid ten years to learn how to correctly and thoroughly rebuild a Thorens TD124. I now have two, -I did not need THREE TD124s. Hence, I sold one. Mustn't be piggy. Whilst learning about and rebuilding these remarkable tables, at least i could look forward to a state of the art transcription record player with which to transfer rare Jazz 78s. YOU, however, have a WONDERFUL machine that will re-lathe a disc after 10 plays. (that Osmium styli and 4 ounce tracking weight) HINT: Try CACTUS needles for the stylus. They were popular with the hep set back then, and I suspect they are available from speciality web shops. They sound waay smoother and produce FAR less record wear. All the hep cats use cactus stylus! And I believe your hard work is well worth the cost! Just be careful not to put any rare Jazz sides on your player. The pickup looks like a hybrid with an acoustic celluloid diaphragm and a crystal pickup element to convert the vibrations to voltage for the triode to amplify. Is this correct? The early loud speaker; -no permanent magnet, but a high-voltage magnetic/transformer system, with a HIGH bias voltage as well. Sort of like an output transformer in a Hi-Fi power amp. BE CAREFUL when working on early loudspeakers! There is enough voltage to make you change your moral beliefs. The loud speaker is performing the job of an output transformer as well as a magnetic reproducer.. I wonder if they used both mechanical vibration AND amplified voltage from the record pickup? Both elements are there. If phono amplification is present, then it must have a crystal element on that diaphragm someplace. -CAREFUL, that would be difficult to replace.
@paulcirc for Victor - both - some 1926/27 machines have a horn driver or even a valve device that would switch between the duct for the acoustic reproducer and the eletric driver. By 1929 Field Coil speakers were Standard, HMV always did Speakers.
That's a great sound; I can only imagine what it's like live. I've also always wondered what one of these large metal horn HMVs would sound like with an Expert 4-spring sound box on it. I don't suppose you have one of those to show off? Both items are prohibitively expensive; it's a shame that with all the cheap repro phonos on the market, nobody has cared enough to pattern their sound box after a really good one. I'd love to get one for my Credenza, but it'd cost more than the machine did.
@johnster1964 I am sure there are several in the UK - one was recently offered on ebay. Why not get in touch with the City of London Gramo and Phono Soc. I am sure they would be happy to point you in the right direction.
@ilovecollecting Well, the service manual for the machine is 250 pages, and written in the most awful, condescending Oxford English. Truely frightening if something went wrong. However, I only put a bit of oil on the mechanism, I had to time one gear, and unstick one of the push buttons, Otherwise the mechanism runs perfectly the way it was set in 1929. IOW nothing to worry about.
@DaMadFiddler Would be quite difficult to adapt an EMG for an orthophonic/ re-entrant machine. EMG used very thin arms. A well rebuilt Victor soundbox can give you amazing sound, and I would be very surprised if the EMG would be significantly better. Just my opinion. Cheers
The ultra deluxe top of the range ! I wonder who it was purchased by and where it went ? I have seen advertising for these which said they were ideal for Dance Halls,Cafes and other public places . I have several Cabinet grams, HMV, Decca and Columbia,but this is in a different league altogether !
They need to make a completely clockwork version of this machine with 45/45 stereophonic 720 apparent groove per inch 78.26 RPM iron records that plays high fidelity stereo for 30 minutes on a side...
@JCJasion Yeah, but sadly he had no ferdy grofe as an arranger. If you listen closely, Hylton several times uses little snippets from Rhapsody in Blue.
Yes, I know about Wittrisch, people gave me a lot of grief. I have an updated version of the video, which I will need to post soon. Yeah, I know about the Nimbus, I found them disappointing too. Keep in mind, Gigolo is probably one of the best sounding records, you notice a drop in quality to Body and Soul. Thanks for the comment.
Sound really is amazing. It doesn't sound like an acoustic machine at all. Much more impressive than the series of CDs put out by Nimbus several years ago using an EMG acoustic machine - you were very much aware that you were listening to a horn with those! Just for the record it isn't Tauber singing on "Heart's Delight", it is Marcel Wittrisch, and he was present during the recording not dubbed.
Yeah, sorry a case of wishful thinking. But the record seems to be made to leave the impression that Tauber is singing .... I am going to post a corrected version.
What a AWESOME Machine! Truly engineering at it`s finest! Sound quality is astounding! truly BEAUTIFUL!
The sound is really great, like something you would have playing in an old theatre before the movie starts. Or its perfect for some ghost/haunted house type thing. Beautiful machine, ensure it keeps going and its loved.
Incredible sound for a 1928 machine. Thanks for this posting.
What a fascinating machine! Leave it to the British to construct something so beautiful and sophisticated. Only a few words can truly describe this gramophone, and I'll have to borrow them from Mr. Waugh..."Simply too too divine."
C. - both the machine and the video - stunning! Thank you for another opportunity to drool....
simply amazing sound ,even machines made much later didn't sound this good
Brand new, this must of cost over 1,300 pounds !!! WAY ahead of it's time, and so GORGEOUS !! Thank you for posting this video, with wonderful descriptions !!
Glenn Johnson What a fantastic sound quality for 1928.Indeed,wished i owned one of these.Thanks for this posting.
Wonderful, magnificent Talking Machine,
absolute height of the pure-machine age.
Thank You for posting such a marvelous
and entertaining tour.
As instructed by HMV, I use vintage TUNGSTONE (TUNGSTYLE in the UK) styli which are good for up to 50 plays.
This is a stunningly well-made video of an outstanding gramophone. Thank you sanfranphono.
Fantastic machine sounds wonderful when that was first made I bet that was the top of the range in the 1930s great to see and of corse Jack Hylton is a superb band leader I enjoyed that very much great stuff.
