1968 Philco Ford Hip Pocket Record Player, Model S-1379GR

Here's an interesting idea that lasted only a few years.

In 1967, Philco-Ford introduced their Hip Pocket Record system. The records are only 3 7/8" in diameter and are made of thin, flexible vinyl--the same material as those flexible Eva Tone Sheets you'd find in magazines.

The idea was you could stuff the records in your hip pocket without damage.

(This space reserved for raucous laughter)

While Hip Pocket records have the small LP-sized center hole, they spin at 45 rpm.

Americom (ABC Records) released their version, the Pocket Disc, with the same diameter and flexibility. However, their records spun at 33 1/3 rpm.

Also has an AM radio, and it will play both standard-size LP's and 45's.

This is Philco's second generation player, found new in the box with a smattering of records from various artists, including Neil Diamond and The Doors.

For such a small player, it sounds remarkably good.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Hip
• Pocket
• Record
• Player
• Philco
• Ford
• eva
• tone
• 45
• rpm
• phonograph

[Lachlant1984]

Wow, that's amazing, what type of battery does that Philco-Ford unit use?

[batterymaker]

Four C cells.

[vwestlife]

Are the songs full length or are they custom edits? This kind of thing has been tried many times, such as tape-based "Pocket Rockers" in the '80s and memory chip-based "Hit Clips" in the '90s.

[batterymaker]

They'd be the same custom edits issued on regular 45 releases, just pressed for these little records. However , I doubt they'd be able to press a full copy of MacArthur Park onto one of these.... :-)

[raymondleeleggs]

very tinny sounding

[batterymaker]

As to be expected. Its speaker is no bigger than a pocket transistor radio's.

[nickmauriello]

A similar sky-blue Philco/Ford* unit was the first tunes I got as a kid; with a dozen of the better flexies including Van Morrison and the Doors. I'd been meaning to look up the format on the net for years but was never near a PC when it came to mind. Ebay has 66 listed with 'Buy It Now' prices from 5-100$, and a copy of The Doors for 22$.

*That's how mine was labeled. Couldn't play 12"'s; tonearm too pivot in way.

[dimebagdave77]

man! ive never seen one of these b4!id love 2 have one of those.i bet those lil records are worth a little if theyre specially made for this

[tubeie07]

Fascinating concept!

[RickenbackerBeatles]

Apple Records had their own version of these. They weren't very popular, and fetch a pretty penny today.

[Interests2009]

Thanks for sharing.

[hrf3420]

Wow that's really cool!