HMV 101 - Instructions, Care, Upkeep

Hi all, I recently obtained a HMV early model 101 in Mahogany in good condition but badly in need of general servicing. Would you know of any site that has instructions for cleaning, servicing a HMV portable gramophone or better still, where one could buy, download (?) the original instructions for the 101 or 102 (which had a really long production run).

If the above is not possible - is there any site that helps a novice (me) with step-by-step instructions on cleaning / servicing portable gramophones?

Thanks.

I'm not sure if an original HMV 101 owner's manual would be of much help. From what I've heard, it provided basic operational instructions, but that's about it. (Could some of this site's gramophone experts confirm this?)

If you want comprehensive information about taking down, cleaning, greasing, and reassembling a gramophone motor, along with general servicing tips, probably the best source would be "The Compleat Talking Machine" by Eric Reiss. (That's the way "complete" is spelled in the title.) The book provides an excellent guide for new as well as more advanced collectors, and is packed full of illustrations. If you do a search for the title on http://www.google.com, you'll see a number of sellers listed, such as Amazon.com.

Along this line, there are also a few youtube videos that show how to remove and repair gramophone mainsprings, such as -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbPa-VWA ... re=related

You might also want to check out some of the tips provided on Ian Calderbank's site -- http://www.gramophones.info/graminformation.html

BTW, for more general lubricating instructions, there are a number of manuals available on the old nipperhead site -- http://www.nipperhead.com/old/ephemera.htm. While there is nothing specific for the HMV 101, all gramophones shared the same, basic components -- mainsprings, governors, winding shafts, etc. For instance, even though the spring barrel is positioned differently, the VV 50's lubrication instructions would apply to your model -- http://www.nipperhead.com/old/vic50.htm (Just click on the thumbnail images to make them full size for viewing/printing.)

Good Luck.
Joe_DS

Hello

I don't think it's a mahogany 101? Do you mean the portable machine with carrying handle and record storage in the lid?

The only non-cloth or leather covered 101's which appear to exist were made in Calcutta. These were teak cases. Have you got one of those by some slim chance?

As Joe_DS says the 101 instruction are not really that helpful. I have some originals amongst my "paperwork".

If you PM me, I'll see what we can do for you.

Regards

Steve

Hi Steve:

Welcome back! Hope all is well.

I'm wondering... weren't the "black cased" HMV 101s fitted with a mahogany stained motor board? (I don't know if they used real mahogany veneer.) It's kind of hard to tell in the photos I've seen, for instance:



...but I seem to remember that one I saw for sale at a local flea market years ago had a wooden, dark stained motor board.

Also, I seem to remember that there was a table model that looked similar to the HMV 101, that was originally fitted with the Lumiere diaphragm, but was "retrofitted and re-marketed" after the conversion to electrical recordings. I can't remember the model number.

Joe_DS

Hi Joe_DS

Thanks for the welcome!

The machine you're referring to is a Model 461 and you're right, it is very similar to an over-grown 101 but in table model form. It was available in either oak or mahogany but the 101 portable motor boards themselves were just veneered and it isn't mahogany. I don't know what it is actually, it's not oak or teak either?

But I'm assuming that our friend here is not simply referring to the motor board of a 101 when he describes it as being a "mahogany 101"? Let's see.

Regards,

Steve

Firstly, thanks everybody for helping.

Secondly,Steve you;re right - its Teak. I simply assumed its Mahogany cause (1) I'm an idiot (2) a lazy one at that...I should add that I picked the machine up in Myanmar / Burma. It's in great condition (including original felt). I was told that it had been sitting in a steel trunk in the corner for the better part of 3 decades as the grandkids of the owner had no interest in "old stuff".

From the little research I could do:

1. The machine was almost certainly made in Calcutta (or , am guessing here, assembled there after being shipped from England as "Export to the Far East")

2. An early model 101 - probably from the later part of 1926 (location of sound box / needle bin location / throw of front winding handle)

Will post snaps of it tomorrow...forgot the camera at home (am still traveling thru Burma so internet connection is sporadic!)
Thanks again everybody. Really appreciate your help and time.
sid

Sid

I don't know whereabouts in the world you reside when you're not travelling around but here in the UK a front winding teak 101 in great condition would be worth between £350-500!

The last one I saw for sale on Ebay was about 3 years ago and it sold for £611!!!!!! They are RARE!

Congratulations on a fine find and no doubt, an absolute steal too?

The 400 series motor is very easy to clean grease and oil.

I have sent you a P.M. today so hopefully you'll pick that up too and maybe we can get a copy of the instructions to you somehow.

Regards

Steve

Steve, thanks for that...I had no idea. I had bought the machine for 120$ (actually paying 60$ more than what I could have with further bargaining but realized at one point that the seller was seriously hard-up and would probably sell it for a meal for his family in the near future. I was actually feeling a bit sheepish after I bought it and looking at prices on ebay...now thanks to your info I feel much better!

Below are some snaps of the machine - as can be seen it needs a good clean up and servicing though it does play well.

Hi!

Oh yes, that's the baby, alright! Maybe I need to go to Burma? These are very rare machines and yours is particularly interesting for having a panel top lid! Most have flush tops.

When I queried it being mahogany I didn't actually believe that you had a teak one either but I'm pleasantly surprised to see that's exactly what you've got.

Putting it into perspective the Indian Civil Service during the last days of the Raj probably had about 100,000 British and it was only to this market that your machine was intended to be sold to. Compare that with the population of Britain in the late 20's and you can imagine how the production numbers would be markedly reduced in Calcutta!

They are historically interesting as well as being the ultimate HMV portable machines of their period.

Not bad for $120!

I'll get back on my chair now.

Regards

Steve