Barry
25-06-2016, 13:38
Spotted in today’s boot sale: a 1930’s Marconiphone No. 25 pickup. I didn’t buy it, nor did I have my camera with me to photograph it. But being vaguely hi-fi, I thought members might be interested to see the ‘state of the art’ current in the 1930s.
http://www.normanfield.com/pickups.htm
(Scroll down to "Class 2 pickups" and it's listed as number 8.)
Well, we have to say, that this picture is just as much about the box as about the arm! Resplendent in its Art Deco design and ‘chemical red’ colour, the box houses an example of what is probably the most ubiquitous pick-up arm of the mid and later 1930s. By this time, the ‘domestic audio’ side of Marconi was of course part of EMI, which principally included HMV and Columbia. This same arm was fitted to many EMI products.
Each arm, whether HMV, Columbia or Marconi, would have borne that company’s logo on the top of the head. Unfortunately, that little ‘Marconiphone’ plate is missing from this example; but that’s not a problem really, as it will be fairly easy to acquire all these types in the future.
Another thing that is missing is the arm rest. Some of the arms we have dealt with so far were ‘self-supporting’, but the ‘arm rest’ was gradually becoming obligatory. Again, that’s not important right now.
Another sign that we are entering a later period is the frequency response curve printed on the front flap of the box. Frequency response graphs had been around for many years of course, going right back into the acoustic era; but at that time they were intended for the specialist audiophile – or ‘gramophile’ as they were known in those early days. The fact that ‘the man in the street’ might know enough to be impressed by a frequency response curve represents a significant change in the way equipment was being marketed.
http://www.normanfield.com/frequencycurve.jpg
20Hz – 5,000Hz (+/- 8dB) for 1.75 volts into 100kOhm! Not bad for the 1930’s. I don’t know the playing weight; probably the dead weight of the ‘head’ (~ 150g ?).
http://www.normanfield.com/pickups.htm
(Scroll down to "Class 2 pickups" and it's listed as number 8.)
Well, we have to say, that this picture is just as much about the box as about the arm! Resplendent in its Art Deco design and ‘chemical red’ colour, the box houses an example of what is probably the most ubiquitous pick-up arm of the mid and later 1930s. By this time, the ‘domestic audio’ side of Marconi was of course part of EMI, which principally included HMV and Columbia. This same arm was fitted to many EMI products.
Each arm, whether HMV, Columbia or Marconi, would have borne that company’s logo on the top of the head. Unfortunately, that little ‘Marconiphone’ plate is missing from this example; but that’s not a problem really, as it will be fairly easy to acquire all these types in the future.
Another thing that is missing is the arm rest. Some of the arms we have dealt with so far were ‘self-supporting’, but the ‘arm rest’ was gradually becoming obligatory. Again, that’s not important right now.
Another sign that we are entering a later period is the frequency response curve printed on the front flap of the box. Frequency response graphs had been around for many years of course, going right back into the acoustic era; but at that time they were intended for the specialist audiophile – or ‘gramophile’ as they were known in those early days. The fact that ‘the man in the street’ might know enough to be impressed by a frequency response curve represents a significant change in the way equipment was being marketed.
http://www.normanfield.com/frequencycurve.jpg
20Hz – 5,000Hz (+/- 8dB) for 1.75 volts into 100kOhm! Not bad for the 1930’s. I don’t know the playing weight; probably the dead weight of the ‘head’ (~ 150g ?).