The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just picked up my first portable phonograph today for an inexpensive price ($40.00), although it's not a Victor portable, it seems to be a nice little machine. It's A PAL (Plaza Manufacturing Company) model No.511. I'm posting some pics for everyone to see in hopes of gaining any information about the machine
or the company. As I've said in my past postings, this forum and all of it's members are such a wealth of info for us newbies. Other than some minor cleanup the machine is in the condition I bought it and the motor runs smooth and strong and sounds great. I'm not sure what year it is and I could not find any info at all on google searches, so if anyone has any please let me know.
Gene

I don't know much about it, but it looks like a great little machine!, nice buy!

Some of the hardware suggests Prime Mfg Co (a Silvertone portable by them is below) but the pot metal arm suggests the Waters-Conley "Phonola" line. In any case, it's probably early 1930's and both companies built well finished high quality machines.

It looks like the case is in good condition, which can be hard to find on a portable.

I would guess it's a 1930s machine as well.

The identical tonearm and sound box were installed on a Birch portable I used to own, which dated to around 1939, based on some old ads I found. I'd say the one you have is from this era.

What I'm really curious about is the motor-board, which seems to be chrome plated sheet-metal. The needle cups are identical to the ones on my portable, which is similar to this one that recently sold on eBay --
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antique ... 7675.l2557

I noticed another Pal 511 with what looks to be a chrome plated motor board here -- http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/u ... phonograph

Joe

I have a Pal with a Thorens motor and reproducer. I'm not sure why that is. It has the generic Toman pot metal arm like yours, though, which I replaced because it had crumbled at the base circlip. Be careful of that clip if you unscrew the base of the arm, maybe try to avoid unclipping it.

Gene,

You have a very handsome portable at a good price. Finding one whose case is not battered is not all that easy. A real bargain I would say. How is the sound?

Clay

Steve, I did have to take the tone arm and support apart to use some emery cloth around the base and then used some vaseline to get it to track across the record, and while i was taking it apart a little of the clip retaining ring did break off (God I hate pot metal), but most of it is still there so it does work good now. Clay as for the sound it's really not bad at all, of course it's not as good as my VV-8-4 orthophonic, but it's enjoyable. I have to agree with you that finding a portable with the case as good as this one is rare and the price was right up my alley. Basically I'm a cheap collector
Gene

ejackett wrote: Basically I'm a cheap collector
Gene

Good to know I'm not the only bottom feeder out there!