The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This beautiful little machine has become available in my area, would
any of the members know the value as far as what is a fair price?

It has been re-finished, so $100 would be the max I would offer. That said, it is a nice little machine and sounds astonishingly good for its size. But it is BOT original. These machines are not rare, so if you want one, I would try and find an original one. Those go for around 150 pounds or 190 euro max. Its bigger sister, the model 130, which has a double spring motor and a much larger horn is worth no more than 250 euro in very good condition. These were all made in oak finish and this one has been botched in some way. The grill cloth, if there is one, is non original too.

What makes you say that's been refinished? A friend of mine has the exact same machine, completely original, and it looks the same.

Sean

And now having consulted "His Master's Gramophone", it's a 104, they were offered in both oak and mahogany.

Sean

It doesn't look refinished to me at all either, and I'd think a decent hmv ortho reproducer would be worth almost a hundred US on its own. I'd think 200 to 250 would be a fair price for that machine, particularly in the US where they're not all that common at all.

I was offered one of these (or something very similar) at Wayne in April for $150. I thought about it but passed. There is a picture of the machine here:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 51&start=0

I think it's the 13th photo, but you'll find it easily enough.

The finish on the show example looks pretty worn. Hard to say if it's oak or mahogany too, but I'm leaning towards oak.
The machine Altona posted looks in far better condition, and with mahogany HMVs costing more than oak, it's pretty safe to say there's less mahogany 104's around too.
I know over here an oak 104 will normally go for between $300-$400, and I dont recall seeing a mahogany version being offered in the last year or two, but no doubt they'd fetch closer to $400 than $300.
Probably $200-$250 in USA would be a fair price IMO. I think this one would clean up very nicely.
What would the Victor equivelant in oak go for??

On the west coast this model should sell for $200 retail in six months or less.

Alas it's an HMV 104 - the finish looks original - BUT don't waste ANY money on it - they're junk and sound terrible

to echo what Peter says - wait for an HMV 130 - they are fantastic - and you'll never regret owning one, the sound from them is equal in volume to a large cabinet machine but with a far superior quality

Wow, the 104 my friend has sounds quite nice. I've got a 145 which is basically the 130 with legs and it does sound great (better than the 104 for sure), but I didn't think the 104 sounded bad by any means.

Sean