The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am curious as to what this RCA-Victor-branded portable machine is.

Some aspects of it look suspiciously newish and shiny.

I cannot find any pictures of anything identical.

Thanks.

Well ... this is interesting. There have been 94 views so far.

Backstory:

I joined Facebook the other day for the sole purpose of having access to FB's Marketplace. A friend advised me that Marketplace was a lot more active than Craigslist here. I did a quick perusal of gramophones/phonographs, and I saw this portable, among other things. If location information given is correct, it is probably no further away than a 15 minute drive from my house. I took some screen shots to use for comparison in my image searches.

Meanwhile, I listed a 1920s/30s German-made cigarette lighter, which had belonged to my grandfather. Made for export to the English speaking world, it is a re-badged version of the petrol "trench lighters" used by German troops in WWI. In my listing, I documented what I knew about it.

Shortly thereafter I found that my new Facebook account (one with which I had done only two things, a search for gramophones/phonographs and a listing for an antique cigarette lighter) had been disabled because I had violated community standards. The process of getting my account reactivated is so onerous and privacy intrusive that I am not going to bother with it.

So:

I cannot go back to find the listing again. I cannot post a link for it.

I had been interested in the portable, but it looked strange. Badly finished punch-cut fixtures. Extensive use of rivets rather than screws. Too new and shiny looking. My inability to find any matching model. So I posted the pics here.

Is it a knock-off? Do people even make knock offs of wind-up gramophones?

Looks a LOT like a generic 30s portable with a replacement record holder from an RCA machine.

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 2:55 pm Looks a LOT like a generic 30s portable with a replacement record holder from an RCA machine.

I wouldn't doubt its an authentic RCA machine. Their portables from this period did use lots of the same parts as the generic models, the only obviously incorrect part is the reproducer.

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 2:55 pm Looks a LOT like a generic 30s portable with a replacement record holder from an RCA machine.

Thanks for the reply.

I only took screenshots of the pictures that showed distinctive features. There were more pictures, including one with the case closed. The case has RCA Victor badging on the outside.

Ho_Hum wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 3:00 pm

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 2:55 pm Looks a LOT like a generic 30s portable with a replacement record holder from an RCA machine.

I wouldn't doubt its an authentic RCA machine. Their portables from this period did use lots of the same parts as the generic models, the only obviously incorrect part is the reproducer.

Thanks. I may have a friend log into Facebook and see if he can find the listing. I may go look at it.

I'm not convinced it's by RCA, and wonder, too, if the record holder is a replacement. While there are probably a few unknown models, this reference guide -- http://www.mulhollandpress.com/styled-2 ... index.html -- is pretty comprehensive.

In terms of components -- sound box, needle rest, position of crank, tonearm, etc. -- it looks to me like a "re-branded" Birch portable phonograph, though it may have been made for RCA as a one-off type model. (I'm wondering if there's a model number on a metal plate under the turntable.)

OrthoFan

OrthoFan wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:28 pm I'm not convinced it's by RCA, and wonder, too, if the record holder is a replacement. While there are probably a few unknown models, this reference guide -- http://www.mulhollandpress.com/styled-2 ... index.html -- is pretty comprehensive.

In terms of components -- sound box, needle rest, position of crank, tonearm, etc. -- it looks to me like a "re-branded" Birch portable phonograph, though it may have been made for RCA as a one-off type model. (I'm wondering if there's a model number on a metal plate under the turntable.)

OrthoFan

The record holder must have come from somewhere, and I don't see a record player on that site that shares the same one as this. At the same time, I doubt anyone would go through the trouble of forging an RCA holder for a not at all expensive or highly desirable machine. It also fits the player remarkably well, with an identical-looking material and the same type of metal fasteners as the case.

Thanks for the replies.

There are aspects of the machine that do indeed have similarities to some Birch models - do an image search.

And as I said above, the outside of the case is labelled RCA Victor.

Curious.

I will try to find out more about it through third parties if I can.

Ho_Hum wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:54 pm I doubt anyone would go through the trouble of forging an RCA holder for a not at all expensive or highly desirable machine. It also fits the player remarkably well, with an identical-looking material and the same type of metal fasteners as the case.

I agree; and it really doesn't look like a forged logo, though it is different from the others on the portables RCA sold at the time--assuming later-1930s, based on the components. And, after viewing it "big screen" on my PC (forget the smartphone), it does seem to be original to the lid, though the photos are not very clear.

I'm thinking, now, it's more along the lines of one offered for sale for a very short time.

OrthoFan