The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here are some pictures of a small portable phonograph I have. It folds up to the size of a large Kodak box camera.

I have one like it, only in black. I think they are pretty unique but the sound quality is not very good (at least on the one I have).

I have a black one. Mostly a novelty since sound quality is a little lacking. I do believe the tips of the record support arms had a piece of soft rubber tubing on them to cushion the record. Mine does not have any rubber tubing, but I think I noticed it in a vintage ad. (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

These ultra-portables are fun to collect and play.

That's almost like a pigskin covering on it. Very nice. I have a black (intimation reptile) covered one. I wonder how many different covers there were??. Most are in rough or well used condition. The handles are usually missing or replaced.

My Peter Pan has the same covering as Gramophoneshane78's but not nearly as nice..

Here's mine, the earlier type with the collapsible secional aluminium horn instead of the bellows type. Not as nice condition as gramophone78's but a lovely little thing, and it works amazingly well for the size.

The Peter Pan Gramophone Co.Ltd of London patented the original design in 1922.

The later model with gooseneck tonearm appeared in 1924, and in late 1925 a new design resembling a folding camera rather than the previous "box" became available.

Miniature gramophones are highly collectable in the UK, one possible reason being that they do not take up much space. The average UK house is smaller than the average American one.

Orchorsol wrote:Here's mine, the earlier type with the collapsible secional aluminium horn instead of the bellows type. Not as nice condition as Gramophoneshane78's but a lovely little thing, and it works amazingly well for the size.

Wow, even with an aluminum horn, this reproducer must weigh extremely heavy on records
Looks nice though...
Andreas

alang wrote:Wow, even with an aluminum horn, this reproducer must weigh extremely heavy on records
Looks nice though...
Andreas

There's no tonearm with the early model, the aluminium horn is extremely light, and the pivot is off-centre on the back of the soundbox... Actually, the tracking weight is probably a lot less than that of a typical gramophone!