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HMV 202 with original Key.
This must be a rare sight as I have seen quite a few HMV 202 machines and cabinets and yet I have never seen one of these keys.
I was told that this was the 2nd model of the HMV 202 that was made. Can anyone else confirm that.
Thanks Tony

eBay item number: 141241366800

I think this may be the same machine, but a different seller :

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 14&t=15976

Yes, it does appear to be the very same machine that mysteriously disappeared a month ago - thanks to epigramophone for the astute detective work.

It simply beggar's belief that Dennis 'Enigma' Yates is selling a 202 whilst supposedly not knowing what it is!!!!!

Is this an example of a "trick of the trade"? Surely even a dim-witted person (and Dennis is a very far cry from that) could readily relate what the original seller stated the gramophone was based correctly on the ID plaque that says model "202". OK, he probably did buy the machine for all of £1.50, making him the rightful lawful owner today, but the rest? He purchased this from the original owners / eBay seller, who naively sold it without even letting the auction get off the ground, but as for the claim that he didn't know it is a 202 or if it's working etc etc, I personally take that with a large pinch of salt!

So we're led to believe that a radio and early technology dealer (not really a gramophone man) but nevertheless someone who has been seen in the trade rubbing shoulders and "mingling" with other well known "talking machine" dealers for many many years would suddenly leap in to buy a non-working 1930's CABINET gramophone, apparently without any knowledge of what it is and as soon as it's listed on eBay? He then immediately re-sells it, still oblivious to what he has?! A LOT OF OLD BLARNEY - PULL THE OTHER ONE!

The original seller is going to be kicking themselves so hard after this, I'll probably be able to hear their anguished cries afterwards.

Money. Greed. Naivety. Falsehoods. Exploitation. Welcome to the wonderful world of gramophones!

Although I retired several years ago, my background as an investigator still has it's uses and I have always been blessed with a good memory .

Having taken the motor out to photograph it, why has the seller still not bothered to find out whether it works? A suitable winding handle should not be that hard to find, and a working motor would increase the potential value of the machine.

Draw your own conclusions on that one.

Having taken the motor out to photograph it, why has the seller still not bothered to find out whether it works? A suitable winding handle should not be that hard to find, and a working motor would increase the potential value of the machine.

Yes, that's precisely my point. Why not test it? Or has it already been tested and seller no. 2 does not wish to categorically state that it isn't working, even with the knowledge that it isn't? Sadly, many eBay sellers fall a long way short of being totally honest. The CLPGS website advises newcomers to this day to avoid any machine that is missing a handle for this very reason.

We all know this particular seller shouldn't find it too difficult to lay his hands on a winding handle and with the motor accessible, even an HMV handle with a short reach would wind it up.

All this and the "I've been told it's a 202" comment just doesn't have any credibility in my eyes. Of course all this is just my idle speculation and I'm merely expressing a personal opinion. In 24 years I've learnt nothing about gramophones or the trade!

It is equally entirely possible that someone who has seen many 202's come and go in his time, has forgotten what they look like and bought this example, preventing the auction from finishing, simply for a bit of interior decor. Sadly it didn't fit the space and now it has to go.

Steve wrote:Welcome to the wonderful world of gramophones!

A nasty business at times. Another 202 was sold late last year at an Exeter auction house for nearly £4800 including commission, which was later discovered to have a smaller re-entrant horn bodged into it.

A nasty business at times. Another 202 was sold late last year at an Exeter auction house for nearly £4800 including commission, which was later discovered to have a smaller re-entrant horn bodged into it.[/quote]


I remember a few years ago when someone on one of the forums was bragging that he had done just that!
Sometimes you can just be too keen on buying something and forget to automatically do all the checks. You forget that there are people out there that are always looking for the opportunity to rip you off one way or the other.

Recently a HMV 202 was sold on our online auction in New Zealand. The owner had bought the 202 for $50 40 years ago from a friend that was going to turn it into a booze cabinet. He had no idea what it was worth and had a reserve of $600. As it turned out a couple of Australians managed to be the first to jump onto the listing and tried hard to buy it straight away. In between that time a New Zealander managed to place a bid that met the reserve price and the seller decide due to the rules of the auction that he had better let the auction run.

It doesn't get much nastier or dishonest than this:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/sep/ ... reducation

I thought I had heard most of the euphemisms, but "misdeeds revolving around horizontal refreshment" is new to me . Try explaining that to the Judge .

A viewer has now asked for pictures of the internal horn, which the seller has promised to add to the listing.

I thought I had heard most of the euphemisms, but "misdeeds revolving around horizontal refreshment" is new to me

And me! But surely this can only be referring to the practice of having a beverage administered whilst reclined on a sun-bed?