The HMV 460 Lumiere table top

[Hogan]

MODEL:  HMV 460 Lumiere 
 SERIAL #:   
 YEARS MADE:  made october 1924 - november 1925
 COST:   Oak 22 £, mahogany 25 £
 CASE/CABINET SIZE  : 17.375 x 11 x 22.375 inch / 441 x 279 x 568 mm 
 TURNTABLE:   12" turntable

 REPRODUCER:   14" pleated diaphragm

 MOTOR: Double 11" spring motor

 
 HORN DIMENSIONS:   14" pleated diaphragm
 REPRODUCTION PARTS:   none
 CURRENT VALUE:  about 1500 - 2000 euros depending on condition 
 INTERESTING FACTS: 

Apparently it was invented by Lous Lumière around 1912 – but for some reason it was not put into production at the time. It is designed for acoustical records – so the timing was really bad when they finally started production in 1923. It was launched in 1924 – just a year before electric recordings hit the market. It did not fare well – what with the paper diaphragm being utterly fragile to touch and easily broken, the machine is also difficult to manage if you`re not very mechanically minded. You have to know exactly how to adjust the counterweight spring under the diaphragm – otherwise the weight of the diaphragm will ruin records in no time. Apparently this happened a lot and of the 867 produced in oak, 484 were returned to His Masters Voice (in mahogany 877 were sold and 223 returned) – who then sacked the diaphragm and reconstructed the machines into the HMV 461 – a conventional set-up with an acoustical arm, a long internal horn and the nr. 4 sound box – a machine with excellent sound, and apt for electrical recordings.

 

This left 383 machines in oak and 654 in mahogany for posterity. It´s surprising how often they turn up considering the numbers...

 

I was given one by my father when I was 11 – he called it the Rolls of gramophones! I really like it for its deco beauty, also it plays really well – especially with fiber needles.

 

Here is a video where you can appreciate the sound quality, also see some of the vital parts of the diaphragm set-up.

Edited July 4 by RodPickett
Edit Corrections

[RodPickett]

WOW!

 

What a beautiful example.

[Tinfoilphono]

That's remarkable. I've seen photos of similar machines in the past but have never seen (or heard) one in action, so your video was a treat. Such fascinating technology! 

[phonogfp]

Thanks for posting this most informative video!  

 

It demonstrates - better than words could - how the Lumiere system works.  Impressive!

 

Sound and beauty.

 

George P.

[Jerry]

A great machine and a great video. Thanks!

[NateO]

I've always wondered how these sounded. Thanks for sharing such a neat example!