The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All,
Well I need another machine like I need another...
There is a mahogany HMV 157 nearby for about $300. I have very little knowledge about this machine though it is listed in the new HMV book. Any thoughts or comments would help me make a decision on it and its pricing. Condition is good except for the flower pot on the top routine.

Thx for the help
Abe

The HMV 157 has an exponential tone chamber that's divided into two sections before joining at the mouth. The larger HMV 163 was fitted with a four chamber horn--as were it's bigger brothers, such as the HMV 194 and 202--emulating the design of the Orthophonic Credenza's horn.

I'm not sure of the size of the HMV 157's horn, but I've heard it is under six feet, and because of this, it does not have the bass output of larger models. I'd suspect it probably comes close to the range of the Victor 8-4 or 8-12.

There are several videos of the 157 on youtube, including:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJKlpz7D9M4[/youtube]

For $300, I'd say go for it, especially if the cabinet, motor, grille, etc. are in very good shape. The last one I saw in my area--West Coast--was around $600 a few years back, and half the grille was missing.

DS

Hi David-thx for the help-I just wish it was oak but HMV machines on this side of the world just don't come up very often. Its a 245 mile round trip but it might just be worth it.
Abe

Actually any HMV in mahogany is more desirable than oak because they were more expensive (the opposite of Victor), so there are far fewer mahogany HMV's around.
In Australia, a 157 in oak was £42, and in mahogay £48, but in the UK they were about half that price.

I have a mahogany 157 for which I drove a 1600km round trip to get. When I picked it up I discovered the reproducer was ruined so I found a brand new 5B still sealed in its box and it would be the loudest machine I have. It beats my 163 for volume and clarity. I like the look of the 163 better, but the criss cross grille pattern of the mahogany grille is quite nice.

Some photos of the top of the horn that I posted somewhere else on TMF:

The 157 isn't reckoned as a 'true' re-entrant because its horn is only folded once. However it is a great little machine, that should give you pleasure for a long, long period.

The price is VERY good BUT that is one heck of a trip to make and at what cost? Putting it into some perspective, as others have noted, the 157 is very good at what it's good at and for it's dimunitive size. It's not as good as the re-entrant models or even half as good as a 163 IMHO, but it is a whole lot better than a contemporary table model and does give you a taste of the HMV re-entrant tone which is better served with jazz and dance music than early acoustic or operatic records.

Well I made the 226 mile round trip and picked up the 157. Overall the cabinet is fair but will need some real work to get it where I like a machine to be. The plating is very good except for the short part of the tone arm where the plating is actually peeling-first time I have ever seen that on a phonograph. The reproducer has a very fine ¼" crack were the backing plate screw screws into the front cover and interesting enough the cover is what has the crack in it rather than the backing plate. Everything needs to be lubed and the springs done but the machine has a heck of a sound! Wonder what new gaskets would do.
Even with the plating and the work I need to do to the cabinet at $100 I don't think I did too bad-though the finish is like alligator skin. Interesting note the "close lid while playing" is in French any ideas why?

Abe

Only reason I can think of, is the machine was sold by La voix de son maître (HMV France).
Does the trademark decal indicate the machine was made in England?

need4art wrote:Well I made the 226 mile round trip and picked up the 157. Overall the cabinet is fair but will need some real work to get it where I like a machine to be. The plating is very good except for the short part of the tone arm where the plating is actually peeling-first time I have ever seen that on a phonograph. The reproducer has a very fine ¼" crack were the backing plate screw screws into the front cover and interesting enough the cover is what has the crack in it rather than the backing plate. Everything needs to be lubed and the springs done but the machine has a heck of a sound! Wonder what new gaskets would do.
Even with the plating and the work I need to do to the cabinet at $100 I don't think I did too bad-though the finish is like alligator skin. Interesting note the "close lid while playing" is in French any ideas why?

Abe

You talked her down from 250 to 100? For a machine that was worth a good deal more than the asking price? Always a fine day and reason to brag when one can so readily take advantage of a seller's ignorance and/or desperation. Congrats.