The PHILCO Phorum

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the common Philco 48-1201 "Bing Crosby" AM radio/78 rpm record player. Several years ago, I found a beat up version that was modified to play talking book records for the blind. On the back of the unit is a metal plate that reads, "Talking Book Reproducer, model AC-47, American Foundation for the Blind". I don't know if this unit was actually modified by Philco, of if these units were purchased from Philco and then modified by AFB.

There are several differences between the standard version and the talking book version. The TB version plays 33 rpm records, as well as 78 rpm records and the speed selector lever is located in the lower left hand corner of the machine. Library of Congress talking books were recorded at 33 1/3 rpm between '34 and the late '50's. Later records were recorded at 16 RPM and 8 RPM. The TB version has a device for placing the tonearm on any place on the record. This is accomplished by a wheel that, when rotated, lifts the tonearm, moves it over a little, and then drops it back on the record. This wheel is accessed through a hole that was added to the right hand side of the machine. There is also a pause lever on the rear of the machine that can be used to raise the tonearm. There is also a headphone jack on the rear of the machine and the tonearm is fitted with with what I believe to be a high output magnetic cartridge with a counterweight at the rear of the tonearm.

Like I said earlier, this model is in fairly rough shape and someone had performed some hack repairs to the chassis. It is currently taken apart in a box; but, I hope to someday restore it.

I also have an unrestored; but, decent looking, standard version and a parts (regular model) unit.

I'm legally blind myself and am a user of talking books (now on cassette tape and digital cartridges) and I have a collection of older "talking book" record players; so, I was happy to find this Philco/AFB model. So far, I've only found one other person who remembers this model. This person is also visually impaired and remembers this Philco model from his youth. He said that they were rare and couldn't believe that I found one.

Here are some pictures of it taken apart.





Pause control and tone arm placement mechanism:


Speed selector lever:

Hmmm. Never heard of such a thing as a Bing Crosby Special modified for Talking Book use.