Here's an Edison Standard Phonograph early model A cylnder player, probably about an 1898 model. It plays 2 minute cylinders only. It's it really nice shape both physically and cosmetically. There's just a little damage to the cover on the left side. You can hear it playing by clicking here.
This is an Edison Standard Phonograph model A cylinder player that I converted to play both 2 and 4 minute cylinders. This is about a 1902 model. It's in great shape physically and cosmetically. I was lucky enough to have a friend that let me have his 2/4 minute conversion gears and model H reproducer, so now it plays all Edison cylinders.
This is an Edison Amberola 30 cylinder player. This one was made around 1915 and plays only the Amberol cylinders which were mostly blue in color and all were 4 minute. The Amberolas use a diamond stylus which will destroy the earlier wax cylinders that the above players play. Amberola cylinders tend to swell or warp from the inside material, so it's harder to get good amberol cylinders. If you'd like to listen to it playing, click here.
This is about a 1951 Webcor. One of the first models from Webster-Chicago with the Webcor name. This is also one of the first 3 speed players. It uses the "feeler arm" turntable. This piece is in the museum.
This Webcor is about a 1955 model. This was one of the best sounding suitcase players made. It uses an astatic 91T plug in cartridge. The needles in these cartridges track better than the others and they play the new stereo LP's without skipping, even with heavy bass notes.
This is a mid 50's Sonic Capri. It uses a Webcor turntable and is hifi.
This one is my favorite. Why? Because, other than color, this is the exact hifi I had when growing up. I got it for Christmas in 1956. My childhood one was biege, but this is otherwise identical. Sound wise, the 1956 Webcor has nothing over this Silvertone. This player sounds great, with two good sized speakers and a 3 tube amp that cranks out plenty of volume. No wonder my parents said I disturbed the neighborhood. However, the webcor does have a better and heavier cabinet.
This about a 1961 Philco. This one is very light weight with just a single speaker. I rebuilt the front grille area as it was in pretty bad shape. This piece is in the museum.
This is a Voice Of Music model 990B made in 1953. This is true portability. I can only find the one year they made this model.
This is about a 1947 Admiral record player radio. The bakelite case is very nice and the unit plays really well.
This is essentially the same radio and record player as the bakelite model above, but in wood. Everything works well. I've recapped it and refinished the cabinet. This is a bad picture taken with my cell phone. This unit is for sale for $149. E-mail me for info if you're interested.
This is a Silvertone model 7080 from the late 40's. It uses a turntable made by General Instruments. This whole piece is in very nice condition. I may sell this one due to lack of space. Asking price, $195. E-mail me for info if you're interested.
Here's a nice Silvertone player form the early to mid 40's. I just like these.
This is a Decca from the early 50's. This unit is in very nice condition, both cosmetically and operationally and is for sale. Price is $150.00.
This is a Zenith model 533 radio record player. This piece is in the museum.
This is a 1940 Zenith wireless record player. It has a built in transmitter that transmits the sound to 1540 on your AM dial. There is a mechanism by the tone arm that you can adjust to shut the turntable off at the end of a record. This was an add on unit for people who just wanted to play their records through a radio.
Here's a nice early to mid 1940's Bendix AM radio and record player. I've reflocked the turntable and repainted the tone arm. The whole piece looks pretty nice, but there are a couple of minor chips on the bottom sides of the cabinet. This radio really sounds nice, truely impressive. The record player is made by General Instruments. It plays 78's and works load and clear. This one is for sale at $119.00. E-mail me for info if you're interested.
This is a very early 50's Silvertone suitcase model 2249. This one uses the VM record changer. A year or two later, Silvertones used the BSR changers. This player is in really nice condition and I'm very pleased to have gotten it. It sounds quite good too. The tone control is a 3 position, not variable. This model didn't use a duel needle cartridge. It's a single 2 mil needle. I put a .7 in it for LP's.
Here's a mid 1950's Columbia 360K2 wooden cabinet table model. The cabinet is in wonderful original condition. This unit uses the VM turntable and has two low/mid driver speakers and a piezo electric ribbon tweeter. It was a top end player in it's day.
Here's a different type of player. It's a Dormifone. Yes, it is a standard stereo suitcase record player using the VM turntable, but it was specifically built to use as a teacher (maybe to learn a language) while you sleep. The clock has pins all around it at 15 minute intervals. The unit will play where the pins are moved toward the clock face and shut off when it comes to a pin that's away from the face. I use it on weekends to wake me up. I throw on a stack of 78's and it comes on at the time set and plays my records. It's also equipped with a hook to hold the 12" record senser over so the arm will only land at 12" position if you're repeating the same record, as in learning a language. The other feature is a tethered clip to go under the record stack holder arm so it won't go all the way down. That way the unit will keep replaying the same record. This unit is in very nice condition.
