The last HMV cabinets HMV models 152 and 153

[soundgen]

The last HMV cabinets HMV models 152 and 153 , has anyone an HMV 152 or 153 in their collection ? , they seem very rare and unloved

I know of many that have been broken up and perhaps still are , the 153 in the pictures below was intact except it had had its legs cut off

And this looks like a tone arm from one on Ebay now ! I wonder where the soundbox is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HMV-Tone-arm- ... 19e4184db8

[Steve]

I've had a 153 in the past. They are excellent little machines considering that they're actually a 157 in "modern console" clothing. The horn is exactly the same as a 157 ie half a re-entrant. Maybe they remind people of those very much unloved and not sought after radio-grams of the period?

[soundgen]

[quote="Steve"]I've had a 153 in the past. They are excellent little machines considering that they're actually a 157 in "modern console" clothing. The horn is exactly the same as a 157 ie half a re-entrant. Maybe they remind people of those very much unloved and not sought after radio-grams of the period?[/quot

A friend of ours has a 152 and interestingly the inside of the lid is felt covered , rathert like the EMG felt thread

[Steve]

interestingly the inside of the lid is felt covered , rathert like the EMG felt thread

Yes, the 153 is the same. In fact the felt lining thing is very typical of something that started in the mid-30's and lasted well into the 1950's. Some HMV Radio-grams from 1952 certainly still had the brown felt inside them. Was it done for cheapness like so much of the "utilitarian" style of 1930's manufactured furniture?

[howardpgh]

That almost looks like a RCA prewar television cabinet.

[soundgen]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/His-Masters-V ... 27db17554a