As a family, we’re always on the lookout for used record players. Over the past five years, they’ve become rarer and rarer to find at thriftshops, rummage sales, and auctions. Especially the ones we prefer: the ones that also play 16rpm and 78rpm disks, or lack auto-arm-return action. I’m also slowly amassing parts to build my own homebrew record turntable for 16″ transcription records — but that’s another story. I’ve got a bunch of stereo-component turntables, but we also don’t pass up some slick portables. You know ‘em, and for people older than 25 it was probably the first kind of record player they owned. These simple little machines unfolded from a briefcase form-factor, uncovering a turntable, small amplifier, and basic controls. Most even required AC — not enough battery power to keep that platter spinning. What follows are some of the turntables that have came into our possession in the past year.
Today we went to an auction. It had all the promise of some dirt-cheap junk: there was no advertisement in the paper, it was going at the same time as a high-end antiques auction across town, and it was a farm household auction of an elderly couple that moved into town (i.e. everything they thought was crap, too). We can’t pass up the prospect of packing our van with dollar-lot boxes, so we went — and got the added bonus of an auctioneer I’d never watched before, who had horrible jokes and was getting tired of all the low bids so he started picking on people in the audience that he knew. Well worth the $10 we spent. In that ten dollars, we spent two dollars on the next two portable record players:
This is a ‘harvest gold’ General Electric Wildcat. The Wildcat was released for several years in the late 60s and early 70s, I believe, and people still have soft spots for them today (if they’re not pimping them out instead). We did a good job with this one — it works beautifully. I plugged it in, dropped the needle, and Wifey and I two-stepped to a couple minutes of Tommy Dorsey before I moved on to the second player we bought:
A gray GE Wildcat. This one, however, did not get through life in as good of health as its younger harvest-gold relative. It seemed to have been stepped on — the auto-drop arm was bent down until it touched the platter. “I’ll just bend it back,” I figured, and using my mighty strength it went “pingt” (yes, exactly that noise), and now I held part of the record player in my left hand, no longer attached to where it would do any good. It doesn’t impede actually playing records, just the changer, but playing records isn’t any good, either. The knob controls are all very dirty and the right channel doesn’t work quite right. Oh, well — to the spare parts shelf it goes!
This next portable is a bit of a cheat — it actually returned to my possession this year, although it never left the house. Our kids have had the record-album bug for quite a while, and until my daughter upgraded to an all-in-one bookshelf turntable this summer, this was her main-use record player:
This is a vintage early-1980s Fisher-Price turntable, bought when I was a kid. The record player lived in my parents’ basement until they bought a new needle for it and gave it to my daughter a few years ago. It still works great, despite being beat upon by myself and my siblings (that red on the player is fingernail polish ‘racing stripes’ added by my sister), although the player has always had a notorious hiss. Made by Fisher-Price, it’s built like a tank, which makes it a good portable ‘tester’ for playing records in the kitchen or basement, without having to mess with the nice stereo in the living room.
This past summer, we stopped at a rummage sale — you know the one, where the actual owner is off running errands and the person left in charge has no idea what anything is priced. Sometimes, it’s a pain and nothing is negotiable for fear of making their friend angry by underselling their stuff, but sometimes good deals come because the person in charge was instructed to just sell everything. We got this lovely player and a stack of 45s for a song:
This cute bugger is an Imperial “Party-Time” portable record player. The suitcase it lives in is made of cardboard and paper — I don’t know how these ever survived more than a few weeks. This one not only survived, but still works. It proudly advertises its ‘solid-state’ technology, meaning there’s no need to wait for tubes to warm up. Looking at a machine like this, it reminds just how simple it is to play a record: a motor with properly-reduced pulleys, a couple transistors, a speaker, and a needle, and it can play a hundred years of recordings. The Party-Time has no automatic needle-drop, no auto-changer, and only two speeds, but has all the same features as the Fisher-Price player that’s twenty years younger.
