The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have always heard/read that Edison introduced the portables in the summer of 1929 at about the same time as their needle cut discs. But I just got the monthly release bulletin from November 1928 which as you can see suggests that one go to the dealer and hear the new portable. You guys will know the true story. ( Note the supplement came from the legendary Clarence Ferguson who called himself " the last Edison Dealer" . He may well have been: I understand he was sill in business in the 1960's.

Jim

Great pamphlet Jim. If I remember correctly...Clarence Ferguson's head stone reads..."Clarence Ferguson Edison Phonograph Dealer".

Apparently, he was still selling cylinder records at the original retail prices as late as the late sixty's.

The Donnellys bought his estate. According to a video made in the 1980's...there were many, many large truck loads of stuff and boxes upon boxes of ephemera that had never been opened by Mr. Ferguson from Edison... .

The portables P-1 and P-2 were both released for a short time in 1929, they could only play lateral cut "needle type" 78 records.

I had a beautiful P-1 in great condition, which I had to sell for financial reasons but now I am regretting it.

The machines were made by a contracted firm in Wisconsin, Prime Manufacturing if I am correct. The machines were reasonably constructed. They used the small Heineman flyer single spring motor, and a pot metal "orthophonic" style reproducer. I was fortunate, mine did not need a rebuid it sounded great. Due to the pot metal construction, I would caution against rebuilding these rare reproducers.

There was nothing Edison about these machines, except for the name embossed on the inside of the case, and the Edison signature trademark on the reproducer.

But if your " dealer will be glad to demonstrate" it implies they were on sale in November 1928, no? I have the December brochure as well and they state what a good Christmas present it would make.

Jim

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:I have always heard/read that Edison introduced the portables in the summer of 1929 at about the same time as their needle cut discs. But I just got the monthly release bulletin from November 1928 which as you can see suggests that one go to the dealer and hear the new portable. You guys will know the true story. ( Note the supplement came from the legendary Clarence Ferguson who called himself " the last Edison Dealer" . He may well have been: I understand he was sill in business in the 1960's.

Jim

Most likely this is advertising the first Edison portable which pre-dates the P-1 and P-2 by several months. Frow, on p. 183 of his Edison Disc Phonograph book, notes that portables were mentioned in the Nov. and Dec. 1928 supplements but production issues meant the machine was not available until Jan. 1929. Frow calls this first machine the "Needle Type Portable" and shows a picture on that page.

I knew you guys would know. My copy of The Edison Disc Phonograph is the first edition which only presents the P1 and P2 I've never seen a pic of the first portable.

J.R.T.

I wonder if Clarence Ferguson still had any Edison Portables in his stock when they cleaned it all out?

I believe that many of the Ferguson records are now with Paul Solarski which sells on Ebay. I have purchased a few of these Ferguson stock records a few years ago.