Light-Beam Reproducer

Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt. Co.; USA

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  • Year
  • 1940 ?
  • Category
  • Microphone or Pick-up element
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 339679

Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.

 Technical Specifications

  • Wave bands
  • - without
  • Loudspeaker
  • - For headphones or amp.
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: Light-Beam Reproducer - Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt
  • Notes

  • Philco Light-Beam Reproducer was introduced by Philco in 1940 as an alternative to a phonograph cartridge (with stylus). 

    The design was a light source, a very light weight mirror mounted on the shaft of the jeweled needle, and a photocell that changes the reflected light, now modulated by the record grooves, into an audio electrical signal.  This was marketed with new photo-electric radio phonograph models as "Music on a Beam of Light".

    To eliminate hum due to using normal 50/60 Hz AC powering the light source, a high RF frequency oscillator light source was used.  Since the high RF frequency was too high to be heard in the audio range, hum was cleverly solved.  Philco claimed that the records lasted 10 times more than a using a normal phonopraph cartridge.

    Some models that used this reproducer, or a version of it, were the Philco 41-629P, Philco 1012, Philco 42-1012P, Philco 42-1013PM, and Philco 42-1013PW

  • Mentioned in
  • Principles and Practice of Radio Servicing, H.J.Hicks, 1943
  • Literature/Schematics (1)
  • Movie-Radio Guide, March 29 1941, page 3
  • Author
  • Model page created by Wolfgang Müllner. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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