The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Orchorsol wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:05 am Yes indeed, I was just remarking with a collector friend the other day that these are excellent - to my ears, as good as an HMV 102. Different character of sound (hard to describe), but as good.

I fully agree, especially the ones with the nr 15 soundbox sound as good as the HMV 102.

Personally, I'd say both the 112A and 202 sound better than the 102.

I also say the Decca 130 is pretty hard to better as portables go.

We were all wrong, the Columbia was as black as it could be, and the black paint on the corner shields were scraped off. BUT, I have the record album, and I was missing it for a much better looking black 202, that I have in store.

Sorry for that - someone should teach the seller about the basics of white balance in photography.

But as you say the purchase was indeed well worth for the expanda album alone!

I have to share the update to this machine, it was blue after all
I finally found the time to clean it, and spent two hours with Swarfega removing terrible dirt. I have never seen such a dirty portable.
I guess the verdict here is...never say never, until you have carefully cleaned a gramophone.
Yes, it needs a new needle container lid, I have some spares in my storage locker so it will be fixed. I think the portable deserves a spot in my small sitting room, so two classic radios were thrown out. After all, it is gramophones we deal with

The light conditions were not the best this dark evening in my sitting room, but it is blue
I now also see it needs some extra cleaning on the motor board, despite two hours of cleaning.
Luckily,.,,the Columbia 202 can take rather rough cleaning.

A good outcome after all. Your persistence has been rewarded.
I don't have a Blue 202 but I do have a Blue 201, purchased from the family of the original owner.
Clearly a much lighter shade of leathercloth was used on this one, which dates to 1933.
How do I know? It was a 21st Birthday present for the original owner who was born in 1912.

nostalgia wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 2:35 pm I have to share the update to this machine, it was blue after all

Well: royal flush! Complete of its Expanda album and blue!

It's simple, next time you see a blue colored turntable felt, it's a blue case also

Or is it?

Yes, if it's HMV, but most black Columbias have blue turntables.