Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
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Hcompton79
- Victor Jr
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Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
I Bought this for myself off eBay, but I don't know what it is. Does anyone have any info on this machine?
- De Soto Frank
- Victor V
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Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
Looks a lot like one of the Birch Company portables... ?

De Soto Frank
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Hcompton79
- Victor Jr
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Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
That's what I thought but all the Birch one's have a curved record holder.
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Hcompton79
- Victor Jr
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- Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:40 pm
Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
Update: found the information
E General Industries Co Ohio Junior
Printed on the bottom of the motor
E General Industries Co Ohio Junior
Printed on the bottom of the motor
- Player-Tone
- Victor II
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Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
Actually that information still sort of leaves us in the dark with identifying this portable, 'E General Industries Co' was a general supplier of motors and many different phonograph companies used this same motor. You will also find this same motor in RCA Victor portables such as the RCA Model02, also in Decca portables, etc.
-Mike
- Player-Tone
- Victor II
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Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
It looks similar to this Decca portable, except for the swapped tone-arm position and a couple other details. My guess is both portables were made by the same place, but outsourced by different companies and therefore were given minute differences to distinguish them. The little decal on the record holder may have been the only unique identifying mark on the phonograph, and it is long gone on yours. 
-Mike
- Player-Tone
- Victor II
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Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
.... It might also have an ID tag under the turntable, did you check it there yet?
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estott
- Victor Monarch
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Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
I'd say it was built by Prime Mfg. Co. in Milwaukee.
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Hcompton79
- Victor Jr
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- Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:40 pm
Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
No ID tag only what was printed on the motor, but it does have an aluminum reproducer diaphragm if that helps?
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Hcompton79
- Victor Jr
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:40 pm
Re: Can you help identify this portable phonograph?
I don't think it's a prime because all of the tone arms on their machines appear to face the other way.
I would say it's a dead ringer for a Birch portable if it wasn't for the record holder, maybe the original got damaged and was replaced?
I would say it's a dead ringer for a Birch portable if it wasn't for the record holder, maybe the original got damaged and was replaced?