This Phonola from the mid 50's features three speakers. No, it's not a stereo, just has three speakers in the grill. All three are different sizes from the large woofer to the small tweeter. Sounds pretty nice. This is a suitcase type and the unit is in overall pretty nice shape, just a few very minor wear spots in the vinyl that are hardly noticed. This one is for sale for $95.00. That's a bargain for it's condition and sound.
This is an early 50's RCA 45 rpm changer deck only, no amp or speakers. I have it plugged into my Sony receiver playing through 1968 AR2a speakers. I pulled the ceramic cartridge and replaced it with a magnetic one and lightened the tracking force to less than 5 grams. Now I can play my 45's in all their glory by the stack.
This RCA plays just 45's and is portable. This unit is in great condition cosmetically and works great too. It was made in the early 50's.
I bought this one because I had this same model when I was a little kid. It plays all 4 speeds and 12" records do fit. This one has many scratches, but no breaks in the plastic and it does play loud and clear.
I really like this ~1951 VM player. It uses a larger size oval speaker and sounds quite nice. The cabinet is in great condition, which is why I bought it. It features a lighted button on the grill next to the tone control that you can push to reject. Nice feature, works great.
This is a very nice portable player made by Steelman. The leather case zips open, then you ift the tone arm and play records. It has all speeds and twin speakers.
This Silvertone was made in 1949. It plays 78's only and the radio plays great. Has a very sensitive tuner. I think the case is bakelite.
This is a late 50's Silvertone stereo suitcase player. It uses the BSR turntable and has the external stereo speaker which attaches to the inside cover for portability. This one has bass and treble controls. It also has a mono/stereo switch. If you don't want to use the stereo remote speaker, you can flip to mono mode and it will feed both channels to the main unit speaker. Nice feature, I think. The case is in very nice shape with just a few minor wear spots, nothing significant. Everything works as it should and it sounds nice. This one is for sale for $135.00.
This is an RCA Victor windup portable victrola. I can't find a model number on it anywhere. Maybe on the inside? Anyway, it plays loud and clear. Actually sounds phenominal.
This one's a Silvertone portable windup. Can't find a model number on it either. Plays good, but not as loud as the RCA. But, I collect Silvertone products mainly.
This Silvertone was made in the popular blond wood color of the late 60's. It's strictly a table model, is stereo, and has the detached speaker to go with it. An added bonus is, it has a built in AM radio. Because blond furniture isn't my favorite color, this one's for sale for $125.00. It works great.
Here's a Zenith console. I wouldn't normally buy something like this, but it was at an estate sale for $10, so, do you think I could leave it there? I believe this unit to be from the 70's. It's solid state, has big woofers for big bass, a tape input, and works quite well tracking at just 2 grams.
This Silvertone suitcase has an AM radio built in. This was made around 1956. I had to change the grill cloth, which is why it doesn't look to be original, because it isn't. It works great on both records and radio.
This Silvertone suitcase was made around 1954 or 55. It came to me through my sone who's friend was throwing it out. After I removed the dead mouse and nest, it needed a new grill cloth, lots of cleaning, new capacitors, and that's it, works great. Oh ya, it had no speakers, but I had some good replacements for it.
This Silvertone and the one above are just one model number different. They both use the same everything, except a different cabinet. This one came to me clean, just needing the usual capacitor change and lubrication. It sounds great.
Here's an early 1950's Voice of Music turntable. I bought this to hook up to a modern amp at my son's house. I changed the cartridge to a plug in type because they track better on later 33 albums.
This is an early 50's Symphonic Deluxe 3 hifi record player. It uses essentially the same VM turntable as the unit above this. The covering is genuine leather, so it had to be their top of the line unit. It does have a few minor scuffs on the cover, but nothing at all serious. It's a very nice player.
Now this is an interesting piece. I'm guessing it's from the early 40's. It's made by Aireon who made juke box speakers and the like. This is called Aireon Melodion. It playes 78's only. It does work well. As you can see, it lights up when turned on.
This is a turntable I found in a store that came out of a console. I really not sure who made it, but it works really well. I have the only remaining "live" thumb screw crystal cartridge I have in it. It actually sounds good.
This is my Dual 1019 that I purchased new in 1969. This record changer has gone down in history as one of the best ever made with the best tone arm ever made. I can vouch for that, it's been great all these years and still tracking like a pro.
This is my big record player. It's a 1971 Wurlitzer model 3610. I actually found this in a thrift store. It works great and I didn't have to fix anything.