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The people who sell these monstrosities actually put a video of all of them together for us. Actually helpful to avoid these machines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WDfX4Nb ... re=related

Thanks for posting this. It will be a good reference for newbies.

It's interesting, though, that they have two photos of what look to be authentic machines starting at 0:40 seconds into the video. The first one -- "tam 4144" looks like a VV-50, and "tam 4146" looks like a Vic. IV. (I'm not sure if the second model, "tam 4145" is authentic or not--seems to use a crap-o-phone sound box.)

Ortho_Fan wrote:I'm not sure if the second model, "tam 4145" is authentic or not--seems to use a crap-o-phone sound box.)

it's almost identical to the hmv 97.

The photos of the genuine machines are obviously the bait: try to get them, and they'll be 'temporarily out of stock'.....

Unlike a comment in another crap-o-phone discussion, I HAVE seen a portable crap-o-phone in an antique mall, about two years ago.

Thank you for the photos. This will help prospective buyers so that they do not waste time and money on these fakes!

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but don't believe I've seen a non-horn fake like this. Or maybe it's a combination of frankophone and crap-o-phone. Not 100%, but looks like the tell-tale "His Mater's Voice" label with the green background.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/atq/2518855435.html

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but don't believe I've seen a non-horn fake like this. Or maybe it's a combination of frankophone and crap-o-phone. Not 100%, but looks like the tell-tale "His Mater's Voice" label with the green background

I hope you won't take offence at my correcting you but the above item is a completely genuine HMV 104 Table Grand, albeit the original fretwork and grille cloth is missing and has been rather poorly replaced. However if this machine has its original nickel plated HMV5a soundbox, it is a bargain at anything under $100 - the soundbox alone being worth $90 on Ebay in good undamaged condition.

HTH

Steve

Steve wrote:

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but don't believe I've seen a non-horn fake like this. Or maybe it's a combination of frankophone and crap-o-phone. Not 100%, but looks like the tell-tale "His Mater's Voice" label with the green background

I hope you won't take offence at my correcting you but the above item is a completely genuine HMV 104 Table Grand, albeit the original fretwork and grille cloth is missing and has been rather poorly replaced. However if this machine has its original nickel plated HMV5a soundbox, it is a bargain at anything under $100 - the soundbox alone being worth $90 on Ebay in good undamaged condition.

HTH

Steve

None taken, thanks for the correction. I'm newer to the hobby and am more accustomed to Victors than HMV machines. As this one is being sold near Detroit, Michigan it looked a little different to me. Looks like a VV-IX without the doors.