The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Interesting Magic Mirror - Red Raven record gadget I bought on EBay - although this toy was made in the 1950's and early 1960's. Crank-up acoustic phonographs still being used then - huh?

Well, electric motor acoustic phonographs were sold for kiddie records all through the 1950's and 1960's. I seem to recall them in the Sears Wish Book as late as 1972.

I decided to insert this onto my VV-V1 reproducer and give it a test run waiting for the worse sound to shout out of the phonographs wooden slats - much to my suprise it actually made the record sound a little better - a bit softer actually. It has a bit of a springy affect while playing the record with no loss of sound quality, just a wee bit softer, not quite as loud. I was using a loud tone Chamberlain needle also. Interesting gadgit, I'll try it next on what it was actually designed for - a Magic Mirror phonograph toy