Advise on HMV Stereo 1212 TT

[Record Player]

Hey Guys - A friend of mine is planning to give away his HMV Stereo 1212 TT. I am not sure if this has a Ceramic or Magnetic Cartridge. My intentions are to acquire the same.

I wanted some reviews on this TT.

I also need advise on the following:

1. Can this be used as a regular TT to play records or keep it as a collectors item (play it rarely)
2. What would be the appropriate price for this piece

Thanks in advance.

PS: My primary TT is an Akai Direct Drive.

Cheers,
Record Player

 

[Record Player]

HFVians - Any luck with this will be much appreciated.

 

[reubensm]

The HMV 1212 is a simple record 3-speed record player with a basic built-in stereo amplifier from the late 1970s to early 1980s. The record player (calling it this and not turntable because HMV called these so) came with a HMV ceramic cartridge (cream colour) with a flip sapphire stylus (one side for micro groove records and the other for 78 rpm records). The record player had 3 speeds, 33/45/78. I doubt that it had 16 rpm on there as I am sure only the older version of the HMV calypso had this. I remember HMV had 3 models in this range, starting with the HMV 1010, then the HMV 1212 followed by the HMV 1515. The number denoted the amplifier wattage, 10 watts per channel for the HMV 1010 and so on. This series was sold with its matching pair of speakers and although, they could not be used for critical listening, they would faithfully play back any record. One thing though, the tonearm used to track at between 6 and 8 grams which is not suitable for modern cartridges. Such heavy weight tracking also reduces the life of the stylus and the record.

Regarding your questions;

1. Can this be used as a regular TT to play records or keep it as a collectors item (play it rarely)

Yes, it can be used as a secondary TT for casual listening provided you keep track of the stylus condition and re-calibrate the tone arm for light weight tracking (it had a spring with a few holes under the back of the tone arm for adjusting this). Not sure if it could be considered a collector's item unless you have memories from your childhood with HMV turntables (like myself).

2. What would be the appropriate price for this piece

If sold with the speakers and in good cosmetic and functional condition, I would probably pay about upto 2k but that's a king's ransom for an HMV player. Guess you can settle for 1.5k which seems fair.

 

[Saket]

Good information there Reuben! Thanks.

Don't know why but I have affinity towards simple old HMV 'record players'. The good thing is that they are simple and mostly easy to fix. Me & my friend are planning to fix his old HMV Stereo 1010 which suffers a broken tonearm. We have inspected the player & yes, it does track on the heavier side. In fact, we noticed an audible drop in speed when the tonearm is placed on the record fully!

Just a small correction/ information, apart from HMV calypso, the older HMV Fiesta manufactured in 1970s (not the newer fiesta with suffix as 'popular') also had 16 RPM speed selection.

@OP: Selling the player will not fetch any significant money, it will be worth more in your house. So my advice will be to keep it for occasional listening. Although, not a hi-fi, but still it will produce a very listenable sound.

Regards.

 

[Record Player]

The HMV 1212 is a simple record 3-speed record player with a basic built-in stereo amplifier from the late 1970s to early 1980s. The record player (calling it this and not turntable because HMV called these so) came with a HMV ceramic cartridge (cream colour) with a flip sapphire stylus (one side for micro groove records and the other for 78 rpm records). The record player had 3 speeds, 33/45/78. I doubt that it had 16 rpm on there as I am sure only the older version of the HMV calypso had this. I remember HMV had 3 models in this range, starting with the HMV 1010, then the HMV 1212 followed by the HMV 1515. The number denoted the amplifier wattage, 10 watts per channel for the HMV 1010 and so on. This series was sold with its matching pair of speakers and although, they could not be used for critical listening, they would faithfully play back any record. One thing though, the tonearm used to track at between 6 and 8 grams which is not suitable for modern cartridges. Such heavy weight tracking also reduces the life of the stylus and the record.

Regarding your questions;

1. Can this be used as a regular TT to play records or keep it as a collectors item (play it rarely)

Yes, it can be used as a secondary TT for casual listening provided you keep track of the stylus condition and re-calibrate the tone arm for light weight tracking (it had a spring with a few holes under the back of the tone arm for adjusting this). Not sure if it could be considered a collector's item unless you have memories from your childhood with HMV turntables (like myself).

2. What would be the appropriate price for this piece

If sold with the speakers and in good cosmetic and functional condition, I would probably pay about upto 2k but that's a king's ransom for an HMV player. Guess you can settle for 1.5k which seems fair.

Thanks Reubensm. Once again you have been my star with expert advice. I can really bank on you

After my read now it really gives me a good perspective of the HVM Record Player. My current Akai tracks at 3 grams and I can imagine what a 6/8 will do.

My next steps will be to inspect/audition the piece and take a call accordingly. Most probably will drop the plans and hunt for a Garrard.

Will keep you posted.

Cheers

 

[aks07]

Reubensm ji has summarized the situation very accurately. These were the standard series to have between mid 70's till late 80's.

You can do a good job by restoring the amplifier section of the 1212. It is a Class B design. You can even salvage the amp and use it as a secondary system in your bedroom. Very pleasant sound.

..
Don't know why but I have affinity towards simple old HMV 'record players'.

I agree. The old 2-in-1 HMV record/radio players were very musical. Specially the the tube based one which utilized ECL86 as output.

If you have a bunch of old records than it makes perfect sense to get one of these HMV units. They, both the records and the player, will outlast most of us.

 

[reubensm]

Reubensm ji has summarized the situation very accurately. These were the standard series to have between mid 70's till late 80's.

You can do a good job by restoring the amplifier section of the 1212. It is a Class B design. You can even salvage the amp and use it as a secondary system in your bedroom. Very pleasant sound.


I agree. The old 2-in-1 HMV record/radio players were very musical. Specially the the tube based one which utilized ECL86 as output.

If you have a bunch of old records than it makes perfect sense to get one of these HMV units. They, both the records and the player, will outlast most of us.

The older version of the HMV Fiesta (late 1960s to mid 1970s) used a very musical valve amplifier. It had a volume control and a tone control (which was essentially at 0.1mfd capacitor connected across the volume control through a pot (for tone). If I recollect correctly, the valves used was ECL82 (audio stage) and EZ80 (rectifier)

The amp stage would have been something like this:

Single Tube amplifier

I have also seen the vintage AC/DC version of the fiesta with a UCL82 based amplifier stage.

 

[vmscbe1974]

me too an owner of this stereo player sans speakers. it was a gift from my uncle and i keep it for memories attached with it since this was the player we used when we were kids. I prefer this to play 78s but some old radio mechanics are so happy about the performance of this for microgroove records. I prefer magnetic to ceramic with tube as mentioned by others here.
srinivas