Anomalous HMV102 on UK ebay.

[epigramophone]

There seems to be something "not quite right" about this machine.

It has a chrome needle tray which went out by about 1935, yet there are no studs for the record tray which remained until about 1936.
It has chrome case corners which were not introduced until after WW2.
The background to the lid transfer looks black, not green. Are we looking at a repaint?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/his-masters- ... 13%7Ciid%3

For reasons unknown I have been unable to download and attach pictures, but there are plenty in the listing.

[AZ*]

I agree, it appears to be a "made-up" machine. I was able to download some pix:

[Phono48]

Look at the pitures of the case, then zoom in on the incised line on the lid. They are crudely done. Also, the graining of the covering material doesn't look right. I reckon it's been re-covered, which would explain the dodgy trademark transfer. This, together with the other things Epigramophone has pointed out, makes the whole machine appear very suspect!

Barry

[Phono48]

Look at the pitures of the case, then zoom in on the incised line on the lid. They are crudely done. Also, the graining of the covering material doesn't look right. I reckon it's been re-covered, which would explain the dodgy trademark transfer. This, together with the other things Epigramophone has pointed out, makes the whole machine appear very suspect!

Barry

[soundgen]

Look at the pitures of the case, then zoom in on the incised line on the lid. They are crudely done. Also, the graining of the covering material doesn't look right. I reckon it's been re-covered, which would explain the dodgy trademark transfer. This, together with the other things Epigramophone has pointed out, makes the whole machine appear very suspect!

Barry

Whatever it's a bargain for £70 ,if it was near me I would get it the last soundbox I sold on ebay made £123.00

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254626332192

[Dulcetto]

I would agree that it looks as if the case has been re-covered, albeit fairly well done -- someone has taken some time and effort over it. Looking closely , it appears that the material used is slightly thicker than the original. Also, the corner protectors look just a little too " new " in my opinion and the two on the rear of the lid have not been screwed down on the top face. Something else I noticed , the paint on the horn mouth looks to be black rather than the olive green that it should be , surely another indication of a " bitzer " ! Regards to all Dulcetto

[epigramophone]

I agree that it is worth £70 as a donor machine, and as the seller is foolishly not offering postage it could well sell for that.
If I could buy it for £70 and lived near enough to collect, I might turn it into another of my classic car specials. Here is the one I created to go with my 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire.
Both the car and the gramophone have since been sold, and before anyone takes me to task for ruining a genuine 102, the HMV lid plaque had already been removed by a previous owner.
I made a replacement from thin plywood, covered it with matching leathercloth and attached the Armstrong Siddeley transfer.