A video of my Sparton 8-57 console playing the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra's 1936 Brunswick recording of "Organ Grinder's Swing." The Sparton 8-57 is circa 1948 and belonged to my mother.
The Sparks-Withington Corporation is most famous for its highly collectable 1936 "Bluebird" tabletop radio, as well as several other colorful plastic Art Deco radios from the 1930's. Otherwise, Sparton products seem to be of average interest to old radio enthusiasts.
This particular console has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact, playing Mom's 78's on this machine when I was a kid was what got me hooked on old records. And back in the day when radio still supported instrumental-music-only formats, with no breaks except for short commercials and hourly news, my parents listened to this radio in the evenings after supper; they were old enough to still enjoy an evening accompanied by music from the radio, rather than by television.
Brilliant - well done! And, a nice record too... thanks!
Posted by: Colin | January 10, 2008 at 03:55 AM