Vintage Suitcase Record Player

Submitted by Michael Ely March 26th, 2011
Certifikitsch Winner
This is a vintage 1950’s suitcase record player. The outside is covered in synthetic green alligator skin. It plays 78, 33 1/3 and 45 records, and it still works fine, although you need to let the turntable warm up for a couple of minutes in order to hear the music. I have a large collection of old 78 rpm records that I play on it. I will share some of these records in the future.

7 Responses to “Vintage Suitcase Record Player”

  1. Allee Willis

    I love these old suitcase record players. I didn’t have this one but definitely had a 45’s carrying case that matched it.

    How great that this still works!

    One of the few things I have that was actually mine from childhood is my 45 player. Red and white case with all of the little yellow round 45 middles that you slip on the spindle to convert from 78 to 45 still intact. I think I still have some extra needles for it too. it’s sitting out proudly in my rec room.

  2. Michael Ely

    Forgot to mention….On the turntable is a paper record. It is a Packard-Bell phonOcord record, records that you could use to make your own home recordings. I have several of these records. Most contain the voices of wives and families saying hello to soldier husbands and dads who were stationed overseas during World War 2. I don’t know who the people are (they were living in Phoenix at the time), but it is interesting to listen to them, little slices of life.

  4. BRBill

    I’d have this just for the fake alligator cover. It’s great that it still works. By all means, let us see some of your 78s. Out of the thousands of lps, 45s, tapes, cds in the house, i only have a couple three 78s, mainly because i have no functional turntable. One of the 78s i do have is Hank Williams Mansion On The Hill. I did have a copy of Allons a Lafayette by Joe and Cleoma Falcon, the first Cajun record from the 1930s that i donated to UL Lafayette.