What is this automobile record player??

[Ljblanken]

Muhammed Ali passed away this week. I have been following it, as I spent 15+ years as an amateur boxer.  

I saw these pictures of him playing 45s in his car! I've never seen such a contraption! Does anyone know about these?

 

Edited June 6, 2016 by ljblanken

[Sheldonsoul]

Is that an Yvonne baker demo ? Lol

[Douglaschip]

Joe Frazier - first round knockout - bound to be with Ali giving him massive verbals!!

[Billy Jo Jim Bob]

There were several US car manufacturers who tried this gimmick. I first saw it on one of those car shows on TV where they refurbish old models for their owners.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/04/record-players-were-the-infotainment-systems-of-the-1950s-and-60s/index.htm

 

[Len]

Fantastic - I want one! 

Len 

[Carty]

 What a great couple of pictures ! thanks for posting .

[Robbk]

That Parkway record is probably a Chubby Checker.

[Gilly]

A bloke I know was going to sell me one, then he backed out

[Davenpete]

Weren't discotrons available as an option on some cars?

Dx

[Paul Dunn]

My Dad had one in the 60's in his Ford Cortina, used to push the centers out of UK 45's still got the Contours on Oriole

[Mr Fred]

When in was a young lad my father's best friend who years before were in the army together,used to come up to Yorkshire from South Wales to visit us,I remember he was a rep for Philips records,and drove a Humber Sceptre which then was a nice car.One year he was coming up and I was going back down with him to stop for a few days, he arrived in a new car a Humber Super Snipe which was dead smart.I remember us travelling down when he said I'll put some music on and would you reach behind my seat and get that small box of records.He told me what record to pick out and said pop it in the slot of the record player attached to the underside of the dash.I Was amazed at this record player when it played not once did it jump when travelling over bumps and it would play the other side of the record if you wanted it to.I remember it was made by Philips played good and sounded clear.I've not seen one since and would say at the time it would be the early to mid 60's  It must have been state of the art then.I sincerely hope you manage to find one and get it up and running in your car.Can you imagine playing real vinyl in your car, a must for "Soulies". It will be interesting to see how you get on,who knows you might start a trend that brings back the in-car record player!. All the best Fred Ward.

 

 

Edited June 15, 2016 by Mr Fred

[Mr Fred]

Seen on the telly recently a clip from Muhammad Ali when he became the world boxing champion,when interviewed the first thing he said was bring that guy forward as he's my hero he's Sam Cooke.Really nice to see things like that. regards Fred.

Edited June 17, 2016 by Mr Fred

[Mr Smithy]

There were several kinds made either specifically for a marque eg Chrysler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_Hi-Fi

or for any car. I believe Norelco made one too

https://www.radvet.com/Car_Record_Players.html

There was one in a Chevy Biscane I had- a 60 if I recall. Never worked right and the insides rusted easily it seems.
I sold it on to a collector for parts as I didn't want to bother with it.
The one thing they all had in common though was a tracking weight of about 3 1/2 lbs. So all your 45s were Deep Groove after a while

[Robbk]

Ha! Ha!  Wish I'd have known about them.  My Grandfather had a Canadian Chrysler from 1953-60.  I wonder if it could have accommodated one of those record players?  It wouldn'have helped me.  I had only 78s, 45s and some 33s.  I didn't have any 16 2/3s!!! 

[Northern Soul Uk]

Wonder what the record is that he's holding? It's on a 'Parkway' Demo whatever it is

[Robbk]

33 minutes ago, Northern Soul UK said:

Wonder what the record is that he's holding? It's on a 'Parkway' Demo whatever it is

Probably a Chubby Checker non-hit.

[Northern Soul Uk]

Probably

[Sheldonsoul]

Type in automobile record player in USA e bay and there's a fair few for sale

4 hours ago, RobbK said:

Probably a Chubby Checker non-hit.

You just don't know ! Lol

[Len]

27 minutes ago, sheldonsoul said:

Type in automobile record player in USA e bay and there's a fair few for sale

You just don't know ! Lol

Len 

[KevH]

On 07 June 2016 at 00:20, Gilly said:

A bloke I know was going to sell me one, then he backed out

Or reversed out,mirror signal manouvere.

[Zoomsoulblue]

just some more pics of the great man and one of George in his e type

[Mr Fred]

The record Muhammad Ali is holding in the photo he got it "At the discotheque". 

regards Fred

Edited June 17, 2016 by Mr Fred

[Rob Wigley]

Any one been round to Ali's house to buy his collection ???

I'll get me coat !

Rob

 

[Petedillon]

A long time ago around 1968 I think , I got a lift back from Manchester over the Pennines old road before M62 ..the car had one of these in it!  

[John A]

I don't think I'll be rushing to put any of my records in a contraption like that 

mind you, looking at the state of some of em. They all ready have been 

[Sheldonsoul]

On 15 June 2016 at 16:11, Mr Fred said:

The record Mohammed Ali is holding in the photo he got it "At the discotheque". 

regards Fred

How do you know that ?

[Mr Fred]

Following on from your comment "you just don't know "  "At the discotheque" was in the same theme. I should have put your quote above Regards Fred.

 

 

Edited June 17, 2016 by Mr Fred

[Guest Garry Huxley]

Emperor Rosco guested at Whitchurch civic centre few times in the 70s he had one in his car along with a tape recorder on which he used to record jingles for his show's, I never actually saw it but the chap I was working for Steve Obertelli (Right Track Disco) was chatting with him out in the car park and was excited to tell everyone about it on his return to the decks