Avoid buying a fake gramophone! Some things to look out for

[@Timothycan]

I made my own fake gramophone, since I had a spare gramophone motor and tone arm. I used the top part of an old bedside table for the body of it, and made the horn out of petals cut from an old cardboard suitcase. I then covered the cardboard with papier mache. I got a friend to make the mounting bracket. It works OK, but the horn I made is even smaller, being just 12" across. So there's not much bass to the sound. But it was fun to make!

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, DIY machines like this are great fun! I have an idea for an interesting external horn build, which I hope to do in a future video. Thanks 😀 👍

[@neilgoloy3582]

So far the only gramophones I'd seen for sale in local antique shops were those octagon ones and were said to be intended only as display items and not recommended for playing records. Interesting video. Many thanks.

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, the octagon ones seem popular and I have also seen circular ones. The motors are unfortunately poor quality copies and are built to run, but not with sufficient quality control to run at 78rpm. They usually run much faster which is why they are advised as display items. Even when adjusted, sound quality is often very poor. Thanks 😀 👍

[@jgfiseth3332]

@@neilgoloy3582 Not that strange. Out of 100 Gramophones at the marked - 99 are probably fake.

[@NippersLounge]

Great video! I have seen some fake portables, that look like real portable machines.

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes indeed! I have seen a few of them on Ebay also. I would consider buying one for the collection, but it would have to be really cheap 😅. Thanks 😀 👍

[@jgfiseth3332]

Standard for the Gramophones from Victor/HMV/Deutche Grammophon after ca 1907, are 3 screws for the motor. But also a vertical mounted spring, or springs. On many Gramophones, you can open the top board, but allways via a sort of a button/push level.

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍. That's good to know 👍

[@Jan-m5c2r]

A beautiful, fake vintage gramophone which plays the records well certainly must be worth something!

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, though most of the fakes available are very poor quality. Thanks 😀 👍

[@Music_diplomat]

I love your gramophone analysis Your videos cheer me up 👍

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍. Glad you enjoy them 😀

[@Kevin-yi8fd]

Hi again very interesting video i have seen so many fakes that when a original comes up for sale it seems a miracle most horn Gramophone's i see are unfortunately reproduction. Thankyou again can't wait for your next video 😊😊😊

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍. Glad you enjoyed it. I have seen very few genuine horn machines for sale. I think other than RetroTechUK I have never seen an HMV one for sale. The ones I have seen in the wild have been these (originally low cost) Swiss made ones or ones made from Swiss parts.

[@Kevin-yi8fd]

Yes i know my Gramophone company horn models was brought by a dealer down in Cornwall, but finding them in the wild is nearly impossible unless you are very lucky thankyou again look forward to watching many more video's.

[@Mrpurple75]

Brass horns sounded tinny so they switched to tin horns that sound brassy😂

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, I have heard that, too! The other suggestion is that brass cost more, and certainly for these (cheap at the time) Swiss made machines, brass horns were an optional more expensive extra, so perhaps it's not surprising that the tinplate horns survive in greater quantities 🤔. Thanks 😀👍

[@Mrpurple75]

I saw an India fake on marketplace the other, got told off for saying it was fake. They wanted $250 for it, so about £1 30p😂

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, I am sure many do get sold to people who believe they are the real thing 😬. Thanks 😀 👍

[@chriswade7470]

I believe these reproduction ( fake) machines are made in India, and usually use recycled motors from portable gramophones, frequently Garrard Motors. If it’s labelled HMV then it wouldn’t have a Garrard Motor in it. Columbia badged portables esp U.K. made ones do frequently have Garrard Motors in them ( my Columbia 202 portable has a Garrard Motor in it) very easy to service and change the mainspring in. I remember seeing fake machines on sale in Brick Lane in London for about £50.00 a few years ago. I’ve also seen them on sale on eBay at vastly silly prices. They are poorly constructed and the sound boxes will rapidly destroy any 78rpm record played on them. They also don’t sound very good.

[@mrrgstuff]

It's an interesting point about where the motors for these fake machines come from. I've done some looking into it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmSpgmR8ZZiEi6s I've also looked at the fake soundboxes in these videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWqpqql_oZuJepYsi=H21oTHlMmVx-k9Yo kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKqVgoGFrt2apbssi=mo6RJFdqCjW3siq4 It certainly true though that HMV machines did not use Garrard motors, and in fact when HMV and Columbia joined together as EMI, the Columbia 202 continued to be made and eventually ended up with an HMV motor! I will be doing a video on the Columbia 202 model at some point as I have lots of parts for them, but not really a complete working machine 😅. Fortunately I have a working motor (Columbia 50, as made by Garrard), as although I understand it is possible to change the springs, it is also a messy and risky business due to the power of the springs. I'm not covering springs on this channel and recommend people who need spring work done use an experienced repair person to avoid risk of injury. Thanks 😀 👍

[@recordhog78]

great video! also on fake machines i find the end of the horn is just very badly folded and if you look closely you can see sharp bits where they didnt fold it properly. i do find it quite frustrating when im trying to find a real horn machine but come across fakes! and since im on the lookout for a horn machine what sort of price would a working horn gramophone be? thanks! 😉👌

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍. Yes, the horns on the fakes can be poorly made. I only own the 2 fake horns in the video, but I have examined several others in shops. The embossed horn with the octagonal machine is very poor quality. Not so much rough edges, but very thin. It's difficult to know how much a real horn gramophone should cost. I think for one of these Swiss made (cheap at the time) machines, somewhere around £300 seems about right, but they are so hard to find you may have to pay more. The motors tend to be very small, so it is more about looks than a machine to use a lot. Good luck in your hunt! 😀

[@recordhog78]

@@mrrgstuff thanks!

[@SureshChoudhary-iy8nz]

Sir iam from India you are great person sir ji please 🙏 make a video hou to adjust gramophone governer

[@ArchbankGaming]

What’s a good reproducer to use on the most common replicas? Are there any that easily fit right on without extra help?

[@mrrgstuff]

I haven't found one that just fits, unfortunately. The common fake machines have an unusual and possibly unique size fitting. I did make this video, exploring the possibilities: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6HahGejf5uKe7M Thanks 😀 👍

[@DeutscheReichsbah100]

I have a question, I have a gramophone in a cabinet and I like tow know if its real or fake? it looks like some one put a portable HMV in the cabinet,is that normal? the name of company that made the gramophone is the Vokal gramophone with kind regards Peter

[@mrrgstuff]

If you email me some pictures on my channel name at Gmail dot com then I will see if I can help. Thanks 😀 👍

[@DeutscheReichsbah100]

@@mrrgstuff Thank you I send you a email

[@Mrpurple75]

Noticed the body cam, you a bobby now?

[@mrrgstuff]

😅. Seemed like a good idea! Despite the 2 cameras I had been using, I often lacked decent close ups of the things I was talking about. Thanks 😀 👍

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

1910/1920 ……… did you buy it new 🫣

[@samuelfellows6923]

🙃 more likely from an antiques shop/car boot sale

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

@ ………… I was being obviously deliberately sarky and was expecting a sarky reply from mrrgstuff !!!!

[@mrrgstuff]

Nearly new! 😅. Thanks 😀 👍

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

@@mrrgstuff 😂