His Master's Voice 2 door cabinet Gramophone Model 157
£
143
$
189
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
HMV Model 157 Upright Grand Gramophone in Oak
Circa 1929
Advert from the 1930 HMV Catalogue
The HMV Model 157 was available between autumn of 1927 and circa 1932
This Gramophone embodied the pinnacle of acoustic Gramophone design excellence; by the mid-thirties the wind-up horn Gramophone was obsolete, having been replaced by realistically priced electric sound amplification models. The Soundbox is the part where the needle is inserted, this Gramophone has a Model 5A Soundbox which incorporated the ultimate and final HMV design features. The greater the distance between the Soundbox diaphragm and the mouth of the Horn the better the sound quality. You will notice unlike previous Gramophones this Gramophone contains no record storage. The complete area underneath the playing deck is utilised by the internal horn, the sound is communicated through a series of baffles mathematically designed so as not to distort the sound. The effect is that the Sound has to travel a long distance inside the Gramophone to the front of the Horn, hence the sound quality improvement.
The gramophone has an automatic pointer which moves to show the record playing speed, 12" turntable and the powerful No. 32 two spring motor.
Condition:- Cabinet is in very good condition, no loose joints or hinges, lid veneer has some open graining possibly due to water spillage in the past. Mechanically in full working order.
I have tried to describe the Gramophone accurately. However, it must be born in mind unlike many "Antiques" that have been safely stored against the ravages of time in a display cabinet; the Gramophone was a Domestic Appliance which was a main source of home entertainment.
Realistically the only Gramophones that won't show signs of age are over restored examples, or the reproduction models imported from the Far East.
price rating
