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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment. |
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16th Dec 2016, 7:39 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,074
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'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
I have been in touch with Barry (audio 1950) about this one and we have established that the Cliftophone tonearm, which interestingly seems to have been supplied as an upgrade, is an addition. But even Barry has never come across the 'Expression' player. Can anyone shed any light?
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'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan) |
17th Dec 2016, 8:50 pm | #2 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,074
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Re: 'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
I have done a bit more research and rooting about. I found this on Ebay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Expression...8AAOSwstxVAifK - which seems to indicate that a soundbox, at least, was made by a company called 'Expression' around about 1906 in Switzerland. So I pulled it apart, half expecting to find a Thorens motor but it was the trusty Junior Garrard. Also you can see that the Cliftophone tonearm has been rather inexpertly connected to the horn! Can I use a nice bit of 1,1/2" downpipe to replace this link or should it be metal? When I gave horn a good shake the little item in the last pic fell out. Am I right in assuming that is a dear little record cleaning device?
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'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan) |
17th Dec 2016, 9:53 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 3,761
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Re: 'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
Doesn't have to be metal, all sorts of things were used for internal horns, just make sure it's as airtight as possible.
Yes, that's a record cleaner, nice find! Barry |
19th Dec 2016, 7:17 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,074
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Re: 'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
Well...full marks to that well known supplier of vintage gramophone parts - B&Q! Thanks for the reassurance, Barry. I needed the flexible 1,1/2" waste because the base of the tonearm and the horn entry didn't align - looking at the original hole layout - they never did, which struck me as odd. The seals at both ends are now really good, resulting in roughly double the volume.
I am surprised that no-one seems to be familiar with this model. Other than the substituted tonearm, the quality of construction is nothing special. I would not have been amazed to discover it was badge engineered for a chain store of some kind.
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'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan) |
19th Dec 2016, 7:41 pm | #5 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 3,761
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Re: 'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
Quote:
Waste pipe, eh? Handels Water Music should sound good! Or that old music-hall tune "Your baby has gone down the plug-'ole" Barry Last edited by Audio1950; 19th Dec 2016 at 7:46 pm. |
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19th Dec 2016, 7:55 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,074
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Re: 'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
What a sad little song (you really can find anything on youtube!).
The tonearm looks to have been brass-washed to me, rather than plated. I guess that rather limits my ability to restore it cosmetically?
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'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan) |
19th Dec 2016, 11:50 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 3,761
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Re: 'EXPRESSION' ? picnic gramophone with Cliftophone tonearm
The coating on these is very thin, so nothing abrasive. Ammonia is good for cleaning gilt, which is basically what this is.
Barry |