Oddball Harris Electric Phonograph

[scullylathe]

I recently finished restoring a machine that I can't find any reference to at all. It's a product of the Harris Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles ("Electrotone" brand name). It's a portable electric phonograph that seems to be made very close to the switch from mechanical technology to electric. It has a very art deco-looking metal tonearm, the volume control is at the tonearm pivot and the tone/on/off is on the motorboard. The turntable mechanism is a strange combination of mechanical and electric technology, having a flyball governor on the electric motor that's used to control speed and a hand-set braking mechanism used to start/stop the turntable as well as throw the motor switch. It has only 4 tubes; a #82 rectifier, a #37 preamp and a set of #41's in push-pull that output to a Magnavox field coil speaker. The pickup is a magnetic type Webster Electric product with a setscrew needle and the case has a lid that raises to access the turntable and a cover for the speaker at the front that is removed by opening two hasps. I've looked everywhere for any reference to this company or this particular phonograph but it seems it's not a common machine at all. Would anyone happen to know anything more about the company and where I might locate any documentation? I know that Harris made mechanical phonographs at least as early as 1923 (if not earlier) but that's the only 'factoid' I could find about Harris. Everything else pertained to their radios starting in the mid 1930's and moving onward. This machine seems very much "crossover" technology. It wasn't that hard to service/lube the motor and get the electronics back up and running, but I'd like to know more about it. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Brad]

I am not familiar with this particular unit, however, the Harris Corporation has been around for a long time and so too the Harris Massey company (farm tractors) has as well.

Check out: http://www.harris.com/company-history.html

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/data/13030/q8/ ... 19q9q8.pdf

and

http://www.antiquesboedo.com.ar/Vinculoesquemas1.htm

[OrthoFan]

If you can spot a model number, you might find a (PDF) schematic on this page:
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/resources/184/T0000184.htm
(To view or download the files, respectively, click on the Eye or the Floppy icon in the gray colored bar marked "Resources.")

I did a Google book search for

Electrotone Harris mfg. OR manufacturing

and came up with snippets published a number of books targeting schools, etc. ( http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbs= ... =&gs_rfai= )

I'm wondering, given the utilitarian design of the phonograph, if this might have been built specifically for institutional usage?

The design features of the motor you've described are very similar to the electric motors installed in Victrolas -- governor controlled, variable speed, brake functions as an on/off switch. I'm wondering, at some point, if you could post a photo of the motor. (Hate to have you take it all apart again, though!)

OF

[Lenoirstreetguy]

If you look at this clip from Bringing Up Baby there is a machine which looks like the newer model of this one. The case is the same with the exception of the luggage cloth exterior :same institutional round speaker but with the controls on the front
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k88OCWjMWjQ
Jim

[scullylathe]

The escutcheon just says 'Model 100' - yes, I've checked Nostalgia Air but the only schematics posted are radio/phono combination units with different tube compliments. I posted to their forum but so far nothing specific to this unit. I'll post a photo of the motor assembly this evening. The unit in Bringing Up Baby looks very similar, but would be a later model if made by the same company.

[Kirkwood]

If you strike out on here (I keep hoping that Greg Bogantz will have some pertinent observations) there is a discussion board on Yahoo, the Electrola board. There is a bit of overlap between members (there versus here) but somebody might have the info you seek. Its free, just sign up to post on there. Thanks to the Electrola board and this one, I have learned so very much about that post-1925 to 1935 period in the phonograph and record industry.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Here's a little information on the pick-up. It's from the 1937 Lafayette Radio Catalog " Radio's Blue Ribbon Catalog" from the Wholesale Radio Service Co. I would guess yours dates prior to 1937: those pear shaped tubes imply early thirties. Interesting that it was suitable for both 78 and 33 ⅓ Victor " program transcriptions" meaning that it was light enough not to eat the Victrolac.

Jim

[scullylathe]

Thanks for that Webster ad. Yes, even being a magnetic type pickup it is surprisingly lightweight and probably would have been a good choice for PT's. I'm assuming the unit dates somewhere from around 1931 through 1934 or 35. I checked back on the Nostalgia Air site and the first schematic that's marked 'model 100' for the Harris company shows a very similar unit, but with a completely different tube compliment. Even though they all test good, I'm assuming the tubes are original to the unit since most NOS 82, 37 and 41 tubes I've seen online are the later 'shoulder' type tubes and not the balloon type like these are.

Will get some photos of the motor drive posted and check out the Electrola site as well. Thanks to all for your input.

[beaumonde]

Not sure if it will help, but I used to own a Harris "Portophone" (light suitcase portable with case lined by faux snakeskin), now owned by Ampico66. Kind of cheaply made, with a soundbox reminiscent of a Viva-tonal type, but cute nonetheless. I think it was ca. 1930s.

I don't have a picture handy at the moment, but when I get home I will try to remember to post it.

[scullylathe]

Here are a couple of photos of the motor; kind of hard to get a good look at the flyball governor assembly, but the weights are flat and the springs are not as compliant as in a mechanical phonograph probably due to the added inertia provided by an electric motor. It's difficult to see, but the speed indicator on the motorboard is attached to a leather next to a brass wheel on the governor just like a mechanical machine. Also strange how they used a fibre gear in the motor assembly as these tended to wear out quickly. This machine runs smoothly and quietly with no speed variation... guess I got lucky