The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello !

A couple of months back I bought this HMV 97 in green rexine cloth from a junk shop. It has everything inside the box and all external fittings are intact. The cloth has worn out, the fittings are rusted, the seams of internal horns have crevices, the main spring is broken and the cylinder has a crack. Unfortunately, the stay lever and soundbox are missing.

Today I unscrewed it. Managing new upholstery, soundbox, repairing the seams and putting a fresh layer of chrome over rusted fittings will not be an issue. But repair of cylinder and fixing of old spring require a bigger effort. If I do not find the stay lever, I will have to find some retro design. God willing ! this should be ready before the year ends. I will appreciate your feedback and advice. Thanks and best regards
Sheraz

"... the cylinder has a crack..."

What is it that you're calling a cylinder?

Have you got any more pictures of the motor?

Hi ! Here are a few more pictures of the motor. In one of these pictures you can see the crack in the cylinder which holds the main spring. Thanks for your interest. Regards
Sheraz

It looks like that motor is very worn in addition to the cracked spring barrel. The barrel can likely be had as a replacement part, and may be the same size as other HMV motors from that time period.

Replacing that barrel is not going to help the worn gears, though! Some look like they were run long and hard with no oil or very dirty grease that acted like grinding paste.

Yes agreed! But after a thorough cleaning job, polishing oiling and greasing, the worm will work though not optimally. My basic purpose is to preserve this relic and not to play it on a daily basis.

Given the fact that eBay has added importation charges on sales (with no relevance to actual import duty) it is no more cost effective to buy a new one on eBay. I will try to locally find a new cylinder with spring but if I could not, I will get it repaired and than re polished.

Assistance of Members willing to part away with a lid stay for HMV type boxes will be much appreciated.
Regards
Sheraz

UK eBay may be your best hope for a lid stay, provided that the seller will post to Pakistan.
The same part was also fitted to the Columbia 204 in either chrome or black finish.

Looks black to me?

I may well have a complete motor for this going spare. I’m in the UK though so it might be expensive to post.

I can check if you like?

Hi !! My good luck , please check the possibility of sending it to Pakistan? Thanks and best regards

Sherazhyder wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 1:24 pm Hi !! My good luck , please check the possibility of sending it to Pakistan? Thanks and best regards

Let me check this evening. I’ll let you know if it’s the right one.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen it.