HMV 103 Oak Table Model For Sale

[brianu]

x

[OrthoFan]

Hi Brian:

Is that the original horn? All of the model 103s I've seen had the long metal horns which kind of snaked around the turntable, fitted to conventional louvers at the horn's mouth.

It's similar to this:




Steve or Shane could probably confirm.

OF

[gramophoneshane]

No, that horn ain't right at all.
Pity because they actually have excellent sound for their size with the original terne plated horn. And yes, it should have 2 directional louvers at the front of the opening.
You could probably get the right horn fairly easily from UK, as the same horn was used in many models, and the wooden extention & louvers could probably found, but would have to come from a 103 I think (or possibly a 109).
The door knobs are incorrect, and the motor board screws should be nickel plated round heads. The finish looks very green to me, which makes me wonder if the outer finish is original. Most of these had a darker waxed lacquer finish, as in the photo "O.F." posted, and the interior shots Brian posted.
The tonearm is also incorrect, and not a HMV arm.
Sorry Brian, but that thing must sound like crap compared to an original example lol.
Personally, I'd class it as a parts machine not worth restoring.

[brianu]

No, that horn ain't right at all.
Pity because they actually have excellent sound for their size with the original terne plated horn. And yes, it should have 2 directional louvers at the front of the opening.
You could probably get the right horn fairly easily from UK, as the same horn was used in many models, and the wooden extention & louvers could probably found, but would have to come from a 103 I think (or possibly a 109).
The door knobs are incorrect, and the motor board screws should be nickel plated round heads. The finish looks very green to me, which makes me wonder if the outer finish is original. Most of these had a darker waxed lacquer finish, as in the photo "O.F." posted, and the interior shots Brian posted.
The tonearm is also incorrect, and not a HMV arm.
Sorry Brian, but that thing must sound like crap compared to an original example lol.
Personally, I'd class it as a parts machine not worth restoring.

yes, a pity. I've never had one of these before, so am completely unfamiliar with the horn's appearance and other specifics. the machine is essentially as I found it a few years ago, but cleaned up a bit. and I'm quite certain the finish is completely original, despite what you may be seeing as "very green" - in person, there's nothing green about it. and before assessing anything as sounding "like crap," you might want to actually hear it first.

beyond that, thank you for your kind words and helpful criticism.

[gramophoneshane]

I'm quite sure it would sound like crap "compared to an original machine", given the short plywood horn & the wrong tonearm, which must use some sort of homemade adaptor to connect the no.4 soundbox to a female tonearm.
That said, it probably still out performs a Victor/HMV of similar size using a gooseneck tonearm and Exhibition soundbox due to the no.4.