Best HMV orthophonic style portable

[Victrolacollector]

You'll certainly never regret it!

Is the standard black version, or a de-luxe coloured one?

This is the one that I purchased on ebay. I will probably need to find the record tray.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HMV-102-BLACK-G ... 1361138891?

[Edisone]

I have a decent 102 I would gladly trade for a nice Brunswick 109.

[epigramophone]

[/quote] This is the one that I purchased on ebay. I will probably need to find the record tray.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HMV-102-BLACK-G ... 1361138891?[/quote]

If you are looking for a record tray make sure that it is the correct type for your machine, as there are two versions.

You need the early version with "feet" which engage with the two pegs on your motor board. Later 102's do not have these pegs, and the later tray does not have "feet".

The tray was discontinued as a wartime economy measure and never reintroduced, so post war 102's would never have been supplied with one.

[Steve]

If you put aside the 113 "Transportable" that Carlos mentioned, which is actually a transportable table model, the 114 "Camp Portable" probably qualifies as the "best HMV Orthophonic portable". The 114 is an enlarged 102 in solid teak (or colour cloth) cabinet with the No. 32 double-spring motor and a slightly extended horn.

[FloridaClay]

You'll certainly never regret it!

Is the standard black version, or a de-luxe coloured one?

This is the one that I purchased on ebay. I will probably need to find the record tray.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HMV-102-BLACK-G ... 1361138891?

Looks like a nice example. Let us know your impression of it when it arrives and you've played it.

Clay

[Victrolacollector]

You'll certainly never regret it!

Is the standard black version, or a de-luxe coloured one?

This is the one that I purchased on ebay. I will probably need to find the record tray.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HMV-102-BLACK-G ... 1361138891?

Looks like a nice example. Let us know your impression of it when it arrives and you've played it.

Clay

Thank you, I do like the wooden motor board. Again thank you for the information on the record tray. I will have to keep an eye out for the correct one. I believe the one I purchased is from the early 1930's.

[Phono48]

I believe the one I purchased is from the early 1930's.

If you lift the turntable off, there should be a small white identification tag attached to the motor board. You'll see on the bottom line a "B" with a number underneath. Whatever that number is, add it to 1936, and it will give you the year of manufacture.

[bart1927]

I believe the one I purchased is from the early 1930's.

If you lift the turntable off, there should be a small white identification tag attached to the motor board. You'll see on the bottom line a "B" with a number underneath. Whatever that number is, add it to 1936, and it will give you the year of manufacture.

Unless of course you have a pre-1936 machine

[SteveM]

With a production run of about three years, the RCA Victor VV 2-65 portable must be a rare machine indeed. Even the excellent Victor-Victrola website does not have details of prices or production figures. I want one!

Indeed these 2-65 are not common. I bought one about five years ago, and haven't seen another for sale since. It is well designed, with a decent horn and the orthophonic soundbox makes the difference, when you get one that is not damaged by the pot metal aging it outperforms the HMV 5B. When I play the 102 with the orthophonic soundbox it sounds as good as the 2-65.

I talked about this before somewhere (maybe Facebook) but Skip Kahl and I did a side by side at his shop Antique Sounds in Railroad PA (GREAT shop), his VV 2-65 and my HMV 102 (w/5b), both in excellent shape, and the sound was indistinguishable.

I gig with my 102s (I have 3 of them) but if I could find two VV 2-65s or even 55s in great shape, I'd use them instead. So many guys play out with the 102s ... it would be fun to use some Camden-built machinery for a change.

[Henry]

I gig with my 102s (I have 3 of them) but if I could find two VV 2-65s or even 55s in great shape, I'd use them instead. So many guys play out with the 102s ... it would be fun to use some Camden-built machinery for a change.

Steve, when you're ready to part with your 102s, send me a PM and I'll be right down Rt. 100 to see you!