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Which company made the motors for the HMV 102 portable?

Victrolacollector wrote:Which company made the motors for the HMV 102 portable?

The Gramophone Company always made their own motors. In the case of the portable range, everything was made at the factory, with the exception of the lid clasp, the carrying handles, and presumably the leathercloth covering and the turntable felt.

King and Queen visiting the Gramophone Company Ltd. (HMV) factory in Hayes. But - no HMV 102 at this time, I suppose...

The occasion was probably the second visit of King Geoge V and Queen Mary to the Hayes factory in April 1927. Their first visit in March 1917 preceded the introduction of the Electrola name in Germany.

The pictures appeared in the German Electrola magazine from February 1928; so it seems to show the visit of April 1927. Here is a photo of the (big) HMV factory in Hayes (Middlesex) around 1930/31: http://grammophon-platten.de/e107_plugi ... .php?37246

Regards

How strong is the motor on a HMV 102? How about the winding retention spring? Do these break often? Should I keep a spare one?

Usually the 102 comes with a strong single-spring motor good for a full 12” record. The winding retention spring might break from time to time (or get loose), but it isnt difficult to make a new one out of spring wire.

I bought my first 102 brand new in 1965 for £5. It was one of a batch of 102D's ordered by the Ministry of Supply (now part of the Ministry of Defence) in about 1946, and unused examples were being sold in Army Surplus shops. With hindsight I should have bought every one I could lay my hands on, but in 1965 £5 was half a week's salary as a trainee bank clerk.

In the ensuing 50 years I have owned many 102's and have never suffered a broken winding retention spring. I suspect that breakages have occured when owners have forced the winding handle to coax the last ounce of strength from a tired mainspring.

epigramophone wrote:I bought my first 102 brand new in 1965 for £5. It was one of a batch of 102D's ordered by the Ministry of Supply (now part of the Ministry of Defence) in about 1946, and unused examples were being sold in Army Surplus shops. With hindsight I should have bought every one I could lay my hands on, but in 1965 £5 was half a week's salary as a trainee bank clerk.

In the ensuing 50 years I have owned many 102's and have never suffered a broken winding retention spring. I suspect that breakages have occured when owners have forced the winding handle to coax the last ounce of strength from a tired mainspring.

Hey, one of my 102s (from 1945) is a Ministry of Supply model! It has an instruction badge, an extra needle holder, and some stenciling on the outside. The most interesting part is the needle screw. It has a backed-out thread whereby it will only hold a loud needle.

EDIT: it also has a cover for the winding hole, and an unusual handle design, whereby the screws are not visible.

SteveM wrote: it also has a cover for the winding hole, and an unusual handle design, whereby the screws are not visible.

If you mean the carrying handle, I've never come across a 102 that had visible screws, the ends had prongs which went through the case, and were bent over.