WWII-era Portelec phonograph and records
29/03/2015
Today I took some time photographing an old portable phonograph and 132 old American Armed Forces Radio broadcast records which belonged to my Grandfather, with the intention of eventually creating a catalogue.
Update 04/04/15 - A spreadsheet was created, and a very basic listing of the records from it is posted on this Blog page: - WWII-era 16" 33 1/3 records list. I don't think much of the layout, but blame Scribd, not me. The old player (Left), is still needed because they are 16 inch 33 1/3 rpm records and are too big to be played on the average turntable. They are 15 minutes per side. The player is in damn fine condition. Back in the Eighties I made up a plug and cord to take the Pickup Outlet to a modern stereo and some records were played by my parents. The player is now twice as old! It hasn't been used since then, and will need a good electrical check-up before it is tried again. It has been retro-fitted with a transformer to convert it from the American 110 volts AC to the New Zealand 240 volts AC. This player is pretty sophisticated for its age. It has a valve amplifier. The hefty speaker is in the lid which has detachable stays so it can be used attached or can be detached, with about 30 metres of cord. There is a 110v AC outlet on the deck top. (Who knows what voltage it is now, but probably still 110.) There is a socket to output the pickup signal to a separate PA system. There is a socket to connect the speaker. There is a socket to connect a microphone in through the amplifier, giving a PA function. There are separate volume controls for the phonograph and microphone. There is a tone control. There is a 45 or 33 1/3 speed selector. There is a small cup at the front to hold the steel needles, which need changing every play, ideally. There is a compartment in the lid which holds: - 1. Spare valves. 2. The microphone. (missing) 3. A spare spindle to change the motor speed from 50 to 60 cycle mains power. (missing) 4. A circuit diagram. Update 2024: - I just realised the style of knobs at left was also used by Leo Fender for the guitar amplifiers he produced, at least up until 2017 when I bought my Blues Junior III 50 Watt valve amp. I noticed because it amused me to hear that the Americans call them "chicken head" knobs. The records are in dubious condition, but quite variable, some look pretty good, some look pretty bad.
You might think they are valuable, but I have read that the artists contributed their performances to the war effort at no charge, and it is illegal to use the recordings for commercial gain. I have seen some on the internet for sale but only at around the US$10 mark. |
Name Plate Text
110 V. A. C. 100 WATTS Model DPS-1 50 - 60 CYCLE
33 1/3 OR 78 RPM REPRODUCER
NAVY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL
WASHINGTON D. C.
SERIAL NO. 10611 MFD. BY
PACIFIC SOUND EQUIPMENT COMPANY
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
PORTELEC
33 1/3 OR 78 RPM REPRODUCER
NAVY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL
WASHINGTON D. C.
SERIAL NO. 10611 MFD. BY
PACIFIC SOUND EQUIPMENT COMPANY
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
PORTELEC