Help me ID this portable, please

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ChesterCheetah18
Victor II
Posts: 418
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:16 pm

Re: Help me ID this portable, please

Post by ChesterCheetah18 »

This one sold two days ago at Stanton’s.

Steve
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Damfino59
Victor II
Posts: 487
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:37 pm
Location: Stillman Valley, IL

Re: Help me ID this portable, please

Post by Damfino59 »

I believe most of the components were sourced from outside suppliers on these JW phonographs. They were actually manufactured in their Brooklyn headquarters. The sound box on the example looks like a Walter’s Conley unit. The same company that made a portion of the military WW2 phonographs.

viewtopic.php?t=2910

Though the actual soundbox is made of pot metal, they do seem to hold up well. The phonograph you’re looking at has a detachable tone arm. Providing a slimmer profile for storage. After dealing with the issues of convenience with this model the enclosed model was adopted.

I know about these phonographs because of a friend I’ve known since high school. Their family has been a JW since the Judge Rutherford days.

I also think these units are part of the history of audio visual educational technology. As a former audio visual specialist converted to a digital multimedia media person, it’s all part of the long chain of history.

The recent sale by Stanton’s auction shows there’s still interest in these. Portable wind up phonographs are easy to store!

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