At 6 years old, my first phonograph was a 1956 Symphonic 3-speed portable in a lime-green fiber board luggage style cabinet. One tube amplifier. It too had the pop-up 45 adapter and metal grill over the speaker. Manufactured in Boston Mass. My player had a metal tonearm with a ceramic cartridge. There was a knob at the end of the cartridge to select the proper stylus -- switch for microgroove (45 & 33) or standard (78). Wore it out in six years, but that machine started my lifelong hobby of record collecting.
At 5:25, the Tower label, part of EMI's American subsidiary(junior member of EMI group), Capitol Industries. I have a Freddie & Dreamers single on that label, picked it up at a second-hand book & record shop in Newcastle(Australia) several years ago.
I LOVE this player! I had one similar & they really sound good... sold it to a kid who was gonna buy a Crosley! I talked him out of it & sold him the Symphonic for $75 & he LOVES it!
Very nice! My first record player from the mid 50s was a Symphonic. I am partial to them and own many. That was one of their more deluxe models I guess. And I love the Cricket children's 78 of Puff The Magic Dragon at the end. I had a few Cricket 78s as well as 45s as a child. This must have been one of their last 78s issued as the song was early 60s. Children's records were the last 78s, at least in the US.
Picnic or sewing basket? Nice. They sure made the head of the tonearm big. Even my dad's Silvertone from 1955 had a skinny head. (Long gone now) I envy your record collection. I have a lot but none of those on vinyl or shellac.
In the big scheme of things you got your AM station through TH-cam even though they are strict about the silly copyright but you're still getting to play some content that is good through good machine sso you fix
Now that's a nice find, very cool record player. I'm guessing you had to alter the tracking force for the new cartridge...if memory serves, those old Astatics tracked around 10 grams, if not higher. About Symphonic; yeah, they were known for their lower-end stuff, but they also produced some higher quality units too. I have a 1960 Symphonic High Fidelity phonograph....push-pull 50C5's, twin 6" speakers (mono), separate bass/treble controls, and it came with a ceramic cartridge. It doesn't sound half bad.
The Radio Shack one is super cute. -but it's for worn out things and those whimsy kids discs. Entirely valuable, though because those discs would screw a stylus up fast for playing the clean new ones. Remember Coleco Football, Mr. Professor? those things got so sledgehammered or just tossed. probably bank high now.
i just got an old symphonic which looks very similar to this except it is a one tube 25L6 type. the amp works, it turns ,changes speed but the cartridge is trashed. what is a cheap universal type i can use ?i dont want to spend much money because i already paid 20 bucks.if need be i can add a tube preamp stage as thats my forte and i have tons of tube sockets and various radio tubes and components i can use. thank you i just need advice on a something to get this working for fun. thank you sir and i enjoy your videos
wow that record player sounds amazing and most of that is due to it being vintage what a great job as always can you tell me the song andartist playing at 6:00 minutes into the video on the rca victor ep record thanks and please keep the great videos and work coming
Hi all your vids are awesome about radio-phonograph, thanks!!! I have one a RCA Victor Radio-Phono Combination Mode L-200, my problem is it only run at speed of 32.20 rpm, is this normal? thank you in advance!!!
Good old Puff the Magic Dragon, used to put that on the jukebox as a kid. brings back memories. Recently found a player similar to the one shown in the video. Portable 50's record player. Problem is that it uses the 3 volt cartridge, hopefully it works as is once recapped.
There are strong opinions on both sides of the topic. Personally, if after a thorough evaluation, the selenium rectifier appears to be fully functional, and a strong performer, I leave it in-circuit, re-calculate/install a new dropping resistor, and install a .75A to 1.25A fast-acting pigtail (on the supply side of the rectifier) to protect it, and the device from damage in the event that it does blow. Not to mention the obligatory re-cap.
***** This one looks good and has strong output. Over the years, I've seen a few of them burn up; but, most of the bad ones that I've dealt with had weak output.
I heard this song at 5:34 is "Barefoot in Baltimore" by Strawberry Alarm Clock. This is not that bad than "Incense and Peppermints" which was their only big hit.
That Tower label was Capitol's imprint for carrying some British acts like Freddy & The Dreamers into the US market. Capitol should've been using the His Master's Voice brand(not RCA) to carry ALL of EMI's British and Australian artists & groups rosters across ALL of EMI's labels, HMV, Columbia and Parlophone/Apple plus any other British-based EMI client label. That way, Herman's Hermits(M-G-M), Gerry & The Pacemakers(Laurie), The Hollies(Liberty, then CBS-Epic), Lulu(CBS-Epic), Manfred Mann(United Artists) and others would all be represented by EMI's US subsidiary. I only mentioned the British acts because America has hardly ever heard of our Aussie singers & groups (except for a few here & there).
At 6 years old, my first phonograph was a 1956 Symphonic 3-speed portable in a lime-green fiber board luggage style cabinet. One tube amplifier. It too had the pop-up 45 adapter and metal grill over the speaker. Manufactured in Boston Mass. My player had a metal tonearm with a ceramic cartridge. There was a knob at the end of the cartridge to select the proper stylus -- switch for microgroove (45 & 33) or standard (78). Wore it out in six years, but that machine started my lifelong hobby of record collecting.
That sounds unbelievably clear and LOUD, considering it only has one speaker! Great job!
At 5:25, the Tower label, part of EMI's American subsidiary(junior member of EMI group), Capitol Industries. I have a Freddie & Dreamers single on that label, picked it up at a second-hand book & record shop in Newcastle(Australia) several years ago.
I LOVE this player! I had one similar & they really sound good... sold it to a kid who was gonna buy a Crosley! I talked him out of it & sold him the Symphonic for $75 & he LOVES it!
