Nimbus horn EMG gramophone. Fletcher Henderson & orchestra---Clarinet marmalade.

[kirtley2010]

@monty78pig not forgetting graham is making this recording in the open air so most of the bass and treble is not detected by the cameras small microphone, listening to it in person would give you a whole new light on it, also he is not destroying the disc, the fact you destroy records on gramophones is simply a myth, only if you dont change the needle does it start to make wear and if you read the above description you will read graham is using a wooden thorn needle, which causes NO RECORD WEAR

[jellywhipper]

It doesn't make much sense to me to play an electically recorded record with a cactus needle and a horn. The result is full of odd noises and fails to project the full spectrum of sound. In short it sounds tinny.This method might be OK for something recorded accoustically.

[grahamrankin]

Maybe they should have used the original EMG technology as in this gramophone which, in my opinion, sounds pretty good. What do you think ?

[mazzone1]

The Nimbus transfers were the worst ever

[VictrolaJazz]

Low-tech carries the day every time!

[Haygirl345]

@VictrolaJazz Actually, low-tech usually doesn't carry the day. It's much more of a miracle that I can listen to a digital remaster of this song from my phone whilst making a phone call or getting driving directions to a local restaurant. However, low-tech things like this are very nice to keep up for future generations and simply because of the sheer excitement one gets when seeing how far we have come in eighty years.

[VictrolaJazz]

@Haygirl345 Thanks! All those things are true, but you're talking about access--digital will never rival or even equal the sound made by that steel needle and horn. But I am thankful for all the wonderful things we have that allow us to be able to enjoy this music.

[Haygirl345]

@VictrolaJazz Very true. There is something eerie and beautiful about the old gramophone sound, something very antique that a modern digital player cannot emulate. Cheers to those who keep the fine antique sound around! :)

[grahamrankin]

In the case of this Nimbus horn joint next to the casing there is a detachable rubber ringed double tapered compression connection producing an extremely effective airtight and mechanically strong result.

[grahamrankin]

Yes, it is vital to produce an airtight conduit from stylus/diaphragm to bell mouth---I ensure that the horn/case joint is well greased.

[grahamrankin]

So much depends upon so many variable factors doesn't it---record, quality of record, quality of recording, condition of soundbox, tuning of soundbox, state of needle, length of needle etc etc. The skill of using these old gramophones is in the matching of all components.

[grahamrankin]

Your Peggy Lee recording expressed through the Wilson horn is stunning---very well done. Thank you for the suggestion of the 5A soundbox---I shall try it on the Nimbus horn when we next have it out. I did try one on the Oversize a year or two ago and the results were good but, in my opinion, no better than an EMG soundbox.

[alltheway62]

I also use rubber rings between horn and the cabinet's hornreceiver for even better lower tones !

[alltheway62]

PLEASE EXPERIMENT WITH A GOOD HMV 5A SOUNDBOX

I MADE A SMALL LEATHER RING TO MAKE IT FIT TO THE EMG OVERSIZE;

NOW I PLAY A WILSON HORN NORMAL SIZE AND WITH THE 5A SOUNDBOX ITS FANTASTIC....

[grahamrankin]

Yes, you are right.

[kirtley2010]

now i understand where you got that mark 9 horn from!

[MrCHIEFIRONSIDE]

GOOD EVENING chief ironside here. i will be coming over from the states at the begining of next week to investigate the whereabouts of 2 extremly rare leather portable gramophones which belonged to a avid collecter of gramophones R THORNE...these machines were last seen at the gentlemans home due to be put into a auction to raise funds for a animal charity. however they never made this sale, i am very keen to interview a man who was last seen leaving mr thornes pushing a lawnmower

[suffolkcoltman]

excellent test the horn sounds beutiful with the emg. very detailed and clear. do you know anyone within the gramophone world who can overhaul a rare 1936 coronation model portable ? best regards christopher.............it came from the thorne collection

[dixonofdocksgreen]

EVENING ALL...... DIXON OF DOCK GREEN HERE.....IM LOOKING FOR THE WHEREABOUTS OF 2 RARE LEATHER HMV PORTABLES LAST SEEN AT A GENTLEMANS HOUSE ( R THORNE ) I BELIEVE THESE 2 RARE GEMS NEVER MADE THE THORNE SALE AUCTION ANY INFORMATION PLEASE FORWARD TO THE GRAMOPHONE SOCIETY PS.........2 LEATHER HMV PORTABLES

[SuperCAGERATTLER]

that is a giant of a horn the sound it emits is out of this world. . and far superior to the wilson horn conversion made from a old hmv510 which is a made up machine

[victorcredenza]

wonderful sound test the henderson number is crystal clear .jolly good upload .ps......the  wilson horn conversion aka hmv 510 frankophone on another channel is a made up affair

[victorcredenza]

superb the sound is out of this world excellent. horn conversion. however there is a purported original wilson horn conversion on you tube circa 27 . im aware its made from a hmv510 . on further inspection you can see its a frankenphone of the worst kind made in the early 1990,s from emg seymour spare parts .