At another sale this summer, an estate sale this time, we met the cadillac of portable record players:
This 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 profoundly stupid thing..the player was marked $20, but the next day of the sale was going to be 1/2-price-day. We debated coming back the next morning, in hopes that the machine would still be there — but, luckily, we regained our senses and determined that a clean, working Recordio with blank paper records wasn’t going to fall into our laps at even $20 ever again, so we bought it right then and there. Sadly, we haven’t taken the time to play with it yet; someday, soon, we’ll be able to record outselves on little enameled pieces of paper, and play them back in all their wow-y and rumbly splendor.
Tags: , 45s, Fisher-Price, GE, harvest gold, portable, record player, turntable, Wildcat
Permalink | 37 Comments »
February 17th, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Boy, how nice that you and ‘wifey’ still do the two-step to older records. I have a newer version but somehow lock in to the CDs – will have to start pulling out and dusting off the oldies – nice article!
June 14th, 2008 at 8:09 AM
I too have an Imperial “Party-Time record player , red and white cover bottom is solid red with 3 speeds
Any idea when they were made ?
I have looked on mine and see no date of any kind
Thanks you , Laurie
July 30th, 2008 at 11:19 AM
looking for an old early 70s late 60s slot record player use to slide records in through the top my old dad had one when i was a kid, do not know who made it may have been Alba or philps it us to played a hell of a lot when we went away, use to take all my records in the back of our ford Angila or AUSTIN A35 great times still have the records but the player i rember it needed a new styles could not get one back then in the 80s i think it got chucked out ,if i still had it proberly get one now, would like to hold of one if there are any about.
Tony uk
August 13th, 2008 at 4:36 PM
http://cgi.ebay.com/RECORD-PLAYER-45-BY-MASTERWORK-VERY-NICE-DIFFERENT_W0QQitemZ170249269580QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170249269580&_trkparms=72%3A1073%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&timeout=1218659561571
August 13th, 2008 at 5:17 PM
I am too looking for a record player I saw years ago it was a battery operated record player which was a suitcase type and it only played 45′s. The battery compartment was on the back left side of the unit as you are looking at the back. It had a round cap which you remove a screw, slide to one side and insert 4 d cell batteries. It had a white base with a red lid and the case of the record player had like a canvas colored material probably some kind of plastic. The speaker was located in front of the player facing you as you were in front of the player. From what I remember 45 years ago in 1963 it sounded pretty good. I would appreciate if any one knows the company who made it or where I could buy one thanks.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:39 PM
I have a G.E wildcat record player.Model#V936J,it playes 33/45/78.It needs a needle.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I Have a GE Superstar record player. It red white and blue. Purchased late 60s Want to know its value
February 15th, 2009 at 9:46 AM
I have a phillips stereo 4- speed record player. In working condition. Would like to know its value and sell it.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I have a Winnie the Pooh record player date code is 5504 Sears Roebuck and company partial model number is 384.3247041 excellent condition would like to know the value of it please. I would like to sell it. Thank you for your time.
April 20th, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I’m looking for something like this record player (had it in 1981-1982) that was a portable suitcase style and had 3 speeds on it and was black & white checkered (if i recall correctly) and had a plastic panel that was “bubbly” textured that would flash red, green, blue lights from behind the panel.
Any ideas on what this was or who made it? It’s bugging me!
Thanks!
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I have a 1963 Jenson (Montgomery Ward) tabletop Hi Fi
that needs some minor work. I live in San Diego, CA.
Is there any one local who could work on this for me?
My Herb Alpert records aren’t getting any younger!
November 1st, 2009 at 3:45 AM
Nice site. I have a lot of older record players most have something fairly minor wrong with them but willing to deal on them.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 AM
Great site. just come across it by chance. I would like to ask a question if I may. I am after record player from the mid to late sixties. This particular one was light blue in colour, played only 45′s and you pushed the record in from the front like car CD players.
would like to hear from anyone with any info.
