1935 Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
Post Reply
Lah Ca
Victor III
Posts: 853
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm

1935 Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by Lah Ca »

2023-12-15 09.32.11 www.vintage-radio.net 0ccda8ce03cd.jpg
It seems to be an unusual machine in that it has a spring-driven motor but with an electrical phono cartridge--the opposite configuration, electric motor and acoustic arm/soundbox, seems quite common in late inexpensive and poorly made machines.

The poster at UK Vintage Radia says the machine belonged to the US Library of Congress and was a loaner item that visually impaired people could listen to 78 RPM audio books on. The cartridge put out enough signal to power a set of headphones--an interesting way of getting around the put a sock in it volume conundrum.

I remain sceptical about the audio book claim. A listener would need a moving van and a couple of burly men to lug home the number of 78s required for a reading of any "standard" sized novel.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/sho ... hp?t=62780
Last edited by Lah Ca on Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

epigramophone
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 5204
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.

Re: 1935 Portable Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by epigramophone »

Talking Books" for the blind first appeared in the 1930's, but they were not recorded at 78rpm.
I doubt that the spring powered machine which you have pictured could play them.

https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/artic ... -was-born/

User avatar
Orchorsol
Victor IV
Posts: 1622
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:03 am
Location: Dover, UK
Contact:

Re: 1935 Portable Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by Orchorsol »

Around 15 years ago I saw several sets of early Talking Books at Detling Antiques Fair - I seem to remember one of them was the very title pictured here https://audiobookhistory.wordpress.com/ ... king-book/
They were ordinary 12 inch shellac discs that looked much like 78s but played at 24rpm. Unfortunately none of the albums were complete with all their discs so I din't buy any. I've often wished I had, just to own an example - if a little pointless!
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?

User avatar
poodling around
Victor V
Posts: 2141
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:52 am

Re: 1935 Portable Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by poodling around »

Orchorsol wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 1:37 pm Around 15 years ago I saw several sets of early Talking Books at Detling Antiques Fair - I seem to remember one of them was the very title pictured here https://audiobookhistory.wordpress.com/ ... king-book/
They were ordinary 12 inch shellac discs that looked much like 78s but played at 24rpm. Unfortunately none of the albums were complete with all their discs so I din't buy any. I've often wished I had, just to own an example - if a little pointless!
I have one complete set of these. I think it was 'The Saint' and the title included the word 'Tiger'. I can't remember who the person was reading. They are some-where with my other records.

I remember recording one side at 33 and a third and slowing it down with Windows Media Player. It didn't work very well for some reason.

As you say, I am glad I have them but they can't be played properly. A long time ago I bought a large 'collection' of 78's and these came with them. Ironically I nearly threw them away at the time.

User avatar
poodling around
Victor V
Posts: 2141
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:52 am

Re: 1935 Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by poodling around »

Having spent most of yesterday tidying up the gramophone room (quite successfully it seems) I came across the set of records I mentioned 'above'.

I thought I would up-load a couple of photographs should any-one be interested in the future.

I had forgotten how 'late' they were - 1958 or later perhaps. Not made from shellac - they are very 'bendy'.

Braille on the reverse side.
Attachments
ti.jpg
ti2.jpg

User avatar
Marco Gilardetti
Victor IV
Posts: 1394
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:19 am
Personal Text: F. Depero, "Grammofono", 1923.
Location: Italy
Contact:

Re: 1935 Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by Marco Gilardetti »

Revolution speeds are like rabbits: once you think you've counted them all, others pop up.

Some years ago I remember opening a thread about RPMs as I was designing a (more or less) "universal" strobe disc; unfortunately I think nobody metioned 24 RPM back then, otherwise I would have added for it a thin line of dots at the rim of the disc.

I don't know if anyone had patience enough to watch this videoclip where I describe how 16 ⅔ and 78 RPM speeds can be achieved on a classic Technics SL-1200 MarkII by adding a pair of mods designed and produced by KAB USA. As a further note to the videoclip, it comes to my mind that since the 16 ⅔ mod cuts all speeds in half, the standard 45 RPM is reduced to 22,5 RPM, and as the SL-1200 has a +- 8% correction slider, the latter speed could be accelerated up to 24,3 RPM. So just below the maximum +8% correction there's a point that brings the rotation speed to exactly 24 RPM. While I can hardly see anyone installing the mod just to play these records, still this would give the correct speed.

User avatar
Orchorsol
Victor IV
Posts: 1622
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:03 am
Location: Dover, UK
Contact:

Re: 1935 Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by Orchorsol »

Wonderful. The outré side of my collecting passion would still dearly love to have one of these sets.

Brilliant thinking on the Technics speed, Marco. Of course, the vintage Lenco turntables could also play it easily, having a continuous range of speeds available from well below 16 to well above 78.
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?

User avatar
Marco Gilardetti
Victor IV
Posts: 1394
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:19 am
Personal Text: F. Depero, "Grammofono", 1923.
Location: Italy
Contact:

Re: 1935 Garrad Wind-up/Electric Portable

Post by Marco Gilardetti »

Sure, should anyone start from scratch, it would be actually much easier to buy one of those DJ turntables that offer +-50% speed control: after a long gap, many models with these features are now available again. However, in case one doesn't want to give up the technical perfection of the Technics SL-1200, the above is the way to go. ;)

I also agree that, now that I know that they exist at all, I too feel an overwhelming desire to own one of these records - if only to use the 24 RPM speed that I just found out my doubly-modded Technics features! :D

Post Reply