Assistance Identifying an HMV Portable Model

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gramophoneshane
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Re: Assistance Identifying an HMV Portable Model

Post by gramophoneshane »

Is that under the decal or elsewhere on the machine?

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pellicano1
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Re: Assistance Identifying an HMV Portable Model

Post by pellicano1 »

gramophoneshane wrote:Is that under the decal or elsewhere on the machine?
Its directly under the RCA Victrola wording on the decal.
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gramophoneshane
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Re: Assistance Identifying an HMV Portable Model

Post by gramophoneshane »

Cool. Obviously demand for acoustic machines would have existed for far longer than in USA, and either RCA were no longer making acoustic machines, or if they did they were deemed far too expensive.

I'm no expert but I would think the Argentine decal means it was assembled in Argentina using parts imported from England. They obviously didn't think much of the Gramophone Co's choice of needle cup so used their own.
I guess your needle cup could have come from any number of parts suppliers, but personally I'd still look at RCA machines to see if they might be a possible supplier.

I must say I'm a little confused as to why "Industria Argentina" would be covered up.
Had it been the usual Gram Co address, then it would have been illegal to sell in Victor/RCA territory without the RCA reference, but why block out the Argentine reference instead of simply applying the new RCA decal below it?

Whatever the reason, it's certainly an interesting and probably fairly uncommon 88 variation to own

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pellicano1
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Re: Assistance Identifying an HMV Portable Model

Post by pellicano1 »

gramophoneshane wrote:Cool. Obviously demand for acoustic machines would have existed for far longer than in USA, and either RCA were no longer making acoustic machines, or if they did they were deemed far too expensive.

I'm no expert but I would think the Argentine decal means it was assembled in Argentina using parts imported from England. They obviously didn't think much of the Gramophone Co's choice of needle cup so used their own.
I guess your needle cup could have come from any number of parts suppliers, but personally I'd still look at RCA machines to see if they might be a possible supplier.

I must say I'm a little confused as to why "Industria Argentina" would be covered up.
Had it been the usual Gram Co address, then it would have been illegal to sell in Victor/RCA territory without the RCA reference, but why block out the Argentine reference instead of simply applying the new RCA decal below it?

Whatever the reason, it's certainly an interesting and probably fairly uncommon 88 variation to own
Exactly. This is the reason no ID tag. Parts exported to Argentina plant and assembled there. HMV had factories all over the globe. Jack Stanley gave me some great info as well. Thanks!!
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Thomas A. Edison

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