The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was the under bidder on this far from perfect example, and decided that £400+ was more than it was worth. I bought a good brown 102 on eBay recently for less than half that.
Wrong soundbox (should be a No.16). No record tray. Rust on turntable, winding handle and external fittings. Condition of the troublesome "Universal Autobrake" unknown.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HMV-102-port ... 7675.l2557

I will keep my mint No.16 soundbox and my spare record tray in case they are needed for a better example. Everything comes to he who waits.

Wishing you a fruitful wait!

Sorry you didn't get it, but I agree, that was a ridiculous price, given the condition. No doubt the seller must have thought otherwise!

Barry

Would it not also be true that everyone with the means and inclination to do so would have switched out the 16? They’re not repairable and thus would need full replacement when troubles arose.

PeterF wrote:Would it not also be true that everyone with the means and inclination to do so would have switched out the 16? They’re not repairable and thus would need full replacement when troubles arose.

That is certainly what the original owners would have done, but many collectors including myself prefer to fit machines with their original soundboxes.

It is still interesting to see a grey HMV 102 at a close up photo. Hopefully it will appear a nicer, and even cheaper copy at your "doorstep" in the not too distant future, Roger!

And while we again discuss the 102, what did I buy today? I bought it for the soundbox and handle only, but the non wooden motorboard? I don't remember if later black 102's came with non wooden motorboards? Is it again an extremely dirty blue machine? It looks very black to me.

nostalgia wrote:It is still interesting to see a grey HMV 102 at a close up photo. Hopefully it will appear a nicer, and even cheaper copy at your "doorstep" in the not too distant future, Roger!

And while we again discuss the 102, what did I buy today? I bought it for the soundbox and handle only, but the non wooden motorboard? I don't remember if later black 102's came with non wooden motorboards? Is it again an extremely dirty blue machine? It looks very black to me.

It's Black and a made in Great Britain model for export

Thanks, Soundgen. I now digged out my HMG book to read a bit more, and according to the book, "the last type of 102 came with flush motorboard covered in cloth". This is the first black 102 that I have come across with this cloth covered motor board, and I now understand it is a late export model (1948-58, again according to the HMG book). Unfortunately the case is impossible to save, so it has to become a donor machine only.
I upload a photo of the serial number, for reference. ( I know there is an exact way to calculate the manufacture year from the serial number plate, but at the time of writing this, before brakfast, I don't remember it;)

The number (13) under the B must be added to 1936, so yours was made in 1949.

Coloured 101 and 102’s always attract a premium price but prices asked on eBay are often unrealistic. I have seen a green 101 with a starting price of £450 but guess what? No bids!

But grey ones are probably the most scarce and I have never seen a brown one in the flesh.

A friend of mine recently enquired in a shop in Cowes IoW, about a nice red 102, asking £599! Not even with gilt trim.

I paid £200 for my blue 102, which is a fairly late model from 1956. £160 for a red 101 needing a little bit of work.