Help with Newly Inherited Portable 78 Phonograph

Hello everyone.

Sorry to start things off with a question but... I've inherited this portable 78 phonograph and need some help identifying the maker/model. Just received my new batch of needles and tried it for the first time to find the sound muddled. I'm pretty sure the reproducer needs rebuilding, but I can not seem to find any markings or info on the piece. Any info where to find a rebuild kit would be extremely helpful.

Thanks Casey

Hard to tell what it is/was. The same exact type of case, style of horn, components, etc., was used for dozens of off-brand phonographs during the mid to later part of the 1920s--into the early 1930s.

The outer covering, probably some type of imitation leatherette paper or fabric, is missing. The record storage compartment originally held under the lid is also gone. That probably would have had the mfg's logo on it.

The tonearm, a modified goose-neck style-- is identical to the type found on the mid-1920s Brunswick portables -- SEE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF0GY2e4GEE It's distinctive because the reproducer or sound box faces the left (instead of the right) as the record plays. I'm not sure this is a Brunswick model, though.

The sound box looks to have been repaired at some point using a homemade needle bar, connected to the diaphragm with too large a screw. (Normally, the screw connecting the needle bar to the diaphragm is very tiny, and very easy to lose if dropped.) The needle bar, itself, is too bulky to do much good. Also, the thumb-screw, which holds the needle in place, is missing in the photograph.

Rather than attempt to repair the sound box, your best bet might be to find a good replacement that would fit the tonearm. These come up for sale all the time on sites such as eBay, and are also available from parts suppliers such as those listed on this page under the Accessories/Restoration section: http://www.proaxis.com/~settlet/record/links.html

Another source for parts is: http://www.phonographs.org/store/index. ... n1prabjm31 You can see, from some of the photos, what a needle bar should look like.

Good luck.
JDS

You beat me to it Joe_DS
I just took a photo to show what the needle bar should look like on a reproducer of this vintage.

Thanks for all the info Guys! Since it sounds like i have a Frankenstein of parts I guess I don't want to restore it, just somethings to get it working so I can play my 78's. I found a nice silvertone reproducer on ebay and was wondering if you guys think it would fit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Silvertone-Tru-Phon ... 58879b0385

WOW!!! Normally, these are found in a crumbling/cracked condition and are not restorable. A ready to play Tru-Phonic sound box, at that price, seems like a very good deal.

Don't know if you're familiar with this line, but the Tru-Phonic was the Sears & Roebuck answer to the Orthophonic Victrola. While the cabinet models were nothing to write home about, in terms of their performance--compared to a real Orthophonic Victrola--the portables were well designed. You could probably get it to fit the tonearm, possibly using a rubber collar type adapter, though it may be a little heavy and bulky for the tonearm. Keep in mind, since your phonograph does not have a very large horn, the Tru-Phonic will not perform up to full potential.

So, if you get the sound box, at some point, you may want to hunt down a nice Tru-Phonic portable. I've spotted quite a few for sale on eBay over the years--most with damaged sound boxes. These have a well designed, relatively long tone chamber, and with a restored sound box, a deluxe model would probably sound as good as any good quality portable of the period--and some of these do sound amazing.

Just did another search for the heck of it on ebay and found this guy and bid on it. Brunswick tonearm and reproducer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Brunswick-R ... 3a5b2ba90e

That looks like it would be an ideal option, if you can get it for a decent price. Judging from the photo, the diaphragm gaskets are original, and should be replaced before playing too many records; but the gaskets are available from a number of the sellers mentioned in my above post.

Good luck.
JDS

Thank you soo much for the help! Will keep this updated with my progress.