I was browsing facebook and saw this. These are pretty rare to find here in the States correct? It's too much of a drive for me, but maybe someone else would be interested?
what makes these more desirable than Victrolas?
(ALSO, I hope he wasn't trying to play that Edison record with it)
Looks like a model 157. There was one about three hours north of me came up for sale around Christmas. I think they wanted $300 for it.
At any rate, one of my most cherished little machines is an HMV (La Voix de son Maitre) 101, which never disappoints in terms of sound. So yes, there are HMVs all over the U.S. They just don't come up as often.
It is indeed a Model 157, a smaller version of the Re-Entrant range, with the horn dividing into two sections rather than four.
When in good condition the 157 is an excellent performer, and $300 is probably a realistic price in the USA, given it's relative rarity there.
If I were close I'd buy that. I'm looking for a nice console unit but I'm in CT. You'll need to be on Facebook to be able to reach out to him. Are you local to Statesville, NC where this is located? Perhaps I could ask for his phone number and relay it to you through a PM if you are really interested in it.
Wonderful-sounding little machine: little brother of the 163. I get a lot of use out of mine.
No record storage which means that behind that grille it's all horn so it packs quite a punch above its weight. Lacking in bass, though, owing to it not having a re-entrant horn. However, the reproducer is a 5A which can out-shine a Victor Orthophonic on a good day.