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So, I just purchased a very nice QRS portable phonograph off eBay. It a black portable. I paid $180 for it plus shipping. It’s is in amazing shape. Usually when I find these on eBay, the outside tolex or whatever the material is. Is peeling off, and looks like it was kicked around, or improperly handled.


Paul

That's nice! Isn't QRS the company that made piano rolls?

CarlosV wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:21 am That's nice! Isn't QRS the company that made piano rolls?

Same one. Apparently they decided to dabble in phonographs and records for a time. There machines were predominantly portable ones.

I've never seen one before.
You'll need a QRS disc for it now.

James.

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 12:09 pm

CarlosV wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:21 am That's nice! Isn't QRS the company that made piano rolls?

Same one. Apparently they decided to dabble in phonographs and records for a time. There machines were predominantly portable ones.

They also sold 16 and 35mm movie cameras and projectors, as well as a 35mm still camera, all produced by DeVry. And of course the "Play-A-Sax".

Steve

Roaring20s wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 5:34 pm I've never seen one before.
You'll need a QRS disc for it now.

James.

You’re right James, I will need to buy a QRS record.

ChesterCheetah18 wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 5:35 pm

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 12:09 pm

CarlosV wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:21 am That's nice! Isn't QRS the company that made piano rolls?

Same one. Apparently they decided to dabble in phonographs and records for a time. There machines were predominantly portable ones.

They also sold 16 and 35mm movie cameras and projectors, as well as a 35mm still camera, all produced by DeVry. And of course the "Play-A-Sax".

Steve

QRS bought DeVry in1929.

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:40 pm
You’re right James, I will need to buy a QRS record.

I have a set of QRS records, piano solos by Earl Hines. Despite the visually nice condition, all have very noisy surfaces.

CarlosV wrote: Sun Aug 18, 2024 10:47 am

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:40 pm
You’re right James, I will need to buy a QRS record.

I have a set of QRS records, piano solos by Earl Hines. Despite the visually nice condition, all have very noisy surfaces.

I’m sure the records were not the best quality. Considering the company manufactured player piano rolls.

Edisonfan wrote: Sun Aug 18, 2024 10:50 am

CarlosV wrote: Sun Aug 18, 2024 10:47 am

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:40 pm
You’re right James, I will need to buy a QRS record.

I have a set of QRS records, piano solos by Earl Hines. Despite the visually nice condition, all have very noisy surfaces.

I’m sure the records were not the best quality. Considering the company manufactured player piano rolls.

The first records sold under the QRS name occurred in 1919 when they marketed 9" pressings produced by Emerson. These were only sold for a brief period of time. They tried again in the early '20s with records pressed by the Starr Piano Company (Gennett). Both of these attempts were merely re-labeling of existing releases. The QRS records produced in1928-29 (original masters) were pressed by Gennett and the quality is as good as any Gennett Electrobeam produced at that time. After the label was revived by the Cova Recording Corporation in early 1930, the records were pressed by an unknown company. The Cova QRS records were intended to be a budget label, and the quality of them is notoriously bad.

Steve