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Hello,
I recently bought this His Masters Voice gramophone. Apparently it is a model 101 but the crank is on the front and not on the side like most models.
Can anyone tell me a little more about it?

Thanks in advance

The HMV101 was produced from 1925 to 1931, and underwent various changes in specification during that period.
The front wind proved inconvenient to use on a flat surface, especially out of doors on picnics etc, and was replaced by the angled side wind in 1927. Your 101 dates from about 1926, as it has the corner needle bin. The earliest 101's had twin needle bins inside the lid. These were replaced following customer complaints about vibration.

epigramophone wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 4:06 am The HMV101 was produced from 1925 to 1931, and underwent various changes in specification during that period.
The front wind proved inconvenient to use on a flat surface, especially out of doors on picnics etc, and was replaced by the angled side wind in 1927. Your 101 dates from about 1926, as it has the corner needle bin. The earliest 101's had twin needle bins inside the lid. These were replaced following customer complaints about vibration.

That's quite funny and the first time I've ever heard about such a complaint. As they say, everyday's a school day.

Thank you so much !

Do you have an estimate for this kind of model?

alexliegeois wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:55 am Thank you so much !

Do you have an estimate for this kind of model?

I can only speak for the UK where the 101 survives in large numbers, being HMV's best selling portable.
Try searching the "Sold" listings on UK eBay. There are wide variations in condition and in prices achieved. As a general rule, coloured examples (catalogued from 1927 onwards) make more than black ones.

epigramophone wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 8:59 am

alexliegeois wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:55 am Thank you so much !

Do you have an estimate for this kind of model?

As a general rule, coloured examples (catalogued from 1927 onwards) make more than black ones.

That used to be the case but I've seen black ones making more than coloured examples in recent times. As you say, the prices are all over the place but one seller in particular, "bjosephineb", who seems to only sell HMV portables, regularly lists black and coloured 101's at the same price level, making no distinction between them, even in the listing descriptions which I find a little bizarre.

alexliegeois wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 3:57 pm Hello,
I recently bought this His Masters Voice gramophone. Apparently it is a model 101 but the crank is on the front and not on the side like most models.
Can anyone tell me a little more about it?

Thanks in advance

Very interesting indeed.

I haven't seen a front wind HMV 101 before with the 'side' needle container before. They always have the twin needle bins inside the lid.

Quite a rare sight indeed.

poodling around wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 1:57 pm

alexliegeois wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 3:57 pm Hello,
I recently bought this His Masters Voice gramophone. Apparently it is a model 101 but the crank is on the front and not on the side like most models.
Can anyone tell me a little more about it?

Thanks in advance

Very interesting indeed.

I haven't seen a front wind HMV 101 before with the 'side' needle container before. They always have the twin needle bins inside the lid.

Quite a rare sight indeed.

The 101B (IIRC) with side needle tray is not uncommon but perhaps not surprisingly, the main sales thrust for the original black model was probably quite early on at the beginning of the launch so most "front winders" tend to have the needle bins in the lid. I have seen many with the corner tray though and have a decent example in my collection.

Which reminds me, does anyone have a minty condition green 101 they would like to sell? I never intended to collect every colour but by default I am now only missing a green example and my OCD is playing up badly!