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Currently for sale on well known auction site, you might have seen a truly rare teak HMV portable? Far less common than the 100, 101 or 102 in teak.

I believe its completely genuine but it doesn't interest me to buy, sadly.

I can see one for sale in Upminster, but surely that is a 101?

Barry

Steve wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 4:06 am Currently for sale on well known auction site, you might have seen a truly rare teak HMV portable? Far less common than the 100, 101 or 102 in teak.

I believe its completely genuine but it doesn't interest me to buy, sadly.

If you don't want it (whatever it is) other people might, so perhaps you could post the link.

Rarer than an Indian Teak 102 ? I only know of perhaps 4 of these ?

I am intrigued !

Well I'm genuinely surprised none of you hawk eyed types spotted this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134333626371 ... media=COPY

This has been on eBay for years.

Teak wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:10 am This has been on eBay for years.

So it might have but to my knowledge in this place where colonial machines get discussed infrequently when they appear, I've never seen it mentioned.

Now, where's that teak 101 in Upminster?

Teak wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:10 am This has been on eBay for years.

I am not surprised, nor am I surprised that there is no "hover to zoom" facility on the listing. This machine would not stand up to close examination, and anyone purchasing it on the strength of the pictures would be taking a big risk.
It appears to be based on the P.A.O. portable of 1920 to 1922, but possibly in teak rather than oak, and with the gloopy finish which we still see on crapophones. At some point in it's life it has acquired :
A 1928 pattern lid transfer.
A much later carrying handle.
A 5A or 5B soundbox.
These are just the most obvious anomalies. Goodness knows what else it might reveal to an unsuspecting purchaser.

epigramophone wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:40 am

Teak wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:10 am This has been on eBay for years.

I am not surprised, nor am I surprised that there is no "hover to zoom" facility on the listing. This machine would not stand up to close examination, and anyone purchasing it on the strength of the pictures would be taking a big risk.
It appears to be based on the P.A.O. portable of 1920 to 1922, but possibly in teak rather than oak, and with the gloopy finish which we still see on crapophones. At some point in it's life it has acquired :
A 1928 pattern lid transfer.
A much later carrying handle.
A 5A or 5B soundbox.
These are just the most obvious anomalies. Goodness knows what else it might reveal to an unsuspecting purchaser.

It always had that lid transfer I suspect and that carrying handle. My rare, one of a kind mini HMV cabinet machine from India, although clearly based on a 130, has an earlier decal. They were probably selling off old stock or retrofitted machines long after the 100/101 became available. The 5A swap is no issue, its arguably even a bonus these days being worth more than an HMV badged Exhibition anyway! As for price its well below what a lot of HMV teak portables have sold for. I suspect its still available because most buyers are either scared off by it being in India or simply don't understand what it is.

Don't forget HMV in the UK were no strangers to botched retrofits. Just recall the recent 100 discovered with a side winding motor. Imagine how the Calcutta operation might have been conceivably worse.

I don't like the gloopy varnish either (had it received a clear high quality finish I'd be more for it) or the botched lid refinish but if it was in the UK I'd still definitely investigate it further. It has to be an incredibly rare survival. How many have you seen in teak?

Steve wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:25 am
Now, where's that teak 101 in Upminster?

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Barry