Epic Nu-Disks

In 1979, Epic Records introduced the Nu-Disk.

 

The Nu-Disk was a 10" inch extended play mini-album, or EP. It was made mostly as a promotional gimmick for mostly newer rock acts on the label.

However records of a 10" inch size weren't "Nu". In fact, most of the very first 33 1/3 LPs from 1948 to 1955 were 10" inches and that size was actually considered standard and many automatic record changers well into the 1970s had a 10" size selector. But the 12" LP began to overtake the 10" and with the exception of a few rare pressings, the 10" album size was largely retired until Nu-Disk.

Only a handful of titles were released in the Nu-Disk format before CBS retired the format in 1981 due to public indifference. All further EPs were 7" or 12".

 

 

Brother Charisma II Stereo

I found this on eBay. It's a SUPER rare Brother Charisma II stereo.

 

 

 

Reader's Digest......Electronics?

You probably don't instantly think of your grandma's favourite magazine when it comes to audio equipment. But it is true. Reader's Digest really did sell stereos, radios and tape machines under their own brand name in the '60s, '70s and '80s.

1950's Spear Phonograph

Spear child's phonograph from the 1950s. These were very common phonographs. As I've mentioned before, this was at the time when the "grown-ups" began switching over to the new 33 and 45 RPM speeds. And most childrens records were still pressed at 78 rpm.

The Spear was interesting in while the turntable itself was electrically powered, the sound itself was acoustically reproduced with no amplification!
It didn't sound too bad either. But the very LAST thing I would play on this is a very rare 5" Little Wonder record from the 1910s as shown here...

The Regina Hexaphone (1908-1916)

 

The Regina Hexaphone (no, we're not talking about the popular North Carolina band) was the very first successful fully automatic coin operated jukebox. It played six cylinder records in a rotating selector instead of flat discs.

The Regina Company, established in 1889 originally made music boxes (among them, coin operated jukebox prototypes.) But competition from the phonograph forced them to expand into coin operated cylinder phonograph players

Photo: Mr. Victor

But you may know Regina best for their vacuum cleaners.

The Phono-Sonic Fireplace/Liquor Cabinet Stereo

 

It looked like a gorgeous (artificial) fireplace.....

.....that turns into an awesome stereo/liquor cabinet.

The Phono-Sonic Liquor Cabinet/Stereo w/ artificial fireplace is one of the coolest designs ever for a console stereo. Surprisingly, it was also made and imported from communist East Germany for the American market. Like the Soundesign Trendsetter, they are extremely rare in good condition.

They originally came with 3 speed turntables (33/45/78 RPM) AM/FM Stereo receivers and 8-Track tape decks, but cassette decks were added in the late '70s. The speakers were enclosed behind the red velvet and latticework on either side of the fireplace. The cheese points are off the scale with this one!

 

The Ohio Art Mighty Tiny Record Player

Is it just me or does the girl on the box of the Ohio Art Mighty Tiny Record Player bear an eerie resemblance to comic strip character Nancy? 

In 1970, Ohio Art (famous for the Etch-A-Sketch) invented a new toy phonograph, named the Mighty Tiny Record Player, hailed as the "World's Smallest Record Player".

The Mighty Tiny used tiny 2" inch records custom recorded and manufactured for the Ohio Art Company specifically for the Mighty Tiny. The records had a playing time of a few seconds each.

The records were so small, there was no room for printed or etched information on the discs. There was only a number on them and you had to match them to a corresponding number on the disc's sleeve.

The playing system was essentially a steel needle attached to a thin steel bar, which vibrated against a thin inverted plastic dome, which acted as the diaphragm/speaker. There was no volume control. Power was activated when the record placed on the turntable and the lid was closed. Playing acoustically with no electronic amplification, there was no earphone jack.

The unit came with three randomly selected records.

The turntable was powered by one 'AA' battery and had an adjustable speed control. But the actual speed of the cheap motor was unknown (it's believed somewhere around 100 RPM!) and it was never constant and 'fluttered'. But hey, it was a cheap toy for little kids. Not a Bang & Olufsen audiophile turntable.

Another model of the Mighty Tiny was called the Stereoper, which resembled a console stereo. Contrary to what the name may insinuate, it did not reproduce "stereo" sound. There were also little storage cases for your Mighty Tiny record collection. 

The recordings themselves sold in packs of four. I believe there were somewhere around 60 titles (though the actual number is unknown.) None of these recordings have ever appeared in any other conventional format.

 

  

 

  

Liberty Proudly Presents STEREO...The Visual Sound (1959)

From the Golden Age of Stereo Demonstration LPs!

Super Cool Psychedelic Vinyl Record

Plastic Infinite from Sculpture on Vimeo.

Red Raven Magic Mirror Records

The Red Raven Magic Mirror Records were a children's toy of the 1950s. They used a series of specially made vinyl 78 RPM records with a very large label which reflected off an angled spinning mirror which resembled a carousel which was placed over the spindle of the player, giving the illusion of motion.

 

 

 There were only around 20 known titles to the "movie record" series.