New member presentation and HMV universal autobrake question

[Paolo_MK68]

Good evening to all, as I'm new to this forum let me please briefly introduce myself.

I've been fascinated by antique reproducing machines since my childhood. It started all with a book published in Italy in 1977 for the centenary of the first Edison phonograph and given as a gift to my grandfather. He also owned a Columbia external horn gramophone I looked at avidly, and to play with I sometime got a special authorization.
I spent endless hours trying to read and understand the content of the book (I was ten years old at that time), but my interest was especially fed by talking with my uncle who started gathering gramophones in the Sixties and ended up with a remarkable collection I still admire when visiting him today.
In the following years when my beloved grandfather passed away I inherited the Columbia machine and my uncle gave me a HMV 97 portable, which I consider like the initial gift of the tempting devil! As of today my modest collection of HMV portables comprises three variants of the 101 and some 102, and here we come to the reason of my post.

I was looking for a 102 with the early autobrake and was lucky enough to find this one. Apart from the carrying handle leather which literally dissolved itself, it is in remarkably good conditions both externally and internally, and in need only of a general cleaning routine.
I played some records and was also surprised to discover that the infamous universal auto-brake mounted in this machine seems to work flawlessly.
While checking the autobrake mechanism I noticed a washer underneath one of the screw of the brake support . The other screws of the support are not provided with washers, and looking in my scarce reference books there are no pictures or mention to a similar arrangement.
As I said the brake works regularly therefore I'm inclined to leave the washer where it is now, and follow the golden rule, i.e. : " if it ain't broken don't fix it", but any opinion from you more experienced collectors would be welcome.

Thank you for your attention and have a nice evening.

[poodling around]

Good evening to all, as I'm new to this forum let me please briefly introduce myself.

I've been fascinated by antique reproducing machines since my childhood. It started all with a book published in Italy in 1977 for the centenary of the first Edison phonograph and given as a gift to my grandfather. He also owned a Columbia external horn gramophone I looked at avidly, and to play with I sometime got a special authorization.
I spent endless hours trying to read and understand the content of the book (I was ten years old at that time), but my interest was especially fed by talking with my uncle who started gathering gramophones in the Sixties and ended up with a remarkable collection I still admire when visiting him today.
In the following years when my beloved grandfather passed away I inherited the Columbia machine and my uncle gave me a HMV 97 portable, which I consider like the initial gift of the tempting devil! As of today my modest collection of HMV portables comprises three variants of the 101 and some 102, and here we come to the reason of my post.

I was looking for a 102 with the early autobrake and was lucky enough to find this one. Apart from the carrying handle leather which literally dissolved itself, it is in remarkably good conditions both externally and internally, and in need only of a general cleaning routine.
I played some records and was also surprised to discover that the infamous universal auto-brake mounted in this machine seems to work flawlessly.
While checking the autobrake mechanism I noticed a washer underneath one of the screw of the brake support . The other screws of the support are not provided with washers, and looking in my scarce reference books there are no pictures or mention to a similar arrangement.
As I said the brake works regularly therefore I'm inclined to leave the washer where it is now, and follow the golden rule, i.e. : " if it ain't broken don't fix it", but any opinion from you more experienced collectors would be welcome.

Thank you for your attention and have a nice evening.

Welcome to the forum !

Very interesting hearing about how your interest with gramophones started.

I can't answer you question but I have just checked my early automatic brake HMV 102 (which also works very well) and can confirm that there isn't a washer on mine.

P.S. I am a huge fan of 'If it aint broke don't fix it'

[Phono48]

I have two 102s with this "universal" brake, and neither of them have this washer.

Barry

[epigramophone]

If you have access to "His Master's Gramophone" you will see the washer on Page 209 Fig.7.20a. It can be seen even more clearly on Page 57 of Dave Cooper's book "The Perfect Portable Gramophone".
To operate correctly the mechanism requires a certain amount of friction, and I was told years ago that the washer was deliberately coloured red as a warning NOT to lubricate that particular joint. To the best of my knowledge it is a correct original fitment.

[poodling around]

If you have access to "His Master's Gramophone" you will see the washer on Page 209 Fig.7.20a. It can be seen even more clearly on Page 57 of Dave Cooper's book "The Perfect Portable Gramophone".
To operate correctly the mechanism requires a certain amount of friction, and I was told years ago that the washer was deliberately coloured red as a warning NOT to lubricate that particular joint. To the best of my knowledge it is a correct original fitment.

I don't think that the question is about the red washer but the other one - shown in the second photo.

[Paolo_MK68]

If you have access to "His Master's Gramophone" you will see the washer on Page 209 Fig.7.20a. It can be seen even more clearly on Page 57 of Dave Cooper's book "The Perfect Portable Gramophone".
To operate correctly the mechanism requires a certain amount of friction, and I was told years ago that the washer was deliberately coloured red as a warning NOT to lubricate that particular joint. To the best of my knowledge it is a correct original fitment.

I don't think that the question is about the red washer but the other one - shown in the second photo.

Thank you to all for your interest and kind answers.

Yes, the "questioned" washer is not the red one but that in the detail image of the brake support and its fixing screws.
Unfortunately while I have "The Perfect Portable Gramophone" in my library, I'm still chasing a copy of "His Master's Gramophone": last one offered on Ebay had its price skyrocketing at the last minute of the bid, so I had to give up (much to my dismal!).

[chunnybh]

I haven't seen that washer before.
Here is an excellent video on how the autobrake works and how to set it up correctly.

https://youtu.be/W7Y4XF6f5FE

[Orchorsol]

I haven't seen that washer before.
Here is an excellent video on how the autobrake works and how to set it up correctly.

https://youtu.be/W7Y4XF6f5FE

Welcome to the forum Paulo!

That is an excellent video - ever helpful, clever and thoughtful as Marco is...

[Paolo_MK68]

I haven't seen that washer before.
Here is an excellent video on how the autobrake works and how to set it up correctly.

https://youtu.be/W7Y4XF6f5FE

Welcome to the forum Paulo!

That is an excellent video - ever helpful, clever and thoughtful as Marco is...

Thank you! Yes, sure it is: I had watched it even before joining this nice forum, and in addition to its absolute top quality I'm pleased to consider Marcos's video the main culprit for inducing me to chase and grab a 102 with the early autobrake!

[Marco Gilardetti]

Thanks Andy and Paolo!!!

I have to agree: it is a superb piece of clockwork engineering, very worth owning in one's collection!