The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 9:26 am We will never know as the seller doesn't answer messages.

Never mind the motor, is that an India Parlophone Beatles 78 record in there ??????????????????????

Steve wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 4:59 pm
No HMV double spring would fit in that space but a cheap Swissy double spring might!

There is one that would. The motor fitted to the 94, another export model and the same size as the 97, has a double spring motor.

Barry

It has gone !!!! No longer available !

No, that wasn't The Beatles, sadly, but flipping Lonnie Donnegan!

And the motor is the standard 400 series HMV, not a double spring. Interestingly, there are more letters and numbers in the motorboard than I've ever seen before. The motor, either a 410 or 425, I cant remember, has the digits after the 4 stamped out with a row of X's for some reason. It is all 100% correct and unmodified apart from the odd escutcheon which cannot go the other way around. It could even be an odd Indian variant and correct because it curiously works. The machine looks fabulous and shiny in the flesh and has been well cared for.

No, I couldn't leave without taking it with me. The seller was really happy to hear where it was going and I'm thrilled to have got it. I don't think I've had a machine from someone quite as close by since 1993, which gives rise to another conundrum. The seller bought it recently and incredibly cheaply, sub £20!!!! He bought it at auction. Did we all miss it on The Saleroom?

Anyway I hope to post some better pictures of it on here tomorrow. The number of stamped figures in the motorboard will make you laugh. It's almost as though two factory workers were arguing over whose numbers should be used and taking it in turn to add more.

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 4:27 pm No, that wasn't The Beatles, sadly, but flipping Lonnie Donnegan!

And the motor is the standard 400 series HMV, not a double spring. Interestingly, there are more letters and numbers in the motorboard than I've ever seen before. The motor, either a 410 or 425, I cant remember, has the digits after the 4 stamped out with a row of X's for some reason. It is all 100% correct and unmodified apart from the odd escutcheon which cannot go the other way around. It could even be an odd Indian variant and correct because it curiously works. The machine looks fabulous and shiny in the flesh and has been well cared for.

No, I couldn't leave without taking it with me. The seller was really happy to hear where it was going and I'm thrilled to have got it. I don't think I've had a machine from someone quite as close by since 1993, which gives rise to another conundrum. The seller bought it recently and incredibly cheaply, sub £20!!!! He bought it at auction. Did we all miss it on The Saleroom?

Anyway I hope to post some better pictures of it on here tomorrow. The number of stamped figures in the motorboard will make you laugh. It's almost as though two factory workers were arguing over whose numbers should be used and taking it in turn to add more.

This really sounds fantastic ! Well done Steve. Can't wait to see photographs of this gem.

I wonder what the dealer / seller plaque says

poodling around wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 5:01 pm

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 4:27 pm No, that wasn't The Beatles, sadly, but flipping Lonnie Donnegan!

And the motor is the standard 400 series HMV, not a double spring. Interestingly, there are more letters and numbers in the motorboard than I've ever seen before. The motor, either a 410 or 425, I cant remember, has the digits after the 4 stamped out with a row of X's for some reason. It is all 100% correct and unmodified apart from the odd escutcheon which cannot go the other way around. It could even be an odd Indian variant and correct because it curiously works. The machine looks fabulous and shiny in the flesh and has been well cared for.

No, I couldn't leave without taking it with me. The seller was really happy to hear where it was going and I'm thrilled to have got it. I don't think I've had a machine from someone quite as close by since 1993, which gives rise to another conundrum. The seller bought it recently and incredibly cheaply, sub £20!!!! He bought it at auction. Did we all miss it on The Saleroom?

Anyway I hope to post some better pictures of it on here tomorrow. The number of stamped figures in the motorboard will make you laugh. It's almost as though two factory workers were arguing over whose numbers should be used and taking it in turn to add more.

This really sounds fantastic ! Well done Steve. Can't wait to see photographs of this gem.

I wonder what the dealer / seller plaque says

It says "Poodling Around is a God-like genius with x-ray vision and incredible forsight". Honest, it does!

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 5:18 pm

poodling around wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 5:01 pm

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 4:27 pm No, that wasn't The Beatles, sadly, but flipping Lonnie Donnegan!