[SIMONCOWELD]

why didnt norman white think of that way back in 2000 does a thorn sound better than a top of the range 78 shure cartridge

[SIMONCOWELD]

poor old Norman hes had is cherished horn whipped from under is nose by the gramophone fraternity who not only derides is recordings but now they possess this horn they describe it fantastic sounding

[EMGColonel]

You only have to hear the CD's (Produced using the larger horn) to hear how dismal they are - they make Great Singers appear to be singing in a Bath ! Raymond Glasspole from Blackwells Music Shop (then in Holyweell St Oxford) tried everything to put me off buying them and he's been interested in recordings since before the War - they are awful because the Tonearm was wrong, the microphone was misplaced and the giant horn went well beyond the exponential technology

[grahamrankin]

It is also worth remembering, as stated in an earlier comment, that the drive unit is now Mk IX EMG conduit and tonearm, whereas when the horn was in use with Nimbus, a modern system incorporating a lightweight parallel tone arm was used. This produced another different sound. This may be where the confusion arises.

[SIMONCOWELD]

ii concider the nimbus recordings fantastic i,e prima voce series emg whatsit colonel is talking out is sounded when he described these excellent recordings as awful what does he know about recoffing he is barely a baby when Norman was playing with hi fi and sound equipment good heavens whatever next the colonel will say the Stanley Kelly ribbon is. crap next

[grahamrankin]

I can only speak as I find or hear. The output from the Nimbus horn is different from the EMG Oversize horn but I feel both are valid and enjoyable. You must judge for yourself---both are here on this channel---although the compression does make things difficult. Listening "in the flesh" is the final arbiter, although, it will always be subjective. Enthusiasts are always welcome to visit.

[kirtley2010]

@grahamrankin i wish i could come and visit to have a listen to your emg or this monster, i would if i didnt live so far away

[SIMONCOWELD]

Mr emg whatsit colonel said only 3months. that the nimbus horn and its sound was awful and he likened the effect to singing in the bath also he stated that all the prima. vice recordings are awful too using this particular horn yet now he leaves comment stating its fantastic

[grahamrankin]

Many thanks. The needle was the old Burmese thorn still going strong !

[EMGColonel]

Fantastic, a really great "Al Fresco" recording ! was that a steel or fibre needle ?

[EMGColonel]

Fantastic, a really great "Al Fresco" recording !

[grahamrankin]

I bought the horn direct from Nimbus which was then surplus to requirements and kept in an outhouse. The reference to the Mk 1 was, in fact, to a totally original complete EMG or Ginn machine---I cannot remember which I am afraid--- belonging personally to Norman White who was director of recording.

[grahamrankin]

The larger (Mk 3) horn I think is actually 2 metres in bell mouth diameter and 6 metres long. It is still owned by Nimbus as far as I know. Many of us went to a concert at Wyastone Leys years ago to hear it. I have to say it was not very impressive and, on that occasion, the output had to be boosted with loudspeakers. In my opinion, they should have stuck with this horn and made use of original EMG tonearm/conduit designs !

[kirtley2010]

@grahamrankin how did you get this horn, was it directly from nimbus??? and what does the mk1 horn look like

[kirtley2010]

wow im amazed this finally made an appearance, ive seen pictures of the horn but never knew you owned it or if it even still existed, what happened to that giant nimbus horn that was somewhere aound 7 feet wide and produced a terrible echo, could you do a distance test like the emgcolonel did with his wilson horn conversion

[grahamrankin]

Thank you Carlos.The material is Glass Reinforced Plastic or fibre-glass. Friends and I made a direct comparison between this machine and one of my own and there was an opinion that the Nimbus horn was better on acoustic records but that the EMG Oversize carried the day on the rest. Personally, I do find that the Oversize produces that undefinable but totally magical "holographic" sound and when I see new listeners with mouths wide open in amazement, I know success is assured !

[Luxgramophone]

Visually very impressive, Graham. What is the horn made of? Cannot say much about the sound after the youtube filtering, but it would be interesting to learn how do you compare it sonic´wise with your own EMG oversize. Kind Regards,

Carlos