Available for sale today is an Expert Minor gramophone, which has been beautifully restored and works wonderfully.  Those of you who have collected phonographs and gramophones for a long time will probably appreciate the rarity of this particular piece. 

In the 1920s, an English gentleman named Ellis Michael Ginn started E.M.G., a firm that went on to develop some of the best gramophones of the day, using revolutionary designs by such audio engineers as Wilson and Webb.  While he encountered some substantial success, Mr. Ginn eventually lost his firm to a banker in the wake of financial difficulties.  Mr. Ginn later founded Expert, a firm that used many of the similar designs from E.M.G., including the classic horn with some modifications.  The Expert gramophones also sound quite spectacular, and were made in the Cadet, Minor, Junior, and Senior models. 

This particular Expert Minor was likely made at some point in the early 1930s, and features an Expert two-spring soundbox and Paillard GGR 255 motor.  I acquired it from a man in Charlotte, North Carolina, who had found it in the attic of a home that he was restoring.  When I got it, the case was starting to fall apart, the horn had been sawed in half, the soundbox was missing, and the motor had a broken spring.  All of these issues have been fixed, and then some.  I had the case professionally restored.  The case was torn apart, rebuilt, re-glued, and refinished to museum quality specifications.  The motor was also completely rebuilt, using replacement springs made by the Musée Baud in Switzerland.  It runs wonderfully, like a top.  Lastly, an original replacement horn and soundbox were procured from the UK.  The horn isn’t perfect, but it is original, and on the whole, the machine sounds fantastic.  In case you don’t believe me, be sure to check out the Youtube video below, showing this gramophone playing an excerpt of Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” overture.  There was no amplification in the video.  
 

In any case, this gramophone is an incredibly beautiful piece of recorded sound history, a fantastic working antique, and well deserving of a home in your phonograph and Victrola collection.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.  I am only selling it to raise funds for the restoration of an Expert Senior that I hope to restore in the coming months.  Remember - when will you see another one?  Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions, or would like any additional pictures.  

The winning bidder is welcome to pick up the gramophone at my home in northern Virginia, or can also have the gramophone shipped to them at actual cost.  I will do the packing and make the shipping arrangements.  I have been collecting for fifteen years, and will send this gramophone in at least three boxes to make sure that it arrives safely.  Payment can be made via Paypal, or another secure method such as check or M.O.  NOTE: Please, please await my invoice before sending payment!, as shipping will be at actual cost!  This could be up to $300, or maybe less, depending on where it is being shipped.  However, regardless, shipping will likely be more than is quoted below!

Please note: International bidders are welcome, and I ship worldwide.