The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

briankeith wrote:So what was the war it was used - WW1 or WW2 ? If you look closely at the inspectors card on the web page photograph I posted, the card looks like it is dated 1915....

I think WW2. It looks like something made in the 1930s. The reproducer appears to have a metal diaphragm, something that did not exist until the Orthophonic era.

briankeith wrote:I understand there were a lot more of the Army models made then the Navy models - I wonder why? Just curious So what was the war it was used - WW1 or WW2 ? If you look closely at the inspectors card on the web page photograph I posted, the card looks like it is dated 1915....

Something odd there because this is NOT from anywhere near 1915.

Mine has no date card - that photo I posted was from a website showing the same phonograph with a date card, same model USN field phonograph - I think it is early WW2 - but even in the early 1940's they were still using spring driven phonographs? Possibly as it states "field phonograph" and there are no electrical plug out in the fields of battle.

That 'postcard' looks like fantasy:

1. Where were the Marines posted 'over seas' in 1915?
2. ALL phonos were "mechanical" in 1915, so there wouldn't have been need for designating any as such.
3. There weren't any official issue phonos at all in 1915, which is why the Government had to request bids for such things when we got into WWI .


ps - Mechanical portables were made to play both 78 and 33 ⅓ "V-Discs" , which were meant for only temporary entertainment and not long-term survival.

estott wrote:

briankeith wrote:I understand there were a lot more of the Army models made then the Navy models - I wonder why? Just curious So what was the war it was used - WW1 or WW2 ? If you look closely at the inspectors card on the web page photograph I posted, the card looks like it is dated 1915....

Something odd there because this is NOT from anywhere near 1915.

In fact, to my eye, it looks more like 1975.... which is just as odd...

Bill