Searching For A Turntable To Play 78 RPM Records
06.14.07 By Deanna Dahlsad
Saturday once again found Derek and I prowling through rummage sales, thrift stores and more. This time we were on a mission. One of our record players decided to die and we need to replace it — it’s the one that played 78’s. I know, I know; I can hear you all wailing, “Oh no, you can’t play your 78’s?!” So we had to remedy that.
No luck at the first five sales. At number six, we got real excited because we saw two record players. Derek, normally nonchalant, broke his cool and ran to them. Only one had a setting for 78’s — but upon plugging it in, the “yeah, sure it works” record player didn’t. Hopes raised; hopes crashed. Bummer.
Don’t get me wrong, we were having fun and bought a few things, including more 78’s. This only reminded us that we needed to find that turntable.
We kept on with the search.
A few more sales later and we decided to try the thrift stores too. No luck at any of them — and I mean not a single record player (not even the Playskool close ‘n play types). Desperate, we went to the pawn shops. No luck there either.
Heading back towards home, we try one last thrift shop. (It’s never easy to just give up — even if only for the day.) There we see the two consoles we had said “no thanks” to on Friday (for I’m just telling you about one day in our quest). But we see no other record players at all.
The quest over for now, Derek and I split up to look at what else is available.
There’s a special, 50% off wall mirrors, pictures and frames, so I walk the store’s outer edge looking at what’s on the walls. Every now and then I have to skirt a table of stuff and I take my eyes off the wall for a few seconds. About half-way around the store, I notice I am skirting around a lovely looking wooden piece of furniture. A short dresser maybe?
I pull open the left ‘drawer’ and low and behold, there’s an old radio in there! I look at the top, with the ugly lamps and the Beanie Baby. Does it lift? Could this be a console? One with a turntable that plays 78’s?!
I rush off in search of Derek. It takes me quite a few minutes to locate him — he’d vanished down an isle of 10 to 12 feet of vintage vinyl (I should have known!)
I drag him over to my find.
He pulls the right ‘drawer’ and not only is it a turntable, not only does it play 78’s — but it records too!
Yup, a Wilcox-Gay Recordio (either model 7D44 or 7E44). Circa 1939-1948 (tape recording came along after 1948, rendering the disc machines obsolete) this is a beauty.
Unlike so many consoles, not only is it taller than average (35 inches) and smaller than average (34.5 inches wide), but since the radio and phonograph are inside the pull-out sections you need not keep the top clear to use it. (You know how I love my flat-topped furniture pieces.) And look at that front! That’s high-style, my friends, high-style.
Now the bad news.
The cord is literally cut in two and tied together, so we can’t plug it in to see if it works at all. “No matter,” I say. “You can fix it, get tubes or whatever it needs, right, baby?” Derek nods. (He’s got a gleam in his eye as he stares at that arm that reads “Recordio” — visions of family recordings and other audio oddities are dancing in his head.)
One problem solved.
Problem two is more difficult. With a modest price tag, we still can’t afford it. What to do?!
Thankfully, my birthday is this month and my mother in law was looking for gift ideas… Long story short, she and my father in law bought me the Recordio as an early birthday present. Hooray!
All’s well that ends well.
(And when we get to work on her — re-wiring and whatnot — we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the details.)
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Article Tags: 78's, console, record player, Recordio, turntable, vinyl, Wilcox-Gray================
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June 14th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Lucky for you, blank recordio discs have been ALL OVER eBay! At least last month they were…. I’m jealous of your find!
Now, it’s the needle I’d be worried about. I really wouldn’t suggest playing 78s on this thing, since they’re notoriously rough on needles (and require a special sized needle, also, for proper playing) and a replacement might cost as much as the cabinet itself). A great alternative to play 78s is the cheap Numark PT-01, which does all 3 speeds and has audio out jacks, as well as an internet speaker AND cheap needles!
This reminds me that I need to archive my huge collection of used recordios.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:33 am
There are two arms… are both needles the same? I have no idea what I’ve gotten myself (and Derek) into with this… But that’s half the fun, right?
July 20th, 2007 at 3:43 am
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January 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I have inherited two 78 rpm home recordings made on a Wilcox Gay Recordio machine in 1949 and 1951. Playing them on a Crosley record player with the tone arm balanced to play 78s but with a 33 needle there is a lot of record noise. I know there are a variety of materials used to make needles and have read that it is best to play the records with the same needle type and speed as they were recorded with but how do I find out what that was?
March 10th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
[...] an example. On Sunday, while I waited for my in-laws to purchase my birthday gift (and for the thrift shop muscle to help load it onto the van), I took the [...]
March 11th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
[...] is a late-model Wilcox-Gay Recordio Portable. If you remember, the Wifey got a console Recordio for her birthday this summer — and two months later, we were drooling over the machine above at a sale. We almost did a [...]
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
We are interested in getting rid of a 1964 Magnavox stereo which plays 78’s and has a radio. It is a console which measures 50″ X 18 1/2″ and is about 28″ tall. It is light wood - maybe walnut or pecan. We have some records also - Mitch Miller, one Elvis, Don Ho, Johnny Mathis. I would have to get them all out to tell more detail. Could you give me some ideas as to who would be like these. We can give the stereo to charity but thought we might be able to sell the records to a collector.
thanks, Pat
July 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hi, enjoyed your web page. I’ve got a Recordio portable model 78 RPM record recorder that has been in my family since 1956. It does not have a tape recorder but still has 20 shiny new (uncut) 78 records with it, in their original shipping box from Allied Radio Corporation, Chicago 80, Illinois. It was in working order last time it was pulled out of mothballs, but now it gives off a fairly loud hum when switched on, which probably means some tubes need replacing. I would like to plavce this item on Ebay and wondered if you might have any idea as to its value. Thanks, Peter
July 20th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Peter, as always we recommend doing a search on eBay and RubyLane, Tias, etc, for prices listed at — and sold at. It’s an idea of the current market value. (And remember, don’t get too excited by high prices in listings if it hasn’t sold — it’s still there for a reason!) For more on evaluating items, see this post: http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/01/31/values-to-sell-or-not-to-sell-that-is-the-question/
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
HI I have a TELEDYNE PACKARD BELL [ GARRARD 2025 TC MANUAL] STATION SEEKING TUNING/PLAYS 78′S RECORDS AND 45′S SPOT TO HOLD 78′S. AM’FM BROWN OAK. 71 in long 26 in height
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
HI I have a TELEDYNE PACKARD BELL [ GARRARD 2025 TC MANUAL] STATION SEEKING TUNING/PLAYS 78′S RECORDS AND 45′S SPOT TO HOLD 78′S. AM’FM BROWN OAK. 71 in long 26 in height. ITS FOR SELL.