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I have one too as it's an interesting stepping stone between the PBO and the 100. Of course it is just a PBC prettied up with the black nickel arm (why not the soundbox and rest of it?).poodling around wrote: Sun May 19, 2024 3:11 pm I already have one but a while ago I noticed that one or two colleagues on this forum mentioned that they were interested in finding an HMV 105.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387017963241 ... R5yYj6PyYw
The 105 might be ugly to some but it has a lovely personality !epigramophone wrote: Mon May 20, 2024 6:48 am Big black and ugly, but might appeal to an HMV completist. I wouldn't give it house room.
Very interesting indeed.Steve wrote: Mon May 20, 2024 8:08 amI have one too as it's an interesting stepping stone between the PBO and the 100. Of course it is just a PBC prettied up with the black nickel arm (why not the soundbox and rest of it?).poodling around wrote: Sun May 19, 2024 3:11 pm I already have one but a while ago I noticed that one or two colleagues on this forum mentioned that they were interested in finding an HMV 105.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387017963241 ... R5yYj6PyYw
However, much like every BL car made, whilst the design might have been clever on paper, the standard of manufacturing reduced it to a failure. The cabinets on these are quite weak and are often found with distorted motor boards and loose frames. The sprung motorboard design put a lot of stress on the cabinet and the door aperture is a very weak point. Now just imagine if they'd made a teak version with a brass frame around the horn to give stability to the cabinet around the front opening doors.
Nevertheless, it's a highly desirable and rare machine to have in your collection.
The CLPGS West of England Group has lost two to the Grim Reaper just this month.
Indeed, my own Grim Reaper predictions published in the magazine 27 years ago appear to be proving true. It seems gramophone collecting is almost solely the preserve of a particular generation which is sadly dying out with its generation.epigramophone wrote: Mon May 27, 2024 6:32 amThe CLPGS West of England Group has lost two to the Grim Reaper just this month.
People may now be collecting machines that they can actually use and sound good. Not that I've heard the sound from a machine like this, but I'd rather use the storage space for a 102 to play records. Even on my Monarch Snr I use a Meltrope I in place of the exhibition as it just sounds a lot better (to my ear). Similar to early Berliner machines - they have "the look", they're rare and people want them because they are early, but do they even sound that great when compared to something later?Steve wrote: Sun May 26, 2024 3:44 pm It's really quite cheap for a rare portable from HMV in very good condition but the current market and other collectors' views on these things never ceases to surprise me. This on the day I was able to buy a mahogany No. 2 (Intermediate Monarch) complete with its original mahogany horn for £750 on Ebay, not even the The Saleroom! Add to this it's in a very clean honest unrestored state and has the rarely found double-spring motor fitted to it as it was made during 1916 when supplies of single spring motors ran short.
There is even a surviving period newspaper inside it to soak up the oil spills and grease. If I didn't already own the exact same machine, it'd be an absolute keeper, that's for certain, but where have all the serious collectors gone?