Real vs fake gramophone - how do they compare?

Lets a play a record and also have a peek at both of these machines and see how they compare! Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks

#antique
#gramophone
#phonograph
#78rpm
#78rpmshellac

[frank]

The fake one definitely sounds more hollow and has a worse sound quality than the Apollo which sounds much better and has a fuller sound to it… great video!!

[poisonedbasin]

the Apollo sounds more fresh, meanwhile the fake sounds haunting-ish and alot more cloudy

[vsk_ind]

I don't know why I'm here, I have an exam tomorrow!!! But still worth it... I want one now

[pip]

I wouldn't have thought to play a 1926 record on a machine that old but since it's Imperial, it was most likely still acoustically recorded as they were one of the few to continue acoustic recording until 1928 or so. Yes, the particular HMV painting used on the fake as well as the soundbox are far more contemporary than they'd have you believe. The gramophone itself looks to be copying an HMV Monarch or something similar albeit with a brass horn which HMV never used on models that late. The famous painting itself depicts a G&T No. 2 (modified from being an Edison cylinder phonograph in the original Barraud painting) and almost immediately they discovered that brass was too tinny so they used tin horns. You can of course put the likes of a No. 5 on an external horn machine if it has that bigger tonearm or if you have an adaptor and I have seen it done on a few occasions. Historically however, people had already ditched external horns by the time the No. 4 rolled around and especially the No. 5. because they were deemed impractical and unsightly. I love that you're comparing the fake against the Apollo while Gramophonic Reevolution has it against a more juxtaposed Decca No. 50 and Tim Weeks compared more directly with an authentic HMV model. Even for having an early soundbox, that Apollo definitely sounds fuller.

[dkoopman]

The fake one sound very tinny. Can't wait till my columbia horn graphophone arrives!

[patricklynch]

The quality of the fakes can be all over the place. The bad logo I think is based on a suitcase HMV lid decal. Twenty years ago, I had my heart set on an outside horn gramophone and it was the only way I can afford one. I knew they were fakes but it was my first gramophone and knew I was taking a chance on it. So my first eBay purchase went a bit awry because of a computer crash and because I did "buy it now" when I went back thinking the first one didn't go through bought two of them. No matter, I thought, one could be used at home and the other in my art studio. The first machine that arrived played perfectly to my great surprise with a bit of adjustment of the speed control. The second machine meant for the art studio could not hold correct speed or play all the way through a record. Based on how the cases looked, I decided to transfer the good parts to the second machine and use the first as a platform for experimenting and upgrading. The end results were that both machines play fine.

Years later, I sold the second machine to someone fully informing her of its true origins. She's been very happy with it. The one I kept got a different motor with matched turntable and crank, adapted a different tone arm as well as refinished the extremely fake case, (the motor board is plywood!) painted the back bracket to something more presentable and have a temporary horn elbow made from a PVC plumbing elbow painted to sort of match which I hope to improve upon somehow. I learned a bit from taking apart the Garrard Model 30 motor, and finding out why it wouldn't play correctly or a full wind (broken, shortened spring reattached) The buzzy soundbox is in my spares. A few years later I got a beautiful Columbia BI Sterling with a beautiful nickel plated morning glory horn among other actual antique machines since the purchase of the fake HMV. Yet, now and then, I'll give the fake a go on an acoustic era record and have a bit of fun. I've noticed that the Garrard Model 30 motors are now being copied, have no idea if they're any good or not.

[BongbongA]

The fake one sounds 'strangled' and its governor sounds like it's chattering, well either that or there's not much 'flywheel' effect to smooth things out. Is the turntable lighter? It also looks like the rake on the soundbox/needle is excessive.

[ThePhonographStop]

The fake sounds horrid! As I expected. Interesting video!

[Natascha-thegun]

1:25 oh i feel bad for the apollo gramophone

[neilgoloy]

Always wanted to know what the fake gramophone sounds like, which a lot of people said wasn't good at all and only suitable for display which is often the case with the few gramophones that exist in these parts ... mere reproductions. Many thanks, blessings to you and yours. 🙂

[davidk]

How does the Bollyphone sound with the Apollo soundbox? I much preferred the sound of the Apollo.

[francos]

Hi, could you upload a video of the gramophone playing the song "Pal Of My Cradle Days" heard in this video?

[mshowell]

I just bought a fake it's a 1978 I hope it sounds better than yours...but the Apollo is Sooo NICE!!! Sounds LOVELY. So Romantic.

[TheJONNYSHADOW]

The Apollo is so sweet sounding it's quality shows through in heaps the fake, well, fakes are never as good as the real deal are they. I wouldn't give it floor space.

[jgfiseth]

Difference - even with laid down work at the new one! Also keep in mind that the original one, wasent the most expensive at the market, when it was new.

[gunier.j.kintgenanimations]

I have an idea: I have an old Brunswick gramophone, a stand-up cabinet model to be exact. However, it's motor is absolutely gutted; there's basically nothing left but the chassis. How hard would it be to buy one of these fake gramophones & gut the motor for it's parts, or perhaps just swap the motors entirely?

[tiga]

An interesting & detailed comparison. I'm guessing the motor in the fake is a genuine vintage spare, judging by the robust casting & it looks well built. The motor in my recently posted fake looks like a cheap copy, with its thin gauge top & bottom plate & its flimsy pillars. I think the inferior sound is due to the cheaply made soundbox, which, if its anything like mine, is very light. There's no stylus bar pivot on mine, just thin strips of steel, which are supposed to, and do, sort of flex! If yours is anything like mine, the joint between the tone arm & the horn is far from 'sound tight' to the further detriment of the tone. That said, one of the beauties of the analogue record grooves, is that they can be 'read' by almost anything that's in contact with the vibrating needle. A pin though a matchbox gives surprising, though faint results! I bought the fake, because its part of 'gramophonic history' & as a warning to those who may be duped into believing they're genuine antiques. Mine of course, was not sold as such.

[digidoridvideos]

The apollo phonograph sounds very good then that assophone.

[ericashotton]

Hello can you do a video on how to get a real gramophone I have looked for one for years.

[dougmorris]

The original sounds really good, the fake sounds - not good (I’m being kind).
Somewhere, I have a 1929 recording of Jack Hylton & His Band/Orchestra playing “When Day is Done” but I use slightly more modern “tech” (a modern GL75 turntable with a modern cartridge and a suitable 78 stylus and preamp for all of the 78rpm replay replay standards), a few tweaks and It’s really good.