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It has the sought after sound-box with the writing on the front.

Seems to be in fairly good condition maybe.

Perhaps the seller had trouble with the turn-table because he didn't wind the spring up enough or left the brake on ? Maybe a more serious issue ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266394511585 ... R8CHg8bJYg

Well these are hardly uncommon! The spring is probably worn out so I'm sure at £100 it'll be sn easy pass for most. The case isn't in tip top condition but I'm not sure the earlier No. 4 makes any difference to value either?

They are great, solid machines when working properly but most of us have glazed over eyes when we see yet another black HMV portable for sale.

With that said I'd be tempted for spares at half the price!

These front-winding 101s have one major disadvantage - they have to be operated on the edge of a table or something similar, because the "throw" of the winding handle falls below the base of the case, making it impossible to wind on a level surface.

Barry

Phono48 wrote: Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:46 pm These front-winding 101s have one major disadvantage - they have to be operated on the edge of a table or something similar, because the "throw" of the winding handle falls below the base of the case, making it impossible to wind on a level surface.

Barry

Yes, that was simply a very poor design decision, there's no other way around that! An epic fail!

Steve wrote: Thu Aug 31, 2023 2:35 pm Well these are hardly uncommon! The spring is probably worn out so I'm sure at £100 it'll be sn easy pass for most. The case isn't in tip top condition but I'm not sure the earlier No. 4 makes any difference to value either?

They are great, solid machines when working properly but most of us have glazed over eyes when we see yet another black HMV portable for sale.

With that said I'd be tempted for spares at half the price!

Looks like you are right when you say '.. an easy pass for most ...' ! I thought it would have sold with an offer by now - but there it still is ! It does have 7 watchers though - (what's that all about ?).

Funny you should say that - half price with this would have suited me too ..........

Phono48 wrote: Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:46 pm These front-winding 101s have one major disadvantage - they have to be operated on the edge of a table or something similar, because the "throw" of the winding handle falls below the base of the case, making it impossible to wind on a level surface.

Barry

Good point - not the best design from HMV there perhaps !

poodling around wrote: Fri Sep 01, 2023 4:13 am

Steve wrote: Thu Aug 31, 2023 2:35 pm Well these are hardly uncommon! The spring is probably worn out so I'm sure at £100 it'll be sn easy pass for most. The case isn't in tip top condition but I'm not sure the earlier No. 4 makes any difference to value either?

They are great, solid machines when working properly but most of us have glazed over eyes when we see yet another black HMV portable for sale.

With that said I'd be tempted for spares at half the price!

Looks like you are right when you say '.. an easy pass for most ...' ! I thought it would have sold with an offer by now - but there it still is ! It does have 7 watchers though - (what's that all about ?).

Funny you should say that - half price with this would have suited me to ..........

I don't understand watchers when something has offers invited. It's not like they're waiting for the auction to approach its end before bidding.....

I also have a gramophone for sale currently with 7 non-buying watchers watching it! I can always tell when something won't sell. As a rule of thumb you need more than a 1/7 conversion rate from page viewers to "watchers". Less than that and it seems the prospective buyers aren't convinced about the value of the item based on the asking price. My rule of thumb has been a reliable indicator to me for the past 20 years.

My current machine won't sell with a current 1/11 conversion rate!