HMV 97B, in blue color

[nostalgia]

I could not find any photos of a blue HMV 97B on the forum, so I decided to share some photos of such a machine. I could not resist it when it was put up for sale a few days ago, and also witnessed from the seller's photos that it was in pretty decent shape. Looking at this model B of the Model 97, it will have a 794 motor ( Courtesy: HMG book), and we can also see it has a No. 21 soundbox with the HMV logo on it. The Pakawa handle looks also pretty decent on this machine, something we know from experience is more the exception than the rule.

To see the motor and internal horn on this machine, this thread can be visited, it is the exact same machine, in red color: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=44204&start=0

We can also see this machine is missing its auto stop, but I am lucky to have a rather scrappy black 97 that I can use as a donor. The outer plastic part of the winding handle is also intact on this machine, something that is also more often the exception than the rule. The challenge of the machine is the loose fabric on one side, but it should be possible to amend with PVA glue. I have not yet opened the motor on this blue machine, but it seems to be in decent shape, turntable is spinning, but the speed is not tested. Because of it, I will also look forward to check the governor spring function on this machine, since I know from experience that the axis of the governor is often somewhat stuck due to hardened grease on these later HMV portables, sometimes making it necessary to apply heat to free the axis from the tube.

The turntable felt will be washed later today, applying Vanish stain remover, something I have done a few times in the past with luck, following a certain procedure covered in past threads here on the forum. Rust will also be removed from the lock etc using EvapoRust.

Update: Upper photo shows felt after cleaning, this easy cleaning method still works amazingly well for these felts.
And thank you for the greeting, Inigo

[Inigo]

Nice machines, hope you'll enjoy them!