His Masters Voice Appraisal

His Master’s Voice Horn Gramophone

The item is an early 20th-century horn gramophone, likely manufactured by His Master’s Voice - The Gramophone Company Ltd, given the brand context. It is predominantly dark-colored, with a rectangular wooden base cabinet housing the clockwork motor and turntable mechanism. The cabinet appears to be made of dark-stained wood, possibly oak or mahogany, with visible paneling or a fluted design on its front, suggesting a more decorative rather than purely utilitarian construction. The large, prominent exponential horn, characteristic of acoustic phonographs, is made of metal, likely brass or tin, painted a dark, possibly black or dark green, color. The horn shows signs of age and possibly some minor surface wear, but appears intact without significant dents or deformities visible from this angle. The elbow joint connecting the horn to the sound box and reproducer is made of a lighter, possibly brass or nickel-plated, metal. The turntable platter is black, and the tonearm assembly is also dark, consistent with the overall aesthetic. There's a cranking handle on the side of the cabinet, necessary for winding the spring motor. The gramophone exhibits a vintage patina consistent with its age, but no overt damage like cracks or broken parts are clearly visible. Its design indicates a period before the widespread adoption of electrical amplification, placing its estimated age in the 1900s to 1920s. The quality of craftsmanship appears to be standard for a commercially produced gramophone of its era, with a focus on functional mechanical operation and an aesthetically pleasing, albeit robust, design. A small, lighter-colored emblem, possibly the 'His Master's Voice' dog and phonograph logo, is discernible on the front of the cabinet.