Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
- nostalgia
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1408
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:58 am
- Personal Text: Keep winding up
- Location: My gramophone repair room
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
That is a good question, in my relatively short time here, I can't remember having seen this topic covered.
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5227
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
"His Master's Gramophone" states that the 9000 was introduced in 1946, but that "there is evidence that it had existed in black only before the War, presumably in prototype form." If that is indeed the case, you have found one of the prototypes.
Roger.
-
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1314
- Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 2:38 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
I agree. Studying the photos more closely, I see differences in the case hinges, lid clasp, case corners, and shape of the case itself. All else appears to be genuine and original.epigramophone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:44 am If that is indeed the case, you have found one of the prototypes.
Roger.
Barry
- Inigo
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3777
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
I would not worry too much. These machines it's clear they were made in several variations aside from what the books say...
Inigo
- Steve
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:40 pm
- Location: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Evesham
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
The lid clasp is the standard one used on the earlier 206, not to mention HMV 97 and Columbia 204. There might be others.Phono48 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:13 amI agree. Studying the photos more closely, I see differences in the case hinges, lid clasp, case corners, and shape of the case itself. All else appears to be genuine and original.epigramophone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:44 am If that is indeed the case, you have found one of the prototypes.
Roger.
Barry
Yes, as I said the case is definitely more Columbia 202 and HMV 101 than HMV 202.
If it is a prototype it seems odd that they'd revisit an older style case in 1940-46.
- Steve
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:40 pm
- Location: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Evesham
- Steve
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:40 pm
- Location: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Evesham
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
It would be very interesting if it was a prototype sold off immediately post-war (1946).epigramophone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:44 am"His Master's Gramophone" states that the 9000 was introduced in 1946, but that "there is evidence that it had existed in black only before the War, presumably in prototype form." If that is indeed the case, you have found one of the prototypes.
Roger.
I read that note but it didn't make much sense to me in light of this machine.
- Inigo
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3777
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
Just consider they might still have unused 101 cases...
The little 101 is the one that amazes me. 6 years of life only, and it's still the most common portable. I'd bet the are more 101s than 102s. Maybe the 102 came out at a moment when the 1929 Crack was extending its effects all over the world, and later when the crisis passed, radio was very strong. In the 2nd peak of record sales, there were already cheap electrical pickups that you could attach to the radio for playing records... The 102 was in production 30 years, but still it seems there are much more 101s than 102s...
The little 101 is the one that amazes me. 6 years of life only, and it's still the most common portable. I'd bet the are more 101s than 102s. Maybe the 102 came out at a moment when the 1929 Crack was extending its effects all over the world, and later when the crisis passed, radio was very strong. In the 2nd peak of record sales, there were already cheap electrical pickups that you could attach to the radio for playing records... The 102 was in production 30 years, but still it seems there are much more 101s than 102s...
Inigo
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5227
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
The 101's production run coincided with the peak of portable gramophone popularity.Inigo wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 9:11 am Just consider they might still have unused 101 cases...
The little 101 is the one that amazes me. 6 years of life only, and it's still the most common portable. I'd bet the are more 101s than 102s. Maybe the 102 came out at a moment when the 1929 Crack was extending its effects all over the world, and later when the crisis passed, radio was very strong. In the 2nd peak of record sales, there were already cheap electrical pickups that you could attach to the radio for playing records... The 102 was in production 30 years, but still it seems there are much more 101s than 102s...
The 102's production run was interrupted by WW2, and after that the demand for acoustic gramophones was in decline.
Most post war 102 production was exported to countries without a reliable mains electricity supply.
- Steve
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:40 pm
- Location: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Evesham
Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?
Yes, I agree with this. You've summed it up very well!epigramophone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:43 pmThe 101's production run coincided with the peak of portable gramophone popularity.Inigo wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 9:11 am Just consider they might still have unused 101 cases...
The little 101 is the one that amazes me. 6 years of life only, and it's still the most common portable. I'd bet the are more 101s than 102s. Maybe the 102 came out at a moment when the 1929 Crack was extending its effects all over the world, and later when the crisis passed, radio was very strong. In the 2nd peak of record sales, there were already cheap electrical pickups that you could attach to the radio for playing records... The 102 was in production 30 years, but still it seems there are much more 101s than 102s...
The 102's production run was interrupted by WW2, and after that the demand for acoustic gramophones was in decline.
Most post war 102 production was exported to countries without a reliable mains electricity supply.