SUCH a great video! I just picked up one of these players off eBay and I hope I can get it to sound this well. You're extremely skilled!
this sounds amazing for it's size it sounds so much better then the crapsly's . nothing can ever touch the quality of vintage audio bravo
nice suitcase Bryan. I had one of these long ago, I remember it gave me a good shock.
Oof
Looks and performs as it did when it was brand new, sixty years ago!! Nice job, Bryan!
Very nice!
My first record player from the mid 50s was a Symphonic. I am partial to them and own many.
That was one of their more deluxe models I guess.
And I love the Cricket children's 78 of Puff The Magic Dragon at the end. I had a few Cricket 78s as well as 45s as a child. This must have been one of their last 78s issued as the song was early 60s. Children's records were the last 78s, at least in the US.
Sounds amazing ,another great save
Thanks for all your great videos. ....Ahh...this was my first record player in 1973. (I'm 52.)
Those 78s are always surprising to me how nice the sound.
Picnic or sewing basket? Nice.
They sure made the head of the tonearm big. Even my dad's Silvertone from 1955 had a skinny head. (Long gone now)
I envy your record collection. I have a lot but none of those on vinyl or shellac.
Nice repair, great little record player.
In the big scheme of things you got your AM station through TH-cam even though they are strict about the silly copyright but you're still getting to play some content that is good through good machine sso you fix
Very nice and that worn record sure sounded good !
Well done has always. Mr Radiophonotvnut.
All the best.
Bobby
Is it true that the song "60 minute man" was denied airplay due to it being too risque?
It looks like my Mom's traveling vanity case from the 1950's.
Now that's a nice find, very cool record player. I'm guessing you had to alter the tracking force for the new cartridge...if memory serves, those old Astatics tracked around 10 grams, if not higher.
About Symphonic; yeah, they were known for their lower-end stuff, but they also produced some higher quality units too. I have a 1960 Symphonic High Fidelity phonograph....push-pull 50C5's, twin 6" speakers (mono), separate bass/treble controls, and it came with a ceramic cartridge. It doesn't sound half bad.
before I even watch, this is like 360X better than the Radio shack 1 lol.. much love.
It is and I had no trouble finding it a home. I figure if anyone buys the RS one, it will be more for it's looks than it's sound quality.
The Radio Shack one is super cute. -but it's for worn out things and those whimsy kids discs. Entirely valuable, though because those discs would screw a stylus up fast for playing the clean new ones. Remember Coleco Football, Mr. Professor? those things got so sledgehammered or just tossed. probably bank high now.
i just got an old symphonic which looks very similar to this except it is a one tube 25L6 type. the amp works, it turns ,changes speed but the cartridge is trashed. what is a cheap universal type i can use ?i dont want to spend much money because i already paid 20 bucks.if need be i can add a tube preamp stage as thats my forte and i have tons of tube sockets and various radio tubes and components i can use. thank you i just need advice on a something to get this working for fun. thank you sir and i enjoy your videos
Do you have a store where you sell these vintage record players you fix up?
What are the names of the songs you play in this video?
what was the name of the first 45 you played on the old Columbia records label, ?
, it sounds like Ray Price singing
Love the vintage Record player's
wow that record player sounds amazing and most of that is due to it being vintage what a great job as always can you tell me the song andartist playing at 6:00 minutes into the video on the rca victor ep record thanks and please keep the great videos and work coming
Elvis, no?
Hi all your vids are awesome about radio-phonograph, thanks!!! I have one a RCA Victor Radio-Phono Combination Mode L-200, my problem is it only run at speed of 32.20 rpm, is this normal? thank you in advance!!!
Good old Puff the Magic Dragon, used to put that on the jukebox as a kid. brings back memories.
Recently found a player similar to the one shown in the video. Portable 50's record player. Problem is that it uses the 3 volt cartridge, hopefully it works as is once recapped.
I post old Seeburg 1000 background music record compilations on my channel If you are interested :)
Love this record player i wish I lived around you so I can trade a cou
Hello +radiotvphononut can I ask since this was uploaded a year ago, do you know the name of this record player please?
Nice work! I'm just curious.....wouldn't it be a good practice to replace the selenium rectifier with a modern silicon diode?
There are strong opinions on both sides of the topic. Personally, if after a thorough evaluation, the selenium rectifier appears to be fully functional, and a strong performer, I leave it in-circuit, re-calculate/install a new dropping resistor, and install a .75A to 1.25A fast-acting pigtail (on the supply side of the rectifier) to protect it, and the device from damage in the event that it does blow. Not to mention the obligatory re-cap.
***** This one looks good and has strong output. Over the years, I've seen a few of them burn up; but, most of the bad ones that I've dealt with had weak output.
Agreed, that's been my observation, too. By the way, this is definitely one of the nicest phonographs that I've seen from that era, a great find!!
I heard this song at 5:34 is "Barefoot in Baltimore" by Strawberry Alarm Clock. This is not that bad than "Incense and Peppermints" which was their only big hit.
This is a rare one and it's works
Success!
Cute!
A couple of mine in
That's a nice looker! Even the dc motor dosent seem bad. Was first commenter. :(
That Tower label was Capitol's imprint for carrying some British acts like Freddy & The Dreamers into the US market. Capitol should've been using the His Master's Voice brand(not RCA) to carry ALL of EMI's British and Australian artists & groups rosters across ALL of EMI's labels, HMV, Columbia and Parlophone/Apple plus any other British-based EMI client label. That way, Herman's Hermits(M-G-M), Gerry & The Pacemakers(Laurie), The Hollies(Liberty, then CBS-Epic), Lulu(CBS-Epic), Manfred Mann(United Artists) and others would all be represented by EMI's US subsidiary. I only mentioned the British acts because America has hardly ever heard of our Aussie singers & groups (except for a few here & there).
I have that Elvis one