Mid '60's Symphonic AC/battery automatic record player
 

I just got my hands on this mid '60's Symphonic record player that will either run on AC or six D-cell batteries and it's one of the few battery operated models that I've seen that uses a full size record changer (most others are either manually operated or use a BSR mini-changer). Much to my surprise, the cartridge still has good output and except for some bad hiss (sounds like a bad germanium transistor), it sounds good - much better than expected. Unfortunately, it looks like batteries leaked all over the place and that's likely what caused the case covering to lift. When I get caught up, I'll give it a proper restoration and it should be good for another 50 years.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...pseja7vv92.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...psmysmps8w.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...pszfp2tbqw.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...psyp04vliu.jpg

Is this the same Symphonic brand as the Funai one?

I think they were their own brand from the '40's until the late '60's. Then, the brand was sold a time or two before it became a Funai brand. By the mid '80's, I think they were a Funai brand.

A lot of the Symphonic products were really surprising. I have a Symphonic amp, that was pulled from a scrap console, 2, 6L6,s 2 12AX7's and a 5U4. The output transformer is almost as large as the power transformer. The FM tuner is a rebadged Harmon Cardon. Probably as good as the other offerings, from the big names.
It seems like they made portable phono's for the record companies like Decca. The one-tube wonders. :scratch2:

This looks like a cross breed. A lot of US parts
but the PCB looks Jap. Still see lots of battery
TT's in use at record shows. Also when the Jamaican
apple pickers were in town they had them & I sold
lots of fork needles. On there day off they would
have a big rum & records party.

73 Zeno:smoke:

Hey Mon! I wonder how long the "D" cells lasted? Carbon-zinc cells were rated for one ampere-hour. According to the ratings label, it states: 120V, 30W. It must be close to 30 watts, running from batteries. :sigh: