The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This portable was given away for free today in my area, and I was too late to grab it.
How rare are they?
IF they are hard to find, I will try to get in contact with the new owner, and ask if he/she is willing to sell it.

I'd say they are fairly rare as I've seen thousands of 101s and 102s in my 30 plus years of collecting along with a dozen or more model 100s. I've seen a handful of PAAOs and PBOs but never "in the wild" as they tend to be already owned by older collectors selling them.

In all that time I've only seen 4 105s, including the one I have in my collection.

Well, how to quantify rarity? but in this case we can. 105s (including the similar PBC, with a nickel tone arm) sold 1,775 on the home market, in 1922-4. The 100 sold 6,798in 1924-5. The black 101 (never mind the de luxe versions) sold 7,616 in one month, December 1929.

I acquired my 105 in the mid 1970s. (I had a PBC already, as well as an empty case). I have seen probably two or three 105s since then. So if you want one, it's worth trying to pursue now!

Steve. Oedipus...thanks a lot for your answers, they are much appreciated.
The 105 was given away for free, along with a horn gramophone, and a tabletop.
I have not heard from the new owner, so most probably the machine now is out of reach.
Hopefully it will be well preserved.

Just as a side note, is that black paint over the gooseneck tonearm its original finish?

Marco Gilardetti wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 3:41 am Just as a side note, is that black paint over the gooseneck tonearm its original finish?

Yes