Compared to the cabinet models, and with the exception of the HMV (101/102) models, little information has been available online, specifically about portable gramophones.
I spotted this neat "portable primer" while researching another post, and thought I'd pass it along.
http://www.capsnews.org/apn2007-6.htm
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Portable Gramophones
Q&A about Talking Machines from the pre-electronic era (approx. 1885-1928).
Interesting link, thanks for posting!
There are a few errors in the article that I've spotted so I guess some other folks will probably spot others too?
The Decca was not the first portable in a small suitcase. It was however arguably the first mass produced portable with any kind of success to its name and probably down to clever marketing being launched on the eve of the outbreak of WW1. There are many different portables from this period and many earlier types which consisted of parts ingeniuously stowed away into a tiny portable box. I have seen a collection in the past 2 years with at least a dozen different models from this period and all equally clever in design.
The Decca caught on in part due to the fact that it was one of the earliest portables which was "ready to play" as soon as you unfastened the case. Many of the earlier portables had to be carefully assembled first and required someone with either a very good memory or a problem solving brain! The Decca No. 3 with hide case was not the most expensive of the early Dulciphone portables either. That honour goes to the No. 4 which is housed in a solid polished teak case and is today, a rarity to boot.
I was informed by a "reliable source" on OTVMMB many years ago that the Phonocone existed before WW2 and was available from 1938-41 and 1946-48. I read the piece about it from CAPS several times but I'm still slightly confused by the quote regarding the General Industries motors made from 1941-49 for this model and then it goes on to say the motor was produced in 1946? Anyway, I couldn't get the phonoland link to work which is cited there. Any joy with that one?
Assuming the info' on the HMV 102 record tray is correct (they made two types: one with lugs and one without so you can always tell if your machine has the correct one by the locating pins mounted on the motorboard to "trap" the lugs on the base of the tray) it is possible to further narrow down the production dates for a black 102 with tray given that the first 102 has a different auto brake arrangement to the later adopted "standard" and is rarely seen today. I would say 1932-36 in this case. BTW, I would never honestly classify a 102 in colour case as rare either. They were produced in red, blue and green right through to the early '50's in very high numbers. Only the grey, brown or red leather (gold plated) examples could possibly be classified as rare in my view. The grey and brown colours disappeared (presumably through lack of sales) early in 1934 whilst the red leather continued unabated through 1936. It is worth pointing out to potential collectors that the latter version rarely turns up in great condition when it turns up at all! Don't expect to find a mint leather 102 - you will likely be very disappointed. For some reason (unlike say, the Decca No. 3) the leather 101's and 102's do not survive well. The colour will often be very faded and bleached and I've seen many with oil stains and water marks too. Maybe the rich people who bought them could afford to play them for only a short time before throwing them into the attic to rot?! You certainly don't see many today that look as though their original owners have taken much pride or care with them. Curious.
It's interesting to see articles on portables as they do not tend to be honoured as much as horn machines or post-Orthophonic cabinet machines. Kudos to CAPS for doing this!
Steve
There are a few errors in the article that I've spotted so I guess some other folks will probably spot others too?
The Decca was not the first portable in a small suitcase. It was however arguably the first mass produced portable with any kind of success to its name and probably down to clever marketing being launched on the eve of the outbreak of WW1. There are many different portables from this period and many earlier types which consisted of parts ingeniuously stowed away into a tiny portable box. I have seen a collection in the past 2 years with at least a dozen different models from this period and all equally clever in design.
The Decca caught on in part due to the fact that it was one of the earliest portables which was "ready to play" as soon as you unfastened the case. Many of the earlier portables had to be carefully assembled first and required someone with either a very good memory or a problem solving brain! The Decca No. 3 with hide case was not the most expensive of the early Dulciphone portables either. That honour goes to the No. 4 which is housed in a solid polished teak case and is today, a rarity to boot.
I was informed by a "reliable source" on OTVMMB many years ago that the Phonocone existed before WW2 and was available from 1938-41 and 1946-48. I read the piece about it from CAPS several times but I'm still slightly confused by the quote regarding the General Industries motors made from 1941-49 for this model and then it goes on to say the motor was produced in 1946? Anyway, I couldn't get the phonoland link to work which is cited there. Any joy with that one?
