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I have been thinking about getting this portable for awhile.....

Is this a good deal? I do not know anything about portables, and it does not have the crank.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 7316004884

thanks,

David

dzavracky wrote:I have been thinking about getting this portable for awhile.....

Is this a good deal? I do not know anything about portables, and it does not have the crank.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 7316004884

thanks,

David

Never seen that type of Brunswick before...The reproducer with this one looks like the type you get replica machines that say “soundbox” on it. All I know is my one and only Brunswick machine the Portable 109 is a decent working machine and my main portable when playing early electrics.

Yes I did think the reproducer looked odd.

Doesn't look like there are any screws on the deck, so somebody was in it and couldn't be bothered to put them back. It's in a box with bubble wrap under it, my guess is this owner bought it on eBay, it came but didn't work, and now they're trying to get rid of it? Finding the right crank would be a challenge.

Many of these older portables are "missing" their cranks, but if you look down inside the horn there is a better than average chance that there's a crank in there.
As for the odd reproducer, that model of Brunswick is not quite so old as the 1920s Panatrope portables we're used to seeing--my guess is, it's an original 1930s machine.

It's at least worth taking a peek at. You know Brunswicks are some of the nicest phonographs you can get. If that reproducer isn't cracking like a lot of portable Panatrope ones are, then you have got a fine machine and with the screws missing and other flaws, you may negotiate a nice deal.

Then again, you do have a Nonpareil & an Eagle in the Trader section that were both nice deals; honestly, David, considering your phonograph room is almost as big as my whole house, you could probably do well just to hang on to some of these phonographs. What you find & sell off, you won't get back easily. Been there, done that, still regretting selling a BK Graphophone.

Ive decided not to sell the nonpareil Charles. The lady who was going to sell me the machine is completely blowing me off. Oh well. I did sell the eagle though.... I want to use the money for a new machine. I want a nicer portable than that silvertone though.... so I am in the market for one. There is another portable near me I think I'll go for instead.

Thoughts on this one?

If it's in decent shape and the price is reasonable, BUY IT. That's an HMV 102 which many folks consider among the best portables ever made. You can't go wrong with a 102. It appears to be missing the record storage tray and a hold down peg. The handle appears tatty, but replacements are available.

If you can find a Columbia Viva-Tonal portable Model 160 or 161 in good condition, they sound amazing for a portable and have all brass tonearms and reproducers similar to Victor Orthophonic reproducers... Wait for one in good condition and it will be worthwhile - they are usually reasonably priced... I had one and wish I still had it...

AZ* wrote:If it's in decent shape and the price is reasonable, BUY IT. That's an HMV 102 which many folks consider among the best portables ever made. You can't go wrong with a 102. It appears to be missing the record storage tray and a hold down peg. The handle appears tatty, but replacements are available.

He is only asking $100 for it and it is 18 miles away from me. He posted it 11 months ago, so I kind of doubt he still has it. I sent him a message... Hopefully he responds!

Good luck. The HMV 102 is an excellent performer, and light to carry as portables go. So it's a great machine to take with you. The Columbia portables like the 161, which I also own, are excellent performers also. But they are heavy. They are portable enough to carry from closet to table, but not much fun to carry very far.