John Vassos Phonographe portatif 1933 RCA Special

[soundgen]

Did anyone see or buy this amazing portable ?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/EXCEPTIONNEL-Joh ... 35d0d88489

[beaumonde]

Not this one.

These are interesting in that the motor is spring-driven, yet it is electrically amplified. I've seen a few, but they were all in non-working condition. Most people tend to collect them for the design, not to play them, so they leave the electronics and pick-up unrestored. They were intended to be sold at the 1939 NY World's Fair, I think.

[Uncle Vanya]

The units were offered at the '39 World's Fairs in New York and San Fransisco, not at the 1933 achicago Century of Progress Exposition..

These are rather easy to restore, as the amplifiers are extremely simple. I worked on one of these for a fello back in 1991. the most difficult part of course was rebuilding th crystal pickup.