Featured Phonograph: US Junior

[Valecnik]

Make: U-S Phonograph Co.
Model: Junior  

Serial no: J 1019
Year(s) Made: 1910-1912 (approximate)
Original Cost: $30
Case/Cabinet Size: 8 5/8" x 13 3/3" x 12" high
Turntable/Mandrel: For standard sized records
Reproducer/Sound-Box: US Combination
Motor: Double mainspring
Horn Dimensions: 20.5 inch diameter according  to advert but seems bigger
Reproduction Parts: Reproducer has been rebuilt
Current Value: ?
Interesting Facts: 

 

The US Phonograph Company was a short lived company quickly put out of the business largely due to multiple law suits from Edison.  At least some of the law suits had to do with reproducer and feedscrew.  This is probably the reason for the somewhat bizarre and complicated reproducer  and feedscrew design.  If you look closely at some of the pics you will see that there are essentially two separate reproducers suspended under the reproducer shell.  By rotating the the knob on the top of the shell to the left or right, the two or four minute reproducer is moved into position and dropped at the correct place on the  record.  At the same time, the totally separate two or four minute feed screw would be engaged. 

 

Most of these found in the wild do not function as this complicated reproducer mechanism utilized a lot of pot metal.  This one was rebuilt many years ago, before I owned it, by Paul Baker and functions perfectly.  A few years back this machine moved on to another collection.

Edited January 28, 2023 by Valecnik
added text

[phonogfp]

The U-S Phonographs are an interesting line, and once restored they play very well.  I've always admired the chunky lines of the horn and elbow.

 

Thanks for posting this, Bruce!

[BenL]

Did U-S sell machine to Montgomery Ward to be rebranded as Lakeside? Or did Montgomery Ward buy up the remaining stock when the company went bust? 

[Valecnik]

18 hours ago, BenL said:

Did U-S sell machine to Montgomery Ward to be rebranded as Lakeside? Or did Montgomery Ward buy up the remaining stock when the company went bust? 

According to the linked article, "A deal was cut with Montgomery Ward to sell the records and two of the machines under Ward's proprietary name, Lakeside."

 

https://www.intertique.com/U-S Everlasting story.htm

 

[nippers_lounge]

Very nice machine!

[Fran604g]

Very nice U-S Junior, Bruce! Having one of these that function is a real treat.

[CurtA]

Always wanted one... but never found one.

[MisterJive47]

Someday I hope to have one, whether U.S. or Lakeside. A man can dream. Engineering that was truly ahead of its time. It's no wonder they were litigated out of existence.