HMV 102 Information Needed

[EdiBrunsVic]

We have an HMV 102 at our museum where I work and we do know that it was a popular portable phonograph.
If anyone can provide a short history of the phonograph we would incorporate it in our display.

Thanks in advance for any information.

[epigramophone]

The HMV Model 102 had the longest production run of any British made gramophone. Introduced in 1931, it remained on sale with numerous detail modifications until as late as 1960. Most of the later output was exported to countries where mains electricity was not universally available.

The vast majority of 102's were covered in black leathercloth, but various coloured versions were also produced, the most expensive of which was covered in red leather with gilt fittings.

Today the 102 is one of the most sought after portable gramophones by collectors. It is well designed, well made and the sound quality is excellent. Good examples regularly sell on eBay for high prices, especially the rarer coloured versions.

[New Owner]

The HMV 102 portable gramophone was first designed in 1929, designed to compete with Columbia's 202 portables, which were the first truly orthophonic portables. To outdo Columbia, they took a standard Victor orthophonic reproducer, heavily modified it to increase the tonal quality using loose felt gaskets for the most flexibility and airtightness, and replaced the ball bearings of the Victor reproducer with pivots. The finished product was ready for production by 1931, but the design for the brake turned out to be a major snag, and after many designs changes, including one that was a modified Columbia 202 brake, a complicated design that was effective and non-infringing was approved, and the 102 hit the shops in July, the peak of the summer travel season, where everything portable was in high-demand. In a case of anitclimatic irony, the merge of The Gramophone Company and Columbia in March of '31 allowed HMV to use the modified Columbia brake after all. During the EMI years, both Columbia and HMV retained their phonograph lines, although most Columbia portables of the period were merely HMV's with a Columbia nameplate slapped on. The 102 remained in production with a few design changes here and there up until 1960, spelling the end of acoustic 78 players in most areas of the world.

More information and pictures here:
http://myvintagetv.com/updatepages1/cha ... HMV102.htm

Hope this all helps!