HMV 203 in Mahagony with Matching Record Cabinet

[Starkton]

You don't see this every day. I don't know much about late acoustic Gramophone Co. machines, but this seems to be a HMV 203 in mahagony with matching record cabinet. Experts among us can tell more. The condition is rather good. I wished it was in my neighbourhood for closer examination: http://tinyurl.com/7la4jmb

[OrthoSean]

Wow!

Who wouldn't want to own a 202 or 203? That record cabinet is a real beauty also!

Sean

[Steve]

I'll get back on my chair now!

Yes it is a 203 and comes with the equally rare and desirable matching FC5 Record cabinet.

The 203 has the Victor / HMV four spring motor, the No. 34 or Browns motor. It is not the oil-bath version. It appears to date from about 1928.

Value? Think of a number and someone else will probably double it!

[nipper]

This machine with its matching cabinet, could likely fetch, upwards of 20k.

But with this economy who knows? The machine is a rare piece on its own, but the matching cabinet, I would wonder how many of those are still around? I've only seen one in print advertisement- a while back.

VERY TEMTING

Thank you for posting.

Nipper

[Steve]

This machine with its matching cabinet, could likely fetch, upwards of 20k.

It won't. I doubt the 203 alone would fetch more than 7500 Euros in the current climate whilst the FC5 is unlikely to provoke much more than a yawn from most HMV collectors with the money to buy it!

the matching cabinet, I would wonder how many of those are still around? I've only seen one in print advertisement- a while back.

I have a near mint example in my collection but I doubt I'd get more than £200 for it if I was to sell it. And yes, they are very very rare, especially in good condition. Their usefulness had expired by the 1950's and most surviving examples were either gutted for drinks cabinets or thrown away.

[nipper]

This machine with its matching cabinet, could likely fetch, upwards of 20k.

It won't. I doubt the 203 alone would fetch more than 7500 Euros in the current climate whilst the FC5 is unlikely to provoke much more than a yawn from most HMV collectors with the money to buy it!

the matching cabinet, I would wonder how many of those are still around? I've only seen one in print advertisement- a while back.

I have a near mint example in my collection but I doubt I'd get more than £200 for it if I was to sell it. And yes, they are very very rare, especially in good condition. Their usefulness had expired by the 1950's and most surviving examples were either gutted for drinks cabinets or thrown away.

I was Thinking in US $$ ,

Still Not a bad buy if they go under 10k US$.

Nipper

[dd2u]

Look carefully at the photos though (more in the listing itself http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0918152741 ) - the case of the 203 is quite damaged. Repairable, yes, but the current "repairs" look very poor! It would be better if no one had tried.

In contrast, a beautiful example of a 202 sold at auction in the UK recently for £7100 + commission. This example looks far poorer, but as well as the different condition we have a provincial auction house vs eBay listing in German. Also "a pair" with record storage, and the question of whether Oak 202 or Mahogany 203 is now considered more desirable. So maybe we can't conclude too much from whatever price is raised. If I had the money, I'd still give it house room (after having the cabinet professionally restored).

[Colonel Mustard] claims to have just located and sold a good example to a Korean millionaire (no price stated)...
[link removed]

...though it looks amazingly similar to one he claimed to have over a year ago...
[link removed]

[Starkton]

the case of the 203 is quite damaged.

This is exaggerated. Most damages are easy to repair by an expert including removal of the amateurish "restoration" with permanent marker.

[Steve]

This is exaggerated. Most damages are easy to repair by an expert including removal of the amateurish "restoration" with permanent marker

I would have to agree with Starkton. I fail to see where this machine is "quite damaged". The only damage I can identify would be some surface scratches here and there, nothing out of the ordinary for a cabinet of this size which must have been moved about quite a lot over its lifetime. These scratches have been 'touched up' with varying degrees of success. My biggest complaint would be to the vendor: why do people own such impressive machines and yet fail to bother to clean them up, especially when they are selling them?

These late HMV machines in mahogany have a very thick cellulose finish which, when shone up, gives them a very dazzling piano gloss finish. This one could do with the T-Cut on it asa it has gone predictably dull and grimey and appears to have never been cleaned or polished. What a pity.

[dd2u]

This is exaggerated. Most damages are easy to repair by an expert including removal of the amateurish "restoration" with permanent marker

I would have to agree with Starkton. I fail to see where this machine is "quite damaged".

Quite damaged compared to the beautiful 202 sold recently in the UK. Interesting to see how this impacts the price, but too many other confounding factors to really know.

I said "If I had the money, I'd still give it house room" but apparently this is "trying to put people off". Bless him. Just because I pointed out that he's now claimed to have bought the same HMV 203 twice, 15 months apart.