The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi guys!

I've suddenly found myself becoming an enthusiast after rediscovering my grandfather's old HMV 102c. It's in faaaairly decent state, except it's entirely missing the entire automatic brake. Under the turntable there is nothing except the speed adjusting-thingie on the bottom left. I've picked it further apart than it already was, and it's currently sat in various bowls on my living room table (no idea how that happened), so photos aren't particularly helpful.

It's not winding up more than for about half a record, and slows down more frequently than it should. It also makes little clunky-noises that I assume is because the spring is.... Well. It says the machine was last rinsed and cleaned in 1941, which would explain it. I think a good cleaning will help, because the old grease literally broke like glass when I poked it with a screwdriver. If I can't get it sorted I'll get a new spring. That's easy enough.

What I'm wondering is essentially this: Do I _need_ the automatic brake for it to work? I realise there's a purpose for it, but will it play records without it? Is there essentially no point even trying to put it back together? Should I just give in and spend a few hundred quid on a new one?

I really appreciate all help. I can't find a single place in Oslo that seems able to help me, and google will only take me so far. :')

We're have another norvegian colleague, maybe he can help if he's near you... He's been absent from writing here for some time... Does anybody know where is our colleague Nostalgia?
His last message is from September 23rd...
I can say that you don't need the auto brake, if you have also the manual brake. Anyway, replacement parts for the 102 can be found in eBay, etc.

Thanks, Inigo! I'll keep my eye out for replacement parts, but I'm not exactly holding my breath. There aren't tons of these anywhere I can see, and the shipping alone is horrendous.

I am here
I lost my mother this summer, and the last months have been busy with taking care of my father, and also the rest of my family.
BUT, I am slowly returning to also repairing gramophones, and have serviced two 102s last week.
Welcome to our new Norwegian member We for sure need new gramophone enthusiasts, particularly in Norway.
I will be happy to try to help you out, I have lots of spare parts stored away for future repairs etc.
Just send me a pm here on the forum, in Norwegian language, and we will take it from there.

A friendly hello to you too Inigo, and everyone else here on the forum. I will be more active in the time ahead.

Martin, I am sure that I speak for all of us in sending our deepest sympathy to you and your father for your loss.

Roger.

If someone can post a photo of the piece that is needed, I have a lot of NOS brake systems!

Oh my gosh, you guys are the best! I'm reassembling as we speak, and I'll have a couple of photos up fairly quickly (depending on how many screws I've got left over after reassembling, obviously).

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, nostalgia. I've been there, and I know how tough it is. Thank you so much for offering to help in spite of all that!

Our sympathy is with you, dear colleague...

Okay. Before I post photos, I just feel the need for a disclaimer of sorts. I've tried to assemble the pieced as best I could, but someone ragged this poor thing like a teenager rage quitting a computer game. The closer I look, the more "fair shape" seems like a cruel joke. I remember it playing and running just fine as a child, but since then it's been through it.

Anyway, here it is. The needle holding thingie, case, etc, are out of frame, but I've got them. Otherwise, this is what I'm working with. No idea if this is at all useful.
And someone clearly wanted whatever they'd hid in the spring at some point. I would like to have a chat with that someone.

When you lift the motor board out the horn, which is attached to the underside, should come out with it. I assume that you have separated it to get better access to the motor. It appears that someone has tried to remove the spring from it's casing to either replace or lubricate it, and has damaged the casing in the process. This will allow the grease to escape, so you need to source another casing from a scrap motor.

The machine would originally have had both manual and automatic turntable brakes, but will function perfectly well with just the manual brake. I don't see it in the pictures, but there will be two screw holes in the motor board where it was mounted.