The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I first fell in love with the HMV 101 when I was about ten years old and saw a photo of it in the Time Life series of books about "Collectables". The last one I saw in the SF Bay area was at a flea market in Oakland some 35 years ago. It was a French export model, and the seller wanted $390.00 for it and didn't know if it worked or not. I passed on it, of course.

About a three weeks ago, I spotted an ad for this one on Craigslist-SF, coincidentally in Oakland, but for $75.00. Since I don't drive, getting to Oakland can be a pita, but when I saw the ad was still up last weekend, I contacted the seller, explaining my transportation problems, but adding the IF he ever makes it into San Francisco, and IF it's still available at the time, I'd buy it and throw in $35.00 for gas money. Long story shot, he dropped it off today.

I've only given it a cursory wipe-down and oiling, and tested the motor, soundbox, etc..

It will need to have the motor re-greased (bumping spring), and at some point, the sound box will have to be overhauled with fresh gaskets, since it's a little high-pitched on some notes.
Inside, it looks brand new--the plating, turntable felt, Rexine, and wood veneer motor-board are virtually perfect--but there are a few scuffs and paint specs to take care of on the outside of the case, along with two tiny places on the bottom where the covering has worn through--both the size of half a dime. Nonetheless, I think, price-wise, I did very well.

I'm wondering, though, if this is an export model shipped to Spain from the UK, or if it was manufactured in The Gramophone Co's Barcelona plant. There's no ID tag under the turntable, or other markings that I can see. It does not have the auto-brake so I'm assuming it was manufactured before 1930?

OrthoFan

I don't know if our Gramófono branch made full machines... A logical hypothesis is that cases were made in Barcelona, and the machines assembled with parts imported from the UK...

Ain't it Grand!!... sometimes dreams do come true! Congratulations to you!

Congratulations! I thought 30 years was a long time to wait for a grail machine, you definitely have me beat!

Oh I think you did very well indeed!

Check to see if your soundbox backplate has embossed letters. It may be actually brass.

I have four different versions. The most expensive one was from California. A early front wind version with the needle storage in the lid. eBay purchased about 24 years ago.

My most recent one is an Electrola German version. Since it didn’t have the little doggy trademark & was missing the soundbox it was rather inexpensive. It currently has a Meltrope soundbox.

But yours is absolutely pristine compared to mine.

May it give you many years of enjoyment.

Also I very much appreciate your railroad reading material on your book shelf!

Damfino59 wrote: Tue Aug 05, 2025 11:23 pm Oh I think you did very well indeed!

Check to see if your soundbox backplate has embossed letters. It may be actually brass.

I have four different versions. The most expensive one was from California. A early front wind version with the needle storage in the lid. eBay purchased about 24 years ago.

My most recent one is an Electrola German version. Since it didn’t have the little doggy trademark & was missing the soundbox it was rather inexpensive. It currently has a Meltrope soundbox.

But yours is absolutely pristine compared to mine.

May it give you many years of enjoyment.

Also I very much appreciate your railroad reading material on your book shelf!

Many thanks (all) for the kind words.

The outside of the case will definitely need some TLC, and I have to have the motor serviced. In addition to the bumping mainspring, I noticed that the speed adjustment lever is way off--much too fast even at the "Slow" speed.

The sound box, I think, is pot metal. I'll post a photo of it later today. As an experiment, I squirted a little "Goo-Gone" around the perimeter of the diaphragm and let it set for a few hours. Believe it or not, there was a definite improvement in the sound quality--far more mellow and less high-pitched. I'll want to have it re-built to get the maximum sound quality, if it's possible.

I'm going to take my time with the restoration. It's the first "new member of my team" I've acquired in 26 years, and it will probably be the last one I get. (I shudder to think about some of the restoration mistakes I've made over the decades due to ignorance or impatience.)

OrthoFan

An antique dealer friend asked me to do some work on a 101 a few weeks ago and I was reminded just how great they sound.

Damfino59 wrote: Tue Aug 05, 2025 11:23 pm
Check to see if your soundbox backplate has embossed letters. It may be actually brass.

The lettering is recessed and painted orange/gold --

OrthoFan wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 3:28 pm

Damfino59 wrote: Tue Aug 05, 2025 11:23 pm
Check to see if your soundbox backplate has embossed letters. It may be actually brass.

The lettering is recessed and painted orange/gold --
IMG_20250806_121954~2.jpg
IMG_20250806_121414~2.jpg

I can see some paint loss. It appears to be pot metal.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not rebuildable. You’ll just have to do some research on who to send it to.

Damfino59 wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 12:24 am

OrthoFan wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 3:28 pm

Damfino59 wrote: Tue Aug 05, 2025 11:23 pm
Check to see if your soundbox backplate has embossed letters. It may be actually brass.

The lettering is recessed and painted orange/gold --
IMG_20250806_121954~2.jpg
IMG_20250806_121414~2.jpg

I can see some paint loss. It appears to be pot metal.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not rebuildable. You’ll just have to do some research on who to send it to.

Many thanks. When I first tried the sound box on Monday, it sounded high-pitched and restricted--not much volume. The next day, I noticed what looked to be a small black smudge in the center of the diaphragm where the needle bar is attached. I blew into the throat and out popped a small black hard shard of what looked to be a fragment from a broken record--about ½ inches in diameter. (How it got into the sound box is anyone's guess!) I then applied a couple more coats of "Goo-Gone" to the diaphragm gaskets and set it aside.

Yesterday, when I tested it, I noticed there was a slight "give" when I tightened the needle screw. I have to say I was amazed at the difference in sound quality--very little surface noise and no high pitched ringing on the upper notes. Along with that, the volume was greatly expanded and the mid-range notes were clearly audible. After the record played, I inspected the needle tip--I used a conventional loud tone needle--and it was clean without black dust. This encourages me to take my time in having the sound box rebuilt.

For now, the main issue is the motor--bumping spring and it runs way too fast, even with the lever set to "slow". Hopefully, I'll be able to find a local repairman to do the job. I've re-greased and adjusted motors in the past, but I'm not sure my hands are up to the task anymore.

OrthoFan