Interesting 1940's portable

[estott]

Here's what looks like a very interesting portable:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Phonola-Portable-Re ... 240%3A1318

According to the seller what appears to be an electric pickup is actually part of a concealed acoustic system.

[brianu]

???

that's not right, right?

the arm was probably thrown on at some point? I've never seen a wind-up machine, especially a portable, with any electric sort of amplification... the closest I guess is that vassos (sp.?) victor machine in the shiny aluminum brief case...

[MordEth]

the arm was probably thrown on at some point? I've never seen a wind-up machine, especially a portable, with any electric sort of amplification... the closest I guess is that vassos (sp.?) victor machine in the shiny aluminum brief case...

I’m hardly knowledgeable, although based on the newest MAPS inquiry, it seems to be legit...

— MordEth

[hr][/hr]

eBay Item #170310490292

Phonola Portable, Reproducerless Style, Waters Conley

Phonola Dynacoustic portable, wind-up phonograph made by the Waters Conley Company. This is a very unique player as it doesn’t utilize the standard, disc-type reproducer head but employs a type of vibrating rod within the metal tone arm. The arm is made to look like a late 1940’s electric phonograph arm with cartridge but is actually a totally acoustic unit. Wind up motor operates well, steady and accurately and player produces a warm, full sound but with some distortion. Has greater bass response than most normal acoustic phonograph portables. Needle is changed using the traditional thumbscrew located on the front of the arm.

Case covering is intact, somewhat dull but all the outside metal parts (hinges, escutcheon, clasps) show surface rust. Slight separating of fabric at edges near a couple of corners.

[phonophan79]

I had a Phonola turntable once, I hate that spray on turntable felt. It's certainly an eye sore on this one. ...but looking at this machine, the curved blue mount of the tonearm matches the "Phonola" record holder on the interior of the lid in color and style/texture. ...well as much as you can judge from some photos. It's certainly an interesting concept if its true.

[OrthoFan]

???

that's not right, right?

the arm was probably thrown on at some point? I've never seen a wind-up machine, especially a portable, with any electric sort of amplification... the closest I guess is that vassos (sp.?) victor machine in the shiny aluminum brief case...

Hi Brian,
There was one for sale about three years ago on eBay, which had photos of the underside of the tone arm and the inside of the case, after the motor board had been removed.

Running the length of the underside of the tone arm is a straight, thin metal bar. The front end is connected to the needle, and the other is connected to a fulcrum like joint, that itself, is attached to the center of a "speaker"--really a cardboard cone--situated directly under the back mounting of the tonearm. (It looks like a conventional speaker is mounted under the tonearm's base in the photograph, but in reality, it's a cone-diaphragm.)

Here's a crude drawing. Hope you can make sense of it:

Diagram.JPG (15.46 KiB) Viewed 7120 times

A similar design concept was used for the Vitaphone Talking Machine (See, Page 197 The Talking Machine Compendium)

[larryh]

Don't ask me to name them, but over the years I have observed a number of late machines that used spring power with battery or power as the source of the sound. This all mechanical one is no doubt original, as the fellow states the sound most likely is lacking. Probably will be an expensive oddity at best.

[phonophan79]

I don't think people are understanding that this claims to be an all acoustic machine.

[larryh]

Responding to Brianu.

Here is an ad that shows one from 1940 in the Wards Catalog. Electric amp, spring wound.

[MordEth]

Larry,

Interesting advert, thanks for posting it. I ran the text through OCR so it can be searched and in case it was easier for anyone to read this way.

— MordEth

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Portable

RADIO-PHONOGRAPH COMBINATION

$34.50 Cash

$5 A MONTH

Terms Inside Back Cover

ONLY ONE of Its Kind Under $45

Anytime . . . anywhere . . . you can listen to the music of your choice. Turn the controls for your favorite radio program—or turn the switch to play the records of your choice! The only, truly portable radio-phonograph combination that we know of for less than $45.00.

No wires to Connect—No plugging In—Both radio and phonograph amplification are battery operated. Batteries inside case play about 250 hours.

5-Tube Radio with built-in aerial permits playing anywhere. Radio has Super Heterodyne Circuit for low-cost operation. Tuning range of 540KC to 1600KC. Automatic volume control reduces fading. Licensed by RCA and Hazeltine.

Dynamic Speaker, alloy, 6-inch. High fidelity reproduction.

Spring Wound Motor for phonograph—eliminates drain on batteries. American made. Governor controlled for steady rotation of records. Speed control.

Crystal pickup. 9-inch turntable. Plays 10 or 12-inch records. Record carrying spindle. Crank may be carried inside.

Stunning case. Carefully made of wood with finest airplane-style striped fabric, water-proof and washable covering. Easy to carry—weighs only 29½ lbs. About 9 by 13¾ by 15¼ in. Ship. wt. 34 lbs.

351 A 2208—Radio-Phonograph with Tubes, Batteries and Instructions. For Terms see Inside Back Cover. Cash Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34.50

[estott]

Yes- those were intended for farms without electricity- batteries could run the amplifier for longer if they weren't drained running a motor.

But the clever thing about that Waters-Conley is that it fools you into thinking it has an electric pickup when it's all acoustic. Rather clever, even if it might not be all that efficient in performance. Must be a pain to repair if that linkage and cone get out of order.