@paulcirc yep it is an acoustic machine. Actually, I have owned other Victor Orthophonic machines and they sound very similar, if carefully rebuilt. As you can see from the video - if there is an open gasket or air leak, the sound deteriorates. This machine sounds especially fine a.) because it has an oversize large horn (yep size matter) and b.) because it has a metal horn (vs wood horns on most Victors) That accentuates treble. And of course I chose records that would sound impressive.
A very rare version of the Automatic No. 1. We have the more usual walnut version with doors. They are amazing, certainly!
It sounds fantastic! You have the patience of a Saint. You did a great restore job.
It took me a solid ten years to learn how to correctly and thoroughly rebuild a Thorens TD124. I now have two, -I did not need THREE TD124s. Hence, I sold one. Mustn't be piggy.
Whilst learning about and rebuilding these remarkable tables, at least i could look forward to a state of the art transcription record player with which to transfer rare Jazz 78s.
YOU, however, have a WONDERFUL machine that will re-lathe a disc after 10 plays. (that Osmium styli and 4 ounce tracking weight) HINT: Try CACTUS needles for the stylus. They were popular with the hep set back then, and I suspect they are available from speciality web shops. They sound waay smoother and produce FAR less record wear. All the hep cats use cactus stylus!
And I believe your hard work is well worth the cost! Just be careful not to put any rare Jazz sides on your player.
The pickup looks like a hybrid with an acoustic celluloid diaphragm and a crystal pickup element to convert the vibrations to voltage for the triode to amplify. Is this correct?
The early loud speaker; -no permanent magnet, but a high-voltage magnetic/transformer system, with a HIGH bias voltage as well. Sort of like an output transformer in a Hi-Fi power amp. BE CAREFUL when working on early loudspeakers! There is enough voltage to make you change your moral beliefs.
The loud speaker is performing the job of an output transformer as well as a magnetic reproducer..
I wonder if they used both mechanical vibration AND amplified voltage from the record pickup? Both elements are there. If phono amplification is present, then it must have a crystal element on that diaphragm someplace. -CAREFUL, that would be difficult to replace.
@paulcirc for Victor - both - some 1926/27 machines have a horn driver or even a valve device that would switch between the duct for the acoustic reproducer and the eletric driver. By 1929 Field Coil speakers were Standard, HMV always did Speakers.
That's a great sound; I can only imagine what it's like live. I've also always wondered what one of these large metal horn HMVs would sound like with an Expert 4-spring sound box on it. I don't suppose you have one of those to show off?
Both items are prohibitively expensive; it's a shame that with all the cheap repro phonos on the market, nobody has cared enough to pattern their sound box after a really good one. I'd love to get one for my Credenza, but it'd cost more than the machine did.
@johnster1964 I am sure there are several in the UK - one was recently offered on ebay. Why not get in touch with the City of London Gramo and Phono Soc. I am sure they would be happy to point you in the right direction.
Wow! Thanks ....
I wished I owned one of those!!
@ilovecollecting Well, the service manual for the machine is 250 pages, and written in the most awful, condescending Oxford English. Truely frightening if something went wrong.
However, I only put a bit of oil on the mechanism, I had to time one gear, and unstick one of the push buttons, Otherwise the mechanism runs perfectly the way it was set in 1929. IOW nothing to worry about.
@DaMadFiddler Would be quite difficult to adapt an EMG for an orthophonic/ re-entrant machine.
EMG used very thin arms.
A well rebuilt Victor soundbox can give you amazing sound, and I would be very surprised if the EMG would be significantly better. Just my opinion.
Cheers
The ultra deluxe top of the range ! I wonder who it was purchased by and where it went ? I have seen advertising for these which said they were ideal for Dance Halls,Cafes and other public places . I have several Cabinet grams, HMV, Decca and Columbia,but this is in a different league altogether !
They need to make a completely clockwork version of this machine with 45/45 stereophonic 720 apparent groove per inch 78.26 RPM iron records that plays high fidelity stereo for 30 minutes on a side...
Hylton's band were on top form during this Tour.
@MB124er Yours is the W2 (or No 2) export model without the repeat function. Everything else is the same.
Best
Oh. BTW: the jerking of the transfer arm is the @#$%! video software. Of course it glides smoothly from left to right.
@JCJasion Yeah, but sadly he had no ferdy grofe as an arranger. If you listen closely, Hylton several times uses little snippets from Rhapsody in Blue.
Механика на грани фантастики...
Yes, I know about Wittrisch, people gave me a lot of grief. I have an updated version of the video, which I will need to post soon.
Yeah, I know about the Nimbus, I found them disappointing too.
Keep in mind, Gigolo is probably one of the best sounding records, you notice a drop in quality to Body and Soul.
Thanks for the comment.
As you see - it is.
Sound really is amazing. It doesn't sound like an acoustic machine at all. Much more impressive than the series of CDs put out by Nimbus several years ago using an EMG acoustic machine - you were very much aware that you were listening to a horn with those! Just for the record it isn't Tauber singing on "Heart's Delight", it is Marcel Wittrisch, and he was present during the recording not dubbed.
Im interested to know what sort of needle was used in these machines, surely if they were standard Steel needles they need replacing every side.
The music remember the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon's!
this is not with Tauber (who was with Odeon) but Marcel Wittrich.
@zjsprout thanks, of course I need to throw away my camera, the video quality is awful.
Yeah, sorry a case of wishful thinking.
But the record seems to be made to leave the impression that Tauber is singing ....
I am going to post a corrected version.
The perfect machine for one of the Bright Young People...too diverting.
You're really lucky ...
it is your this famous satin version of HMV A1 automatic gramophone?
obviously the salesmans patter held water at the time!!??