December 12th, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Anybody have any information on a Columbia Masterworks portable blue & green 4 speed turntable…I just got reunited with this unit after about 40 years….found my exact unit on a local craigslist ad…and yes, I mean exact (including the Bud-man, STP, and Elmers glue bumper stickers). It works fine, but would like to know what/where they originally sold…I thought they were a promotional unit given away by Columbia when you bought some record set deal…maybe not….
December 18th, 2009 at 8:54 PM
I have a GE Wildcat Stereo Model #V955g 30 watts power that someone before me removed the speakers from. Either need the speakers or wiring dia. for a replacement set. Look like 2″ X 5 ” They did not clip the leads so that’s good. I’d also like to get the replacement flip-over needle {diamond} 78/LP.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:53 PM
I have a bush portble walkabout 7″ recod player with casette does anyone know if these were mass produced and what would the value be i would say produced early 60s
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:37 AM
I was hoping to locate repair for my Masterwork 45 rpm player. The model is called The Rover. It is battery-operated (C-cell, 1.5volt), and the 45 slides in thru a slot at the top, near the handle. It is light blue, has a volume knob and “reject” button, and made in Italy. My closet shelf fell and there it was, at the back. Since I probably won’t find someone who can repair it, I think I’ll take it apart and tinker with it.
April 27th, 2010 at 6:20 AM
How’s the Imperial Party Time working? I’ve been keeping my eye out on one but I want some feedback about it. It’s adorable!
June 13th, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Hi there . I have a Telefunken Stromboli imperial chassis 408 record player/ radio table. Made in West Germany. model # 6836. Was wondering if it was worth anything???
July 14th, 2010 at 10:38 AM
I have an RCA VICTOR portable record player that has 4 speeds (16, 33, 45, 78). It is in a yellow-gold plastic suitcase. Part of the model number is missing ?VLP12N. Do you have any idea of its production date or current worth. It is in excellent condition and still plys well.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:39 AM
I have an RCA VICTOR portable record player that has 4 speeds (16, 33, 45, 78). It is in a yellow-gold plastic suitcase. Part of the model number is missing ?VLP12N. Do you have any idea of its production date or current worth. It is in excellent condition and still plays well.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:45 AM
I have a Phillips slot machine think they came out in the early sixties I’ve never seen any for sale before I was wondering what it would be worth now
It’s never bin used before still has the original solder on the wires unfortunately I through the box away many years ago! Like a fool
August 4th, 2010 at 8:27 PM
Hello – I to collect these old portable players to repair and resell. I am currently working on an RCA wildcat like he one pictured on your site . mine has some return linkage problem , so I’m looking for info. I also see that your interested in building a 16″ player. I built one last spring, from very common parts that I found at thrift stores. ($25 total) The tone arm will weigh down to 1 gram of pressure for playing 16″ acetates. iIt turned out really cool, and if your interested I could send some pix your way. Let me know – Tim
August 11th, 2010 at 6:03 AM
Help
Just perchased Philips portable record player no model or name on outside small Philips badge on inside Looks like ladies pear shaped vanity case brown leather finnish 4 speeds 78 45 33 15 rpm cant find any info on this other than on you tube there is a 5 min video of exactly the same player but with no commentry or info can be seen by putting in philips leather portable vintage record player.
Hope some one can help.
Thanks
Dave
September 2nd, 2010 at 4:24 PM
I have a imperial party time record player. It has a rainbow pattern on the inside of the led. The outer top cover has a white and blue stripes an the bottom is blue. It plays 33 an 45 records. Its in great shape with little ware on the corners. It works great. Its hard to believe being made of cardboard that its still around. I would like to sell it but dont know what their worth?
September 24th, 2010 at 6:47 AM
I have a portable Masterwork (The Rover) blue record player. It plays only the 45 size records. It is in very good condition. Do you know how much it is worth? It is powered by 8 D size batteries. I received it around 1969.
I would like to sell it.
Thank you.
