The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I notice the seller's description states the blue covering is "in tact". Does that mean this machine won't do anything insulting?

Ortho_Fan,

Yes you beat me to the punch (not unexpected, considering I've been MIA ) That's the first thing that came to mind-the Vitaphone system.

Phonophan79, yes I think what some others are commenting on is that there were a number of electrically motored acoustic machines made in the forties and fifties even if this isn't one. I have seem a few other portables with various attempts to visually update the design to various degrees.

I would be very interested in hearing on of these.

Regards,
John

Hi All,

Ortho Fan got it exactly right with his description and the diagrams he drew earlier in this thread.

This is an all-mechanical machine, and the sound is directly linked from needle to a mid-sized cardboard speaker cone inside the case, by a rod running the length of the arm, which twists with the needle vibrations.

I posted a video of it playing an electrically recorded 78 from about the same period as the player (late 1940's I presume), with an upright bass fiddle jazz solo, which comes through amazingly rich and strong: "A credenza in a suitcase": (Please forgive the slight speed flutter; my next order of business is to give the motor a full servicing.)

I had never seen one of these players before I got mine; I found this thread in a Google search for more info on the machine:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzU1AX3QOsw

Regards,
- Bob

This is really great sounding for a acoustic portable - almost a little sad that my chance to find such a phonograph here in europe show a tendency to 0%.....

Is there a chance to see some photos of the "speaker" under the deck ?

I love the sound on that machine!

I have a 1940s Tecnico Aristocrat radiogram with an almost identical looking tonearm - but mine is electric.

My friend just got one with a broken spring. Does anyone know the size of the springs for a replacement?