Original U.S. WWII U.S. Navy Portelec Model 9C Mechanical Field Phonograph by Pacific Sound Equipment Co. of Hollywood - Serial 84832
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good original U.S. WWII Portelec Model 9C Mechanical Field Phonograph, manufactured by the Pacific Sound Equipment Company of Hollywood, California, and finished in the characteristic gray-blue military paint associated with surviving U.S. Navy examples. Serial numbered 84832, the portable phonograph remains substantially complete with its spring-powered mechanism, winding crank, turntable, felt platter covering, leather carrying handle, and a compartment containing ten spare needles. The mechanism has been tested sufficiently to confirm that the turntable rotates smoothly when wound and switched on, although no record has been played on the machine and its complete audio performance has not been tested.
Pacific Sound Equipment Co. was operating in Hollywood by the early 1940s as a manufacturer of phonographs and recording equipment. Reference listings identify the Portelec 9-C as a mechanical field phonograph dating to approximately 1942 and designed to play standard 78 rpm records without requiring electrical power. Surviving examples of the Model 9C are documented in heavy gray military cases with single-spring motors, flocked turntables, crank and needle storage, internal acoustic horns, and leather carrying handles, closely corresponding with the configuration of this example.
The phonograph player is in great service-used condition, contained within a Navy gray/blue painted case with an intact leather carrying handle, although we would warn against using it. The felt on the platter is still in good condition as well. There is a data plate on the interior of the lid, denoting it as a “Mechanical Field Phonograph”. The maker’s information at the bottom of this plate reads:
No. 84832 PORTELEC MODEL 9C
MFD. BY PACIFIC SOUND EQUIPMENT COMPANY
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
The unit is spring powered, which is wound using the crank present in the case. When the unit is cranked and the switch activated, the turn table rotates smoothly, though it most likely could use some oiling. The unit has ten (10) extra needles in a compartment on the turn table. Approximately 17 by 16 by 7 1/2 inches in size. We did not test the set with a record, but the set appears in good order and could likely function with some work.
This is a very good surviving example of a WWII-era military phonograph, with enough wear to show that it saw genuine use while still retaining the parts needed to present well today. The fact that the turntable still operates, combined with the original crank, spare needles, and period gray-blue case, gives the set a strong sense of completeness, though it will take some TLC to get it working.
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