September 26th, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Hi, We have a portable Ge Wildcat. We are missing the cartidge and needle for it. Does anyone know where we can get one from. Thanks Kit and Kathy
November 8th, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Hello. I have an Imperial Party-Time record player very similar to yours which is pictured. The only difference is the outer case is not checkered (one solid color all the way around) and appears to be made out of a leathery material. Would you happen to have any tips on what needles/cartridges are compatible? It doesn’t appear to have a needle at all, and I know nothing about phonographs in general, but could provide a picture of the cartridge if needed.
November 16th, 2010 at 11:57 AM
I have an Imperial Party Time that is the stand up version with red and white stripes and a red body and the multi-coloured flashing lights inside. It has been in my family since before I was born and still has the original needle but it just recently stopped playing sound out of the speaker so I think I need to hunt down a new needle unless there may be another cause I am not aware of.
To Ralph Hagen who posted on here: I would be very much interested in purchasing your blue model but I have no idea what they are worth either.
November 16th, 2010 at 6:04 PM
I just found an Imperial Party Time, red bottom w/red & white stripes, it works…looks like a new plug…has a Lady & The Tramp 45 on it. Do you know what these are worth? I did have to glue the top back together.
November 28th, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Cleaning out an older home. We have one Masterwork, solid state record player. Plays 16, 33, 45 and 78. Middle section folds down, leaving speakers on either side. Each speaker has it’s own volume switch. What do you think? Sell, junk???
January 4th, 2011 at 7:01 PM
I was curious if you still had the Rover and your asking price. I had two blue ones when I was young, the 1st one was stolen. They came from K-Mart, 14.99, blue-light 9.99, price increase about 4 yrs later to 19.99. These prices are for info, I don’t know what I want to pay. If you want to sell to a collector, I’m not a collector, I would be wanting to enjoy it like I did when I was younger. So contact me if it’s available for sale to be used. If not, I’ll understand. Thank you, Irene
March 14th, 2011 at 4:31 PM
I have a Silvertone Stero Solid State Record Player model#32681 that im interested in selling. Everything seems to work except the speakers need cleaned . I can hear it but not real loud. Any questions u can email me Thanks
July 27th, 2011 at 2:40 AM
I have a Winnie the pooh record player, sears and robuck, selling?
661-212-8081
November 14th, 2011 at 2:51 PM
My dad was a merchant marine and back in the late 70′s he brought me back a portable stereo system that when all closed up looked like a black breifcase with silver trim. To open you lifted one which became 2 stand alone speakers about 2 1/2 x 6 x 10 with a teal/blue woven cloth covering the speaker had 4 or 5 ft cords. The unit could by either AC or DC taking either 6 or eight C sized batteries. The second half laid flat diamentions about 24 x 30 x 3 and incorporated an AM/FM/SW (Short wave) along with two Cassette Player/Recorders with (Dolby) and a turntable. the way the turntable was situated, an LP partially hung over the top left quadrant as it played. If I remember correctly, it had maybe sliding control for thing like tone, balance, aux, mono/stereo, It was a well made great sounding system top of the line, that I had and used for several years until I stupidly lost my storage unit years and years ago, 20 + years later and I still miss it. If anyone has any knowledge of where I could find/start looking for items such as this or has any information one the possible make/model/type/category of this old portable stereo please let me know. I would love to find another one.
March 13th, 2012 at 4:59 PM
I AM SELLING 3 RECORD PLAYERS MADE BY SEARS, FISHER, AND PANASONIC..I DON’T LISTEN TO RECORDS SO I WANT TO GET RID OF THEM, BECAUSE ALL I’LL DO IS TAKE THEM APART FOR COMPONENTS..IF ANY ONE WNATS TO GET IN TOUCH PLEEEAASSE DO!!! 754)246-1605 ASK FOR BEAN
March 16th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Hi ,nice article.I went to a junk shop and picked up a small red suitcase or so I thought .Opened it up and it’s a record player (no auto or record stacker) and a radio.The lid comes off and there is a single 3 inch circular loudspeaker.It was made in New Zealand called a Dreco Music Maker.Have been on the internet but can’t find any info .I think it dates from the late 50′s early sixties.Any info would be welcome ,thanks,Mike