1946 Farnsworth Radio & Record player demonstration playing Walking my baby back home by Johnny Ray

Unusual 1946 Farnsworth Radio & Record player combination with art deco styled cabinet in good condition. Philo Farnsworth was the inventor of television. The radio is unusually quiet between selecting stations, the static is from the fluorescent lighting. The record changer is of unusual design. IT was desighed by Farnsworth, and The tonearm has a very odd angle to it. I presently have a magnetic or moving coil Radio station type 78rpm cartridge installed from the early 50's with a permanent stylus that is worn . I will replace it with an Astatic 78 cartridge of some type, but this is all I had at the present time. Farnsworth came up with two variations on the pusher type changer. This model posted, has a single pusher shelf, a spring loaded notched spindle, and has two sets of extra hooks that hold the record on both sides after the pusher acts, then simultaneously releases the record so it falls flat. This unit also senses the absence of records for automatic shutoff. The spindle is spring loaded and pops up without the weight of a record activating the automatic shut off mechanism. History of Farnsworth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_T._Farnsworth

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• inventor-of-television

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

Nice console and thanks for adding your video response to mine, because Nat King Cole's version is much better than the Johnny Ray one and it was from 1952. 78MAN has the UK Capitol 78 of the original version while I did a video response to the original 78 which is the stereo version of Nat King Cole where he re-recorded that song along with some old favorites that are in stereo, unlike "The Christmas Song".

[maynardcat]

The song was written in 1930 by Roy Turk. Nat King Cole had his version in Sept of 1951 and it hit no. 8 in 1952. Johnny Ray's version hit no. 4 in February of 1952, and was featured in the movie of the same name in 1953 starring Donald O Conner. I was surprised that they were so close together. I though Johnny Ray's was in the mid to late 50's. I like both versions about the same , but Nat King Cole is one of my favorite singers. Johnny Ray can't be beat singing Cry.

[glennmillerfan]

Very Awesome And Unusual Console.What Is The Tracking Force Of The Phonograph In It?

[maynardcat]

The tracking force is heavy, probably 8-10 grams. It uses the old style crystal 78 type cartridge.

[glennmillerfan]

I Fogot To Ask If It Uses Steel Needles Or Sappire Needles?

[maynardcat]

It uses a saphire needle. It is the old style cartridge that has the type of stylus that slides up in the cartridge. The stylus does have an angle to it unlike the old steel needles that are straight as a nail, and are just as hard on the records.

[grassulo]

you can use a phanstiehl P-51-3 cartridge in that changer. It's the same cartridge as the astatic 51 with a 3 mil 78 stylus, phanstiel bought all of astatic's equipment and is making new cartridges using the old tooling. 

[staticmunk7777]

i love a farns worth my neighbor has one just like this

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

2 weeks ago I saw a Farnsworth radio/phono cabinet at the local flea market and it had the same exact changer, but a different style cabinet. Looks like a seat.

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

Thanks for the comment. I've never saw the movie though, but I do remember an excerpt from a movie shown on an episode of "Columbo" entitled "Forgotten Lady" from 1975, they used scenes from a film "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" used during an episode.