And the motor is the standard 400 series HMV, not a double spring. Interestingly, there are more letters and numbers in the motorboard than I've ever seen before. The motor, either a 410 or 425, I cant remember, has the digits after the 4 stamped out with a row of X's for some reason. It is all 100% correct and unmodified apart from the odd escutcheon which cannot go the other way around. It could even be an odd Indian variant and correct because it curiously works. The machine looks fabulous and shiny in the flesh and has been well cared for.

No, I couldn't leave without taking it with me. The seller was really happy to hear where it was going and I'm thrilled to have got it. I don't think I've had a machine from someone quite as close by since 1993, which gives rise to another conundrum. The seller bought it recently and incredibly cheaply, sub £20!!!! He bought it at auction. Did we all miss it on The Saleroom?

Anyway I hope to post some better pictures of it on here tomorrow. The number of stamped figures in the motorboard will make you laugh. It's almost as though two factory workers were arguing over whose numbers should be used and taking it in turn to add more.

This really sounds fantastic ! Well done Steve. Can't wait to see photographs of this gem.

I wonder what the dealer / seller plaque says

It says "Poodling Around is a God-like genius with x-ray vision and incredible forsight". Honest, it does!

Ha ! ha ! Ha ! You, my friend, are VERY perceptive !

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 4:27 pm

No, I couldn't leave without taking it with me. The seller was really happy to hear where it was going and I'm thrilled to have got it. I don't think I've had a machine from someone quite as close by since 1993, which gives rise to another conundrum. The seller bought it recently and incredibly cheaply, sub £20!!!! He bought it at auction. Did we all miss it on The Saleroom?

Even in the digital age there are still auctioneers holding general sales with no on line, phone or commission bidding. The only method of bidding is in person in the saleroom. Sometimes those who make the effort get lucky, and this is probably how the seller bought the machine for £20.

epigramophone wrote: Sat May 13, 2023 3:58 am

Steve wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 4:27 pm

No, I couldn't leave without taking it with me. The seller was really happy to hear where it was going and I'm thrilled to have got it. I don't think I've had a machine from someone quite as close by since 1993, which gives rise to another conundrum. The seller bought it recently and incredibly cheaply, sub £20!!!! He bought it at auction. Did we all miss it on The Saleroom?

Even in the digital age there are still auctioneers holding general sales with no on line, phone or commission bidding. The only method of bidding is in person in the saleroom. Sometimes those who make the effort get lucky, and this is probably how the seller bought the machine for £20.

Yes, I appreciate that but even in such a sale room, there are people who would know that any old HMV portable gramophone will fetch at least £100 in good condition anywhere, even if they miss the significance of it being in a polished hardwood case. I wish I'd been there. I think I would have roared with laughter when the hammer went down at £20 to me!

Yes, well you say that and I agree with what you say but even in auction rooms with online bidding it is possible to get lucky on occasions . Around five years ago I bought a teak 101 in auction that was open to the world through online bidding etc -- ok the gram did look in a sorry state and needed a fair bit of cleaning up , but it was obvious from the online pictures to anyone who knew what it was that it was an Indian teak model . It was in Didcot , not near to me, but only a couple of hours drive away which was of course ok . I didn't view it beforehand , just left a cheeky commission bid and was surprised when I too won it for £20 hammer . Why no-one else wanted to have a go at it , no idea! I don't still have that one now as a better example turned up five miles away last year -- that one cost a little more , but still a good price . The auctioneers as often is the case were clueless , couldn't even be bothered to lift the lid for the online catalogue picture. Can't remember what the pre-sale estimate was , but something like the usual 30 - 40 .There was an HMV radio included in the lot which I subsequently sold for a reasonable sum , so that helped with the purchase price ! Then there was another time , also around five or six years ago , at Cheffins , well known auction sales near Cambridge. One lot included THREE phonographs , two Dictaphones and two boxes of cylinder records . Again, there were hundreds of people attending in person , also online bidding was available. Similarly , the auctioneer was clueless -- probably used to selling vintage tractors and vehicles which sales Cheffins are particularly known for -- auctioneer started the bidding at £20 !!! 20 POUNDS !!!! My hand went up , someone in the room ( also clueless ! ) bid £30 and the lot was knocked down to me for £40. I had a four figure sum in mind -- one of the phonographs was a good'un Cheffins buyer's premium only 11% too. SO , Lady Luck does smile sometimes , even at auctions open to the world !!