AW23 Phono

[Joe Miller]

I have a phono with my AW23.  Can't find any info on it so I thought I'd check with you all.

It's marked "Static Microphone Laboratory, Model S-12."

It turns on both speeds when powered up.

Anyone know anything about it?

Thanks,

Joe

[Norman S Braithwaite]

The marking "Astatic Microphone Laboratory, Model S-12" should be on the tone arm as that is the model of tone arm.  Can you provide photos?

Norman

[Joe Miller]

Hi Norman,

Yes that marking is exactly what is on the tone arm.

Here are some pictures (I've removed some of the hardware for cleaning).

Is this the original phono for a Scott?

Thanks,
Joe

[Norman S Braithwaite]

Joe:

Yes, I believe that is an original turntable.  It appears to be a General Industries semi-automatic turntable (auto off) with an Astatic tone arm put together by EH Scott Radio Laboratories or a contractor for the laboratories.  It has been constructed to reproduce transcription disks (16-inch diameter) which is unusual and is probably based on a special customer request.

Norman

[Joe Miller]

Norman,

Thanks for the info.  Also talked with Kent King at Radiofest this weekend.

Any idea where I meet get some documentation on this phono?

BTW, I measured the diameter of the clearance needed to accommodate a 16 inch disk, but it looks like it would slightly interfere with the Scott knob and the light assembly.  Do you think this phono would also play regular and smaller music records.  Also, it does have 2 speeds 33 1/3 and 78.

Thanks for your help,

Joe

[David C. Poland]

Joe,

I recall a similar looking single play phono mounted in another AW-23  Scott cabinet. Nice that yours has it. Gives you an additional way to enjoy your Scott and experience high end mid 1930's sound recordings.

Your should be able to play  any 12 or 10 inch or smaller smaller records of the era. I understand there were some changes in the composition of records for sake higher fidelity quality that left later records subject to damage by the tone arm weight of earlier phonographs. So be careful of tone arm weight and do identify tone arm pressure adjustments when you service your phono. 

 I understand the 33 speed was an alternate home recording speed, and there were some talking books with that speed.  Scott offered the  Capehart Model 10 two speed (33 & 78) changer for several years. This changer was in my Wellington  cabinet phono drawer with an Allwave Fifteen. I put photos of mine on the Scott site some months ago. This changer was Scott's "Automatic 10" appearing in price lists I have  spanning March 1933 for the Scott Deluxe 12 tube thru the AW-15 era to  the early AW-23's through November 1935. Do not try your 1950's micro groove LP's on a 1930's phono !!

Although the Capehart 10 is in Riders Vol II (and in the Radiotron compilation of Vol I-III), I found no General Industries phonos in the Riders Index through Vol XV.  And my Riders Automatic Changer book lists but a  few General Industries changers.

-Dave