1929 Edison P-1 Suitcase Phono

[Jop Amberola 30]

Been awhile since I’ve dug this one out. 1929 Edison P-1 portable.

Found it at a weekend swap meet in Tulsa, OK about 2 years ago. It was missing the reproducer and the seller didn’t think much of it. He said $20… I said $10… and he took it. Had no idea at the time what I found and how rare they are. Only produced for 3 months in mid 1929.

Got home and found the original reproducer wrapped in an early 80s Reagan era newspaper tucked in the soundbox. Lucky day! The flange is badly chipped and cracked… so figured out a way to use some flexible poly tubing to mount it to the tonearm. Can’t even tell it. Sounds excellent… every bit as good as a Victor Orthophonic portable of the era.

[AmberolaAndy]

Been awhile since I’ve dug this one out. 1929 Edison P-1 portable.

Found it at a weekend swap meet in Tulsa, OK about 2 years ago. It was missing the reproducer and the seller didn’t think much of it. He said $20… I said $10… and he took it. Had no idea at the time what I found and how rare they are. Only produced for 3 months in mid 1929.

Got home and found the original reproducer wrapped in an early 80s Reagan era newspaper tucked in the soundbox. Lucky day! The flange is badly chipped and cracked… so figured out a way to use some flexible poly tubing to mount it to the tonearm. Can’t even tell it. Sounds excellent… every bit as good as a Victor Orthophonic portable of the era.

And no pot metal tonearm bracket that seems to be impossible to replace on portable Victor machines too. I don’t have a P-1, but I do have a Brunswick 109 as my main “early electrics” portable.

[edisonplayer]

I'd love to find a P-1 that someone is parting out for the tonearm and arm support. edisonplayer.

[EdiBrunsVic]

Nice! I have always wanted one, but they are hard to find. Hopefully you can find some Needle Cut Edison discs for it.

[ArtH]

I have a P-1 with the original reproducer in great shape. I think I paid $800 for it due to it's rarity. Plays beautifully. And I just found a bunch of Edison needle cut records in my collection. I'm currently selling off my collection and I didn't even remember that I had the needle cut Edisons! That's what happens with collections!

[52089]

I got my P-1 off Craigslist years ago. it's very beat up and rusty, and the reproducer is falling apart like most of them are. However, mine did still have most of the original isolator. A previous owner jury rigged it with some kind of clay. I took all that off and put a couple of layers of electrical tape on the tonearm. It makes a good acoustic seal and holds everything well enough for light use. Despite being in poor cosmetic shape, it's still one of the best sounding portables I own. I don't think I've ever seen another in person, even at Wayne.

[AmberolaAndy]

I have a P-1 with the original reproducer in great shape. I think I paid $800 for it due to it's rarity. Plays beautifully. And I just found a bunch of Edison needle cut records in my collection. I'm currently selling off my collection and I didn't even remember that I had the needle cut Edisons! That's what happens with collections!

I’m still cringing about that time 7 years ago when I could have got a couple needle cut discs but I didn’t know what they were at the time and passed them up thinking I wouldn’t have enough money for anything else at that sale. SIGH.

[Lucius1958]

Got my P-1 some years ago: works quite well. The only issue is cosmetic: the exterior fabric has lost its color & texture, and there's a small tear on the lid. Wish I could find some repro Fabrikoid to recover it...

- Bill

[Jop Amberola 30]

My P-1 is just a worker more than anything… which it does a fine job of. Doubt it would have much collector interest. I got lucky the reproducer sounds near perfect because it would just turn to dust if dismantled.

[edisonplayer]

The P-1 I have came from my late friend Jerry Donnell. It doesn't have the correct gold tonearm and arm support. I hope to find the correct ones some day. I do have an Edison Needle Cut 78 (cracked)on the turntable for display. edisonplayer.