HMV portable 101 + 102 - desirability in the USA ?

[poodling around]

I collect portables for their variety of colours and finishes, but only use them for outdoor playing. I have owned many 101's over the years, but decided to concentrate on the 102 because this is the model which the market wants. At 75 next birthday I am now collecting with the next generation in mind. They are interested but cannot keep everything, so I want to bequeath them machines which will be easy to sell for good prices.

With perseverance and a certain amount of luck I now have a collection of UK 102's in every catalogued colour, plus a French one in blue, an Indian teak one and a Russian copy. I feel a group photograph coming on some time soon.

It would be marvelous to see a group photo. The Indian Teak 102 is the rarest one I guess.

[Gramtastic]

The teak 102 is rarer but one sold on Ebay a few days ago for £145! I was very tempted but it was collection only from Bath which is a long way from my house ! I wonder if anyone on here was the lucky buyer ???

[shoshani]

I have had both, and liked the 101 better enough that I sold the 102. I actually have three soundboxes for it: a brass-back HMV No 4 rebuilt by Wyatt Markus (MicaMonster), a "parts" brass-back HMV No 4 into which Wyatt installed one of his Figure-6 Edison Diamond Disc diaphragms as an experiment (worked very well, btw), and a hybrid that Wyatt built to my specifications: an HMV 5A soundbox with a brass back (apparently an experimental tooling run) into which he installed his famous isolator, but with the smaller brass ring that fits a 101 tonearm.

But overall I much prefer the appearance of the 101, and also its sound. Everyone's mileage varies, though.

[Inigo]

I use a 127 tabletop with a Meltrope III soundbox. I've yet not tried the Meltrope on a 101... It should blow you! And a 5a/b? I've tried it on the 127 and it is too strong! All the needles and the wood in the machine vibrated and buzzed!!
Ok the 101 I prefer my own tuned no4 soundbox, which I did much in the lines of mica monster.. slightly enlarged sound chamber, less pressure on the diaphragm, etc and it sounds fantastic!

[poodling around]

I use a 127 tabletop with a Meltrope III soundbox. I've yet not tried the Meltrope on a 101... It should blow you! And a 5a/b? I've tried it on the 127 and it is too strong! All the needles and the wood in the machine vibrated and buzzed!!
Ok the 101 I prefer my own tuned no4 soundbox, which I did much in the lines of mica monster.. slightly enlarged sound chamber, less pressure on the diaphragm, etc and it sounds fantastic!

Interesting. I use a Meltrope ii soundbox with bamboo needles on one of my front wind HMV 101's and it sounds really good.

[Inigo]

I've tried the Meltrope on the 194 and it sounds a bit muffled, but in the smaller 127 horn... it blows you! So this soundbox seems ideal for mid sized horns. I use it with Bamboo or soft tone steel needles, and sounds marvelous! I'll follow your advice and try it on a 101...