You thought portable music arrived with the Sony Walkman and was popularized by iPods? No way.
Incredible as it may sound today, hipsters were able to jam to their favorite tunes on-the-go as soon as the 1920s, thanks to the Mikiphone, a pocket-sized phonograph.
The pocket phonograph was designed by Miklós Vadász, a Hungarian designer who it was named after. He commissioned the Swiss company Pillard to mass-produce it, and between 1925 and 1927 around 180.000 pieces came out of the factory.
As far as construction quality is concerned, the pocket phonographs were quite prone to damage. To wind them up, you had to turn the handle 50 times, which would allow you to play a 10-inch record.
However, the gramophone itself was a real feat – all the pieces fit into its box neatly and well, remember: unlike our modern music devices, the Mikiphone had no batteries!
Steam punk, environmentally friendly, old school – what else could you want?
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I have one which I am going to sell. I wondered what it was made from so I can clean it up.
I would love to see it produced to day. I would be one of the 1st to order one.
Phonics are a big part of my life, which I’m reminded of every day when I play with the slide guitar on my”resonator”