Dating HMV 102 Gramophone

[Carder]

Hi, I am trying to find information on the dating of HMV gramophones. I understand the B dating system, but I have gramophone with a nine digit number. Can anyone help?

[epigramophone]

The "B" prefix was introduced in 1936, so your 102 is earlier. Pictures would help to date it more precisely.

[Inigo]

I always have the doubt... B introduced in 1936, but as a single B, or as B/1? B/1 means 1936... or 1937?

[epigramophone]

B is 1936, B/1 is 1937, and so on.

[GramophoneSmith]

I agree with the info provided about B=1936 and B/1=1937 etc. Has anyone actually seen a plaque with just the B? I have seen a B/1.

[Inigo]

Mine is a B/9 10181, 1945. One of the lot commanded by the MOS with an attached metal plate with brief instructions.

[Oedipus]

If the 9-figure number starts with 102.... and is on a circular celluloid label, then the machine dates from 1931-34. If it is on a rectangular plate but without a B in front of it, it is 1935, but as far as I know, these are always 6-figure numbers. The 9-figures have 0's after the 102 on early examples, sometimes two 0's (or even more on very early ones), but by 1934 production had reached 100,000, so the '102' was followed by a '1' rather than a '0'.

[Inigo]

Nice to know, thanks for sharing. How does one know the quantities made each year?