HMV 171?

Hi,

Been "away" for a while, but still alive and collecting.
Just saw an -to me- unknown HMV 171 cabinet advertised . It has a gold coloured "model# sticker" right of the arm mounting. So that indicates must be a late 1920's model, but i've never seen one before. It looks a bit like a model 127 but then as floorstanding cabinet. Am I right?

regards

eng bo

Hi EngBo!

Good to have you back after.......3 years?!

Yes, the 171 was originally a 170 cabinet grand with a No. 2 soundbox but got modified at the Hayes factory in 1926 to fit the new "saxophone" internal horn with No. 4 soundbox etc. The bottom of the cabinet range was the 161 so a 171 was next up in line. The record cupboard lost its middle section to accommodate the bottom of the horn.

When HMV introduced the new flat lid variants later that year (162, 192 etc) the 170 and 180 series were completely dropped from the range.

Maybe having too many different sized models had not proven to be cost effective in the first place? Curiously the 201 (spring) and 211 (electric) continued to be sold with the "old style" Victrola cabinets (curved, domed lids etc). I guess few of those cabinets were sold due to the high price?

HTH

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your prompt reply
And good to be back.
So this model 171 must have had a short life, is this also the case for the model 127? Or did that exist until 1930?

best regards

eng bo

Hi Engbo

NO, the 127 is a TABLE Grand model and not a CABINET Grand.

I'm not sure how you have confused these two completely different machines together? The 127 Table model has a No. 4 soundbox etc and is also from the same period and replaced the 126 which replaced the old 125 (No. 2 soundbox) etc etc.

The 171 is a floor standing cabinet with a deep saxophone shape internal horn and thus better sound quality than the contemporary table models. If you really think about, the No. 4 soundbox range was the first time HMV cabinet models exceeded the performance of the table models. Prior to this range, the table and cabinet machines had similar horns due to the cabinet machines only having record storage under the horn.

Steve

Hi Steve,

I think I wrote it not so clear...I know that the 127 is a table grand but I wondered if it had also a short lifespan just as the 171?

rgds

eng bo

Hi Engbo

Sorry for the delay in responding.

No, the 127 was not an especially short-lived model.

I have the 1928/29 catalogue and it is still offered for sale in there. It is not available in the 1930 catalogue though as it had become superseded by the 130 Table model by then (5a s/box etc).

HTH

Steve