An interesting article - When cars had record players

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

Thought I'd share this with you all. It's absolutely superb, these should be made again... lol


http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/george-harrison.png

Records while you roll.
Never mind tuning the radio, try flipping a 45 and adjusting the tonearm while speeding down the motorway. Not quite what Kraftwerk had in mind when they composed music for the Autobahn (although for many record collectors, this will seem equally utopian), the Columbia Records “Highway Hi-Fi” (or Philips Mignon, depending on your allegiance) was the must-have accessory for the any self-respecting Plymouth Fury pilot or Chevrolet chauffeur.
Even the celebs were at it, with Muhammad Ali and George Harrison both roped into the ubiquitous leaning photo-shoot with the gadgets, which now seems like a relic of endless luxury and extravagance. Although it’ll doubtless make those of you allergic to scratches wince, we wager just a few will still check out how much you can grab one for on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_kw=Car+Record+Player).

Thanks to The Strut (http://www.thestrut.com/) for reminding us of these incredible units. Check out photos of the Highway Hi-Fi (and Philips Mignon!) in action below.

http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ali.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ali.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Highway-Hi-Fi-2.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Highway-Hi-Fi-2.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summerbee-e1359548148147.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summerbee-e1359548148147.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vinyl-in-the-car.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vinyl-in-the-car.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/records-while-you-roll.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/records-while-you-roll.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/e56urdt6urst5e.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/e56urdt6urst5e.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/imphot33-.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/imphot33-.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/s_welk.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/s_welk.jpg)
http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Highway-hi-fi.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Highway-hi-fi.jpg)
(This article was updated to include reference to the Philips Mignon 22/10/13)

http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/amazing-photos-of-a-time-when-cars-had-record-players/ (http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/amazing-photos-of-a-time-when-cars-had-record-players/)

[Marco]

Fooking awesome and the epitome of 'cool' - great cars, too! Thanks for sharing, Joe :)

Marco.

[Clive197]

Back in the day (the 60's) I had one in my car. It only played 45's and was quite a faff to change disks while you were driving so I only used mine when I had a passenger. My girlfriend at the time was quite good at changing disc's while I was weaving my way through London traffic on a Saturday night.
I couldn't get mine to plumb into the car battery and the large U2's of the time only lasted a couple of hours so it got quite expensive. But hay the joys of youth.

[Firebottle]

Ooh the Philips Mignon :D
I've had my hands in couple of those to mend them. When I was a nipper I had a Saturday job at a local TV repair shop. He was one of the rare chaps who would take in car radios (and stereo tape players in time) to fix.
As he was a born and bred valve man I had the job of looking at all the transistorised stuff on the Saturday.

The tracking force on the Mignon was effected with a spring, god knows what it actually tracked at. Talk about suspended chassis, there were great big springs and a weighted chassis.
Never heard one jump :eek:

:cool: Alan

[PaulStewart]

Want one now :)

[Tarzan]

Where's the MN Bearing?:scratch:

[The Black Adder]

Yeah.. pretty interesting stuff.

[Macca]

I love the dashboard on that Chrysler. If they still made cars like that I might be bothered to get a licence.

[The Black Adder]

lol..

and is this one of the Krays?

http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summerbee-e1359548148147.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summerbee-e1359548148147.jpg)

"Listen twinkles, listen to this.. or else I'll play it using your f*ckin teeth!" :eek:

[Marco]

Lol - and can anyone guess what the single is? I'll go for something from Tom Jones!

Marco.

[Macca]

lol

'Mi arld mum - see- she likes a bit of Mantovani when I'm drivin' 'er ter church ov a Sunday, knar wot I mean, sunshine?'

[Macca]

Lol - and can anyone guess what the single is? I'll go for something from Tom Jones!

Marco.

Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise

[Arkless Electronics]

There was a company that made valve power amps for ICE as well in around the late '80's... IIRC about 50 WPC.. boot fitted. Cant remember for sure who it was though.

[Audio Al]

Where's the MN Bearing?:scratch:

Its a upgrade DSD :doh:

[cuddles]

lol..

and is this one of the Krays?

http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summerbee-e1359548148147.jpg (http://vf-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summerbee-e1359548148147.jpg)

"Listen twinkles, listen to this.. or else I'll play it using your f*ckin teeth!" :eek:

That's Mike Summerbee the Man City striker ;)