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Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 10:07 pm
by Edison_Ranger
Saw this posting on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Hand-crank- ... Sw8l5ZdOB2

I don't speak or understand Russian, so I don't know what the cyrillic letters say, but this is cool and different. Is anything known about Russian/Soviet phonographs? This looks to be in great shape.

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:28 am
by Marco Gilardetti
In Russia during the CCCP times the production of goods tended to be standardized and centralized to a high degree and, if feasible, designs were based on already existing foreign products of reputed efficiency. As a result, most russian portables that I've seen so far look very similar to this one: obviously "inspired" by the HMV 102, with a soundbox in turn heavily "inspired" by HMV's N° 5A/5B type. This process of reverse engeneering and standardization was called "adaptation". An "adapted" product was then produced in parallel by many factories. This is why many russian 102 clones may be seen, all nearly identical to each other, but with different labels.

This unit also doesn't fall very far from being a 102 clone, but has some twists of its own, like the quite original auto-start auto-stop mechanism, and the nice touch of the folding crank. These machines look cute and are a nice addition to anyone's collection, in my opinion; especially if they are in near-mint conditions and reasonably priced like this one.

Soundwise, being basically a clone of the 102, it should also play fairly well. I've especially read great things about the soundbox, which is judged by some even as an improvement (!) over the 5A/5B (larger diaphragm, lightweight bakelite back flange instead of heavy and fragile pot metal). The name of this machine is "friendship" (дружба), which is also quite promising. ;)

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 2:08 pm
by soundgen
So cheap , I'd bid but he won't post to the UK :cry:

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:56 pm
by Orchorsol
Reading Marco's post, I suspect there might be a wide variation in quality. I repaired one for somebody last year and although ah approximate HMV102 clone as they all are, it was of very poor quality throughout.

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:12 am
by epigramophone
Just to illustrate the similarities, here is my Russian "102" and the real thing :

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 12:22 pm
by estott
About 20 years ago when trade opened up a lot of these hit the market- some worked, some didn't. There was even a variety with a flat horn in the lid that resembled a vacuum cleaner fitting.

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:47 pm
by soundgen
vacuum cleaner fitting

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:06 pm
by soundgen
Other small russian

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:58 pm
by soundgen
Russian copy of Excelda

Re: Russian/Soviet Portable Phonograph?

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:28 am
by nostalgia
Adding another photo of this small portable, for reference.