HMV Gramophone, fake? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

DJ Maelfait · 31st Jul 2010, 5:02 pm

Seems that I'm here at the right place to ask about my own HMV.
I received it together with 78's from someone who had it for several years in her home.
She knew I was very fond of old radios etc.

But now i've read several of your posts and I'm wondering if my HMV is a fake or a real one... I'm including the link of some pictures of the details so that i might get a definitive answer.

Thx

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=3KZALQSZ

triplespring · 31st Jul 2010, 5:29 pm

Im afraid it is a fake. HMV never made such a model. This one originated in either India or China, and can be bought here in Australia from the Importers for $135.
You should find the same machine listed in this catalogue- the Al-1220 I think.

http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra.../catalog-1.pdf

And a little more info here.

http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra...roduction.html

I wouldn't recommend playing any good or valuable records on these reproduction machines. The soundbox employed is of a very poor design, and excessive record wear will result from it's use.

mickjjo · 31st Jul 2010, 5:32 pm

That has all the features of a modern reproduction, HMV never made them like that.... :-

http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra...roduction.html

Regards, Mick.

Boom · 31st Jul 2010, 5:35 pm

My understanding is that the motors on the crapophones are the genuine vintage item. Why on earth pull a good vintage gramophone to bits to make
a poor modern copy?

triplespring · 31st Jul 2010, 5:49 pm

Actually, some use motors from old portables, but the one I have, has a brand new motor that is a poor quality copy of the Garrard No.30 motor.
I guess they're running out of genuine vintage motors to put in these things, so they've been forced to manufacture them from scratch.

KEITHW · 31st Jul 2010, 6:12 pm

Hi DJ Maelfait,

It is a modern repro, but if you like it, enjoy it for what it is!

Please don't play any records with the soundbox pointing in the direction it is in on the photos, you'll be digging into the grooves and ruin the 78s.

Regards,
Keith

Steerpike2 · 31st Jul 2010, 9:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom

My understanding is that the motors on the crapophones are the genuine vintage item. Why on earth pull a good vintage gramophone to bits to make
a poor modern copy?

From what I have heard, as applied to South Africa (some years ago, not necessarily true now), there was a high tax/duty on the import of the genuine article, but not so if it was fake, or contained some fake parts. So stripping out the guts and making it partly fake made a mch higher profit if they sold them to the unwary.

DJ Maelfait · 1st Aug 2010, 11:23 am

Thank you very much.
Finally this "mystery" is solved.
Hope to find me a real one some day.

Baldrick110 · 16th Jan 2012, 1:01 am

Hi All,

Can someone tell me how long they have been making these reproductions? I have one that has some of the suspect features but it is definitely quite old. I have only had it 10 years but the wood looks much older.

Audio1950 · 16th Jan 2012, 11:42 am

They have been around since the eighties, at least. The wood used probably is old, having come from another piece of furniture.
Although there are still many of these dreadful things being sold as genuine antiques, there are signs that as people have now got wise, it is no longer profitable to make them. The soundboxes and motors are now being sold on the open market, again as genuine HMV models, but they are poorly made, and bear no resemblance to anything that HMV ever made. Or maybe the supply of portable gramophones to rob the parts from has started to dry up?

Barry

Steve_P · 16th Jan 2012, 11:56 am

Sorry about this...

http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra...roduction.html

Cheers,

Steve P.

HamishBoxer · 16th Jan 2012, 12:56 pm

Think most are made in India.

David

analogadikt · 17th Jan 2012, 7:29 am

Yes, most, or all of them are from here.

A vintage motor in a new body is a solution when the wooden body and the brass horn is beyond salvage. I am not a fan of wind up gramophones, but as I know one of the suppliers who is supplying to importers abroad, I checked with him about this and also prices.

The price for a complete original article is about 350 pounds. Vintage motor with new wooden body costs about 70 pounds while the one with all parts of current manufacture is about 30 pounds.

Regards,

31st Jul 2010, 5:02 pm	#1
DJ Maelfait Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 2	HMV Gramophone, fake? Seems that I'm here at the right place to ask about my own HMV. I received it together with 78's from someone who had it for several years in her home. She knew I was very fond of old radios etc. But now i've read several of your posts and I'm wondering if my HMV is a fake or a real one... I'm including the link of some pictures of the details so that i might get a definitive answer. Thx http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=3KZALQSZ

31st Jul 2010, 5:29 pm	#2
triplespring Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia. Posts: 21	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Im afraid it is a fake. HMV never made such a model. This one originated in either India or China, and can be bought here in Australia from the Importers for $135. You should find the same machine listed in this catalogue- the Al-1220 I think. http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra.../catalog-1.pdf And a little more info here. http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra...roduction.html I wouldn't recommend playing any good or valuable records on these reproduction machines. The soundbox employed is of a very poor design, and excessive record wear will result from it's use. Last edited by triplespring; 31st Jul 2010 at 5:44 pm. Reason: to add second link

31st Jul 2010, 5:32 pm	#3
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? That has all the features of a modern reproduction, HMV never made them like that.... :- http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra...roduction.html Regards, Mick.

31st Jul 2010, 5:35 pm	#4
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? My understanding is that the motors on the crapophones are the genuine vintage item. Why on earth pull a good vintage gramophone to bits to make a poor modern copy?

31st Jul 2010, 5:49 pm	#5
triplespring Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia. Posts: 21	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Actually, some use motors from old portables, but the one I have, has a brand new motor that is a poor quality copy of the Garrard No.30 motor. I guess they're running out of genuine vintage motors to put in these things, so they've been forced to manufacture them from scratch.

31st Jul 2010, 6:12 pm	#6
KEITHW Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pocklington, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 171	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Hi DJ Maelfait, It is a modern repro, but if you like it, enjoy it for what it is! Please don't play any records with the soundbox pointing in the direction it is in on the photos, you'll be digging into the grooves and ruin the 78s. Regards, Keith

1st Aug 2010, 11:23 am	#8
DJ Maelfait Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 2	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Thank you very much. Finally this "mystery" is solved. Hope to find me a real one some day.

16th Jan 2012, 1:01 am	#9
Baldrick110 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 1	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Hi All, Can someone tell me how long they have been making these reproductions? I have one that has some of the suspect features but it is definitely quite old. I have only had it 10 years but the wood looks much older.

16th Jan 2012, 11:42 am	#10
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,735	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? They have been around since the eighties, at least. The wood used probably is old, having come from another piece of furniture. Although there are still many of these dreadful things being sold as genuine antiques, there are signs that as people have now got wise, it is no longer profitable to make them. The soundboxes and motors are now being sold on the open market, again as genuine HMV models, but they are poorly made, and bear no resemblance to anything that HMV ever made. Or maybe the supply of portable gramophones to rob the parts from has started to dry up? Barry

16th Jan 2012, 11:56 am	#11
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,639	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Sorry about this... http://www.oldcrank.com/articles/cra...roduction.html Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

16th Jan 2012, 12:56 pm	#12
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,875	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Think most are made in India. David

17th Jan 2012, 7:29 am	#13
analogadikt Tetrode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mumbai, India. Posts: 98	Re: HMV Gramophone, fake? Yes, most, or all of them are from here. A vintage motor in a new body is a solution when the wooden body and the brass horn is beyond salvage. I am not a fan of wind up gramophones, but as I know one of the suppliers who is supplying to importers abroad, I checked with him about this and also prices. The price for a complete original article is about 350 pounds. Vintage motor with new wooden body costs about 70 pounds while the one with all parts of current manufacture is about 30 pounds. Regards, __________________ Anwesh