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Strange Philco player attachment - Printable Version

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Strange Philco player attachment - Doug Houston - 12-24-2005

Almost forgot about it, but I've had an interesting phonograph attachment in the collection for a few years. It has the conventional turntable, but the pickup head is on a sliding rod in the lid of the case. When the lid is opened, it slides down to the start position for playing. Close the lid and the pickup contacts the record and plays it. The travel of the pickup across the record is purely linear, so there is no tracking error. I remember seeing something on this in an article somewhere, but I can't find a model number on it, so I've turned to Ron R. and quizzed him about it.

In playing a record, you have to play the disc from the beginning. You can't cue in along the playing surface. If you lift the lid, you start over again. It might be correct to say that it's TOO automatic! There also is no provision for playing a 12 inch record.

- Ron Ramirez - 12-24-2005

Here's Doug's phonograph attachment:

[Image: http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k420/mrphilco/Phorum%20Stuff/cdh_3910rp.jpg]

It sure looks like a Model 39-10RP. Here's a picture from Philco's 1939 dealer catalog (colorized by me):

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/images/1939/3910rp.jpg]

Interesting how the catalog claims it can be used with 10 or 12 inch records; I don't see how you could play a 12 inch 78 on this unit, as Doug said. I think someone got a little carried away in the sales pitch, frankly. There is no other good info in the dealer catalog about it, just a lot of hype. I can add that it originally sold for $25.

I have a similar unit, with a built-in radio. It is Model 39-12TP and is shown below.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/images/1939/3912tpb.jpg]

This also has the same pickup head arrangement. I haven't measured it yet but I don't think it would play a 12 inch disc, either; Philco's dealer catalog claims to the contrary.

This unit was supposed to include the "popular Philco 12T" (38-12) chassis, but mine has the (nearly identical) 39-6 chassis instead. It sold for $49.95.

The later wireless Model RP-3 also used a linear tracking arrangement. Interesting how this concept didn't seem to go over at the time, only to be resurrected toward the end of the LP era in high-priced turntables.

- panther - 01-26-2006

What program did you use to colorize that photo ?
Dan('Icon_eek')

- Ron Ramirez - 01-26-2006

An old version of Paint Shop Pro (4.14). Took the factory black and white illustration, colorized it, adjusted the hue and saturation...voila. Not perfect, but a decent illustration, I think.