1920s HMV Gramophone model C101J, serviced, with a selection of gramophone records and 100 needles

A wonderful HMV Gramophone model C101J, produced in the late 1920s.

Comes with a pack of 100 brand new needles and a few gramophone records (shellac 78s) to get your collection started.

This fully portable wind-up (so can be taken anywhere, hence it’s nickname ‘picnic gramophone’) machine, whose parts all clip away for transportation or when not in use.

The C101J is an iteration from 1928-29 of three classic HMV model 101.

This differs from the very rarely seen original Gramophones that requires a large bell (almost all you see are reproductions), in that this amplifies the music with just the ‘sound box’ which is the round piece to which the needle is attached at the end of the ‘tone arm’ inside the main body of the box rather than requiring a large exterior horn to be heard. This version is more compact and so easier to store and transport. The volume and quality of sound is plenty loud enough and of a very listenable quality. Volume can be increased or decreased through the use of soft tone (quieter) or hard tone (louder) needles. The ones I provide are medium tone which I believe to be the most pleasurable listening volume.

The amazingly impressive fact about these gramophones to those discovering them for the first time is that they work entirely without a power source besides the manual wind up lever which is unfolded from the case and wound to power the spinning turntable.

The sound is transmitted acoustically via the needle, through the ‘soundbox’ angled, as it should be at around 60° which is connected to the tone arm.

In case you are unfamiliar with 78s, these types of record preceded vinyl. They are usually made of shellac and are much thicker, stiffer and more brittle than vinyl records. Most are smaller too at 10 inches, and run at around 78rpm as opposed to 33 or 45 with vinyl. Please don’t play your vinyl on a gramophone – they’ll be destroyed by the needle!

The needles are made of soft steel and can be purchased from myself or online (they should ideally be changed every side of a record due to degrading sound quality). They are quickly and easily changed with a simple thumbscrew.

The lever to the front right is a brake for the turntable for when the record has finished and when turning the record over or packing away.

The lever to the front left is to adjust speed to fit with your dancing ability… It is 78rpm in the central position and can go slower or faster, depending on the fluency of your foxtrot.

There is also a section under the lid where you can keep a few records. I will place a small mixed selection to start off your collection.

The deck is of a gorgeous solid mahogany.

The polished case is in good condition with a few snags (it’s a couple of years from getting its 100th birthday letter from the King) and the latch works smoothly. The mechanics are working well and have been oiled in the appropriate spots. It’s been fully checked and tested.

This His Master’s Voice portable Gramophone is a fantastic looking piece of music history. It is a wonderful period piece to wow your friends and family and a great way to get a party started!

***** Listen to the gramophone in action here! *****

41cm deep X 29cm wide X 14.5cm tall.

A wonderful HMV Gramophone model C101J, produced in the late 1920s.

Comes with a pack of 100 brand new needles and a few gramophone records (shellac 78s) to get your collection started.

This fully portable wind-up (so can be taken anywhere, hence it’s nickname ‘picnic gramophone’) machine, whose parts all clip away for transportation or when not in use.

The C101J is an iteration from 1928-29 of three classic HMV model 101.

This differs from the very rarely seen original Gramophones that requires a large bell (almost all you see are reproductions), in that this amplifies the music with just the ‘sound box’ which is the round piece to which the needle is attached at the end of the ‘tone arm’ inside the main body of the box rather than requiring a large exterior horn to be heard. This version is more compact and so easier to store and transport. The volume and quality of sound is plenty loud enough and of a very listenable quality. Volume can be increased or decreased through the use of soft tone (quieter) or hard tone (louder) needles. The ones I provide are medium tone which I believe to be the most pleasurable listening volume.

The amazingly impressive fact about these gramophones to those discovering them for the first time is that they work entirely without a power source besides the manual wind up lever which is unfolded from the case and wound to power the spinning turntable.

The sound is transmitted acoustically via the needle, through the ‘soundbox’ angled, as it should be at around 60° which is connected to the tone arm.

In case you are unfamiliar with 78s, these types of record preceded vinyl. They are usually made of shellac and are much thicker, stiffer and more brittle than vinyl records. Most are smaller too at 10 inches, and run at around 78rpm as opposed to 33 or 45 with vinyl. Please don’t play your vinyl on a gramophone – they’ll be destroyed by the needle!

The needles are made of soft steel and can be purchased from myself or online (they should ideally be changed every side of a record due to degrading sound quality). They are quickly and easily changed with a simple thumbscrew.

The lever to the front right is a brake for the turntable for when the record has finished and when turning the record over or packing away.

The lever to the front left is to adjust speed to fit with your dancing ability… It is 78rpm in the central position and can go slower or faster, depending on the fluency of your foxtrot.

There is also a section under the lid where you can keep a few records. I will place a small mixed selection to start off your collection.

The deck is of a gorgeous solid mahogany.

The polished case is in good condition with a few snags (it’s a couple of years from getting its 100th birthday letter from the King) and the latch works smoothly. The mechanics are working well and have been oiled in the appropriate spots. It’s been fully checked and tested.

This His Master’s Voice portable Gramophone is a fantastic looking piece of music history. It is a wonderful period piece to wow your friends and family and a great way to get a party started!

***** Listen to the gramophone in action here! *****

41cm deep X 29cm wide X 14.5cm tall.