Assuming the info' on the HMV 102 record tray is correct (they made two types: one with lugs and one without so you can always tell if your machine has the correct one by the locating pins mounted on the motorboard to "trap" the lugs on the base of the tray) it is possible to further narrow down the production dates for a black 102 with tray given that the first 102 has a different auto brake arrangement to the later adopted "standard" and is rarely seen today. I would say 1932-36 in this case. BTW, I would never honestly classify a 102 in colour case as rare either. They were produced in red, blue and green right through to the early '50's in very high numbers. Only the grey, brown or red leather (gold plated) examples could possibly be classified as rare in my view. The grey and brown colours disappeared (presumably through lack of sales) early in 1934 whilst the red leather continued unabated through 1936. It is worth pointing out to potential collectors that the latter version rarely turns up in great condition when it turns up at all! Don't expect to find a mint leather 102 - you will likely be very disappointed. For some reason (unlike say, the Decca No. 3) the leather 101's and 102's do not survive well. The colour will often be very faded and bleached and I've seen many with oil stains and water marks too. Maybe the rich people who bought them could afford to play them for only a short time before throwing them into the attic to rot?! You certainly don't see many today that look as though their original owners have taken much pride or care with them. Curious.
It's interesting to see articles on portables as they do not tend to be honoured as much as horn machines or post-Orthophonic cabinet machines. Kudos to CAPS for doing this!
Steve
I used to be looking for things but now I've found them I don't look at them!
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Joe_DS
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Hi Steve:
Many thanks for the additional information. As you noted, there were already a few portable gramophones for sale at the time the Decca hit the market. (It would be great to see a few of these profiled on this board.)
Re-- the phonoland link mentioned in the "Phonocone" section, unfortunately, that no longer exists. All of the archived posts from the old Phonoland board--prior to the major overhaul of the site a couple of years ago-- were lost when the board's software was modified several months ago.
Many thanks for the additional information. As you noted, there were already a few portable gramophones for sale at the time the Decca hit the market. (It would be great to see a few of these profiled on this board.)
Re-- the phonoland link mentioned in the "Phonocone" section, unfortunately, that no longer exists. All of the archived posts from the old Phonoland board--prior to the major overhaul of the site a couple of years ago-- were lost when the board's software was modified several months ago.
They need to work on the Peter Pan section too! The first Peter Pan of 1922 didn't even have a tonearm 
It has a wire rod similar to the one shown in the cameraphone photo, which attached to the soundbox, and had a telescopic HORN.
It's funny how even the experts can sometimes get things so wrong.
It has a wire rod similar to the one shown in the cameraphone photo, which attached to the soundbox, and had a telescopic HORN.
It's funny how even the experts can sometimes get things so wrong.
I have owned quite a few portables over the years.. Currently I have a 101 brunswick. A rather odd machine in ways.. Not too savy a design in my opinion. But oddly the thing plays like crazy.. Just that the horn which is under the turntable and opens to the front with a drop down door, (some had a opening to the side set of them), is a bit limited in sound development compared with the ones that used the lid for a reflector of the sound..
I have long had an Orthophonic which used to be the gold standard to me for the amazing amount of sound it could put out.. but they have become rather common thanks to ebay and don't command near the old prices.
My favorite which at the moment I have open on the kitchen table is a "Telefunken". It looks for the world like the rest of the European models that have the narrow case with the swing out needle holder in the front corner. Only mine refuses to open.. It has a surprisingly big sound. Sometimes I have trouble telling if its the one playing or a larger machine when its placed just right in a room. It uses the large diaphragm which to me is a must for wider ranging tone..
I sold off a odd portable that had issues with the mechanism, that little machine had a really big sound, very full. What a surprise I discovered when I pulled the motor board to discover it had no horn other than a short tube to no where under there! Somehow that worked better than anyone would have guessed! Too bad the mechanical part was faulty.. It was a European name also, I just can't recall it somehow.
I have long had an Orthophonic which used to be the gold standard to me for the amazing amount of sound it could put out.. but they have become rather common thanks to ebay and don't command near the old prices.
My favorite which at the moment I have open on the kitchen table is a "Telefunken". It looks for the world like the rest of the European models that have the narrow case with the swing out needle holder in the front corner. Only mine refuses to open.. It has a surprisingly big sound. Sometimes I have trouble telling if its the one playing or a larger machine when its placed just right in a room. It uses the large diaphragm which to me is a must for wider ranging tone..
I sold off a odd portable that had issues with the mechanism, that little machine had a really big sound, very full. What a surprise I discovered when I pulled the motor board to discover it had no horn other than a short tube to no where under there! Somehow that worked better than anyone would have guessed! Too bad the mechanical part was faulty.. It was a European name also, I just can't recall it somehow.
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