2006.47

NLS A-79 Talking Book Machine

Interstate Industries, Inc.

Green plastic case with simulated leather texture, nickel plated hardware; aqua blue plastic carrying handle on front; hinged lid with two latches on front that turn to the left to open; RCA headphone jack on front right of case; green plastic deck with light gray enameled steel 9" turntable on left; turntable originally covered in gray foam; ivory slide switch to left of base of turntable adjusts three-speed motor from 33-16-8 rpm with a neutral station between 16 and 8; green fabric colored rectangular speaker screwed into left side of lid; black plastic on-off toggle switch on front right of deck; dark gray enameled phonograph arm on right, manually operated, green plastic rests; black plastic dials on right edge of deck labeled in raised letters and braille for volume and tone; black plastic power cord stores in compartment at rear of base; four black rubber feet on base; Library of Congress seal in relief of deck with legend, "National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress"; aluminum tag on front of lid, "A-79 13229"; special features: automatic cut-off at end of record, two-sided needle, detachable lid.

H-8.25 W-14.5 D-12.5 inches

ca. 1979

Interstate Industries, Inc.

Mundelein, IL

The passage of the Pratt-Smoot Act in 1931 created the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The act was amended in 1933 to include talking book service. The WPA began manufacturing talking book machines for the NLS in 1935. The first commercially purchased machines were bought by NLS in 1947. The first transistorized machines appeared in 1968. Three speeds appeared in 1970.

Museum Purchase, 2006.47