"Outing" portable.

[epigramophone]

I have posted this eBay offering under "Machines" as to my eye it looks like a generic American design. I have never encountered "Outing" before. Perhaps it explains why some non-collectors refer to portables as "picnic gramophones".

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Phonograph-Ou ... 6016.l4276

[estott]

That is a late model Outing, and you are right, it is generic. Here is an advertising flyer for the first model:

[Orchorsol]

Are they of any interest beyond the usual low-grade generic machines? This one's located fairly near to me.

[Uncle Vanya]

The a Outing machines have well made cabinets, generally of walnut, red gum, birch or maple plywood and solids. Most feature well applied natural finishes, a very few are found covered in Pantasote. The horns are well designed, the tone arms and motors are Heineman products. These machines almost always are found with two-Spring motors. When the reproducers on these machines are properly rebuilt they play about as well as any pre-Orthophonic cabinet machines, even the most xpensive.

They are attractive and sturdy units and are well worth seeking out.

[estott]

Are they of any interest beyond the usual low-grade generic machines? This one's located fairly near to me.

I'll have to answer at length a bit: Outing machines went through three types. The first is from the early 20's and is the sort illustrated in the flyer and described by Uncle Vanya. They are very nice and fairly desirable as early portables.

The second type is a much smaller canvas covered machine with a tone arm which folds behind the motorboard. Cheap but not unattractive.

The third type is what you see in the Ebay sale. Very generic, probably built by some outside firm with the Outing name on it. They play decently but are the same as any other middle grade machine of the late 20's. The main attraction is the looks- it's quite nice with the contrast of blue and gold with the nickle plate. You might not see it clearly but the emblem on the record bin is a portable being pulled by horses. If I could get this machine for under $100 in clean working condition, I would...but having it shipped back across the ocean would be prohibitive.

You should get it as a nice representative American machine - and I suspect they are not common in the UK: they aren't extremely common here.

[epigramophone]

Are they of any interest beyond the usual low-grade generic machines? This one's located fairly near to me.

I started this thread having noticed that the machine was located in Gillingham. I had hoped that this was Gillingham, Dorset, which is fairly near to me, but it was in fact Gillingham, Kent, which is not! There is also a Gillingham in Norfolk, but the listing was not specific and I had to ask the seller which Gillingham it was.

Unfortunately the seller is not offering postage. I have never understood why some sellers will not post portables. It is not difficult, and greatly increases the number of potential bidders, ensuring that the best possible price will be achieved.

[Uncle Vanya]

Are they of any interest beyond the usual low-grade generic machines? This one's located fairly near to me.

I'll have to answer at length a bit: Outing machines went through three types. The first is from the early 20's and is the sort illustrated in the flyer and described by Uncle Vanya. They are very nice and fairly desirable as early portables.

The second type is a much smaller canvas covered machine with a tone arm which folds behind the motorboard. Cheap but not unattractive.

The third type is what you see in the Ebay sale. Very generic, probably built by some outside firm with the Outing name on it. They play decently but are the same as any other middle grade machine of the late 20's. The main attraction is the looks- it's quite nice with the contrast of blue and gold with the nickle plate. You might not see it clearly but the emblem on the record bin is a portable being pulled by horses. If I could get this machine for under $100 in clean working condition, I would...but having it shipped back across the ocean would be prohibitive.

You should get it as a nice representative American machine - and I suspect they are not common in the UK: they aren't extremely common here.

I'm afraid that I did not check the eBay list, only the posted brochure. That late Outing portable is attractive, but the tone arm has a pretty high coefficient of friction doe to the rudimentary design of the swivel, and will tend to wear records badly. I must admit that I've never seen one of those late Artophone vintage Outing machines in such nice condition.

As I recall, the late Duco covered Outing machines used the little Heineman Jr. Motor, and we're in the $15.00 class of portable.

Regarding the earlier outings, I note that the brochure offers them in red and born mahogany and oak. I've never seen one in oak, but hav come accross a number of birch cabinets with a medium oak color stain. The red mahogany machines that I.ve come across have generally been of imitation mahogany, birch solids stained wit Vandyke Brown. The "brown mahogany" machines that I've encountered appear to largely hav been of Red Gum, though I did keep one machine which was made with walnut solids and veneers, in a medium walnut finish.

[estott]

I've seen one Outing in quartered oak veneer. Mine is reddish brown stained gumwood with mahogany veneer on the top surface of the lid. The name plate is stamped brass, other examples use a black and gold decal. It also has a nice sellers plate for Widner's of Philadelphia.

[edisonrestorer64]

I have all the parts for this I am selling mine no bottom case and springs needs restoration they do no stay tight may need repair

[Curt A]

I have two of the early Outings in birch wood cases. Would you please post the brochure in a high quality flat scan? Thanks...