Kijiji--HMV 102 Electrola--East York, Ontario

[Lah Ca]

Well here is a rarity for Canada, I think, a German (?) HMV 102 Electrola, with its/a record holder intact.

$465 CDN

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-art-collectible ... 1618540876

The reproducer doesn't look very HMV 5x-ish, but I have seen other examples with identical looking soundboxes. Also the felt on the record holder and the platter doesn't seem to match; one looks more green, the other more blue.

Here is one being played in a Youtube video:

https://youtu.be/O0IfG9cbGu8?si=3rKBsAuwBpbKWGcj

Here is one from a Turkish (?) collector:

2024-06-09 15.45.05 www.gramofonkoleksiyoncusu.com f81da330509d.jpg (41.96 KiB) Viewed 1215 times

http://www.gramofonkoleksiyoncusu.com/m ... php?id2=46

[gramophone-georg]

It's the Electrola Nr. 4 soundbox, correct for this machine. Tempting!

[epigramophone]

It's the Electrola Nr. 4 soundbox, correct for this machine. Tempting!

The Electrola No.4A soundbox would be correct for the second (Turkish owned) machine pictured by Lah Ca, which is a 106 comprising the "works" of a 101 in a 102 case. I had the red 106R version which has since been sold.

I am currently restoring the earliest version of the Electrola 102, which has the metal motor board, the Electrola No.16 soundbox (unfortunately damaged and impossible to dismantle for repair) and the unreliable "Universal Autobrake" which HMV abandoned within the first year of production. Needless to say, this brake does not work as it should. I have removed the actuating lever from the tonearm and am considering fitting a manual brake. Although not original, it could easily be removed, and the tell tale screw holes would be hidden beneath the turntable.

The later 102 pictured by Lah Ca also appears to have been fitted with a No.4 or 4A soundbox. Since my earlier 102 has a No.16, I doubt that a No.4 or 4A on a later version would be original since it would be a step backwards.
,

[NEKTREG]

The Electrola LB102 is alright with this No.4a soundbox, which was used on the 102 too as No.16 reproducers were out of stock. This happend sometime before march 1933. There NEVER was the No.5a on a Electrola portable as on the HMV‘s.
Off course the No.16 sounds much nicer on the 102 but it’s original for this later 102 A or B, just like motor is already made in Germany and not Hayes. They probably abandoned the 102 as they introduced the 106 in november 1934.

Note that the leatherette got green while it is infact a blue portable! They are always very nasty to clean.

The black one is a 106 which always came with a No.4a

[epigramophone]

That is interesting. Presumably Electrola had stocks of the by then obsolete No.4a soundbox to clear, otherwise they could have used the No.5a to substitute for the out of stock No.16.
I remember that my 106R had an unmarked (German ?) motor, but my LB102 has an HMV 271-C.

[NEKTREG]

No, the No.4 A was never used by HMV but only Electrola, AFTER they were out of Stock of the No.16. It was made until the first year of the war and than replaced by a Goldring soundbox.
But that is a different story as the 102 was long gone at this time.

[Lah Ca]

The Electrola LB102 is alright with this No.4a soundbox, which was used on the 102 too as No.16 reproducers were out of stock. This happend sometime before march 1933. There NEVER was the No.5a on a Electrola portable as on the HMV‘s.
Off course the No.16 sounds much nicer on the 102 but it’s original for this later 102 A or B, just like motor is already made in Germany and not Hayes. They probably abandoned the 102 as they introduced the 106 in november 1934.

Note that the leatherette got green while it is infact a blue portable! They are always very nasty to clean.

The black one is a 106 which always came with a No.4a

Thank you.