Toy Tech: Carnival Record Player 

When I was a kid I had something very similar, but it was housed in a small Bozo the Clown figurine. Played records that looked just like these but may have been even smaller. I also had a toy that looked like a little portable radio, but was actually a tiny record player that played these little picture discs that had famous moments in sports on them.

I had a Masterworks Rover that my maternal grandmother bought me for Christmas of 1967. I sure do wish I still had it.

Maybe you can add a resistor in line with the positive side of the power to lower the speed of the motor. Or add a pot for variable speed.

I had one of these as a kid too! And I keep forgetting about how it looks until I see videos like this.

I was completely impressed. You did it. Very cool.

Big fun! Good job.

Fascinating. Just curious though. Why does the toy scratch the records? And does it only scratch the modified ones that you make or any record you put on it?

Too bad it has the slippage issue that requires an odd hole or tape to hold the record in place. Golden Records used to make 5” 78rpm Children’s records that would otherwise play in it. This reminds me of a similar toy record player from around the same era made by Ohio Art called the Mighty Tiny Record Player. I’ve never had a player, but I have several records for one that I’ve never been able to play. They’re only about 2” in diameter, and have notched molded into the edge to prevent them from slipping. Anyway, fascinating video, and also possibly RU-vid’s most interesting face reveal.

I had this when I was five it is nice to know what the name of it is.

You could try a motor from a tape player. Many of the older cassette players have motors that run on 9 volts and have a built in speed control in the motor that you turn with a screwdriver and it alters the speed of the motor.

Hook that record player up to some Martin Logan speakers to see how it performs....you already have the case to keep them in.

You are awesome. I have 4 of these little carnival record players and a Wilcox Gay record cutter. Think I am going to go cut some Madonna discs. With the pitch control on the Carnival, maybe I can drop it down to 33 and get some extended listening time...yeah I know wow and flutter. Carnival turntable should be good since it is belt (rubber band) drive, but for some reason it tends to variate.

My Grandparent's lived in Bridgeport, CT.

Can you play the toy records on a real turntable. Also are they vinyl or shellac?

I suggest to put a small trimpot in series with the motor to adjust the speed. 😉 It's just too fast.

Recorded at 33 1/3 rpm, played at 45rpm.

Very interesting! You could call it a CD player from the 70s!

How about replacing the metal needle stylus with one made of piezoceramic - - and replacing the mechanical speaker diaphragm with a piezoelectric transducer - - that way you may save a lot of wear and tear on the phonograph record disk??

Old technology! That makes me wonder. I'm collecting some stuff like yours, more likely different vinyl record formats, vhs tapes etc(huge collection). I'm a vinyl maniac! This carnival thing looks like doll record players :)

This is a good record player

Taking 9 VDC down to 1.5 VDC? A Zen er diode will to the trick.

0:49 you might want to check the fluorescent lamp starter over your head...

you recorded looney tunes onto a cd?

I have some of these records.

I have a four year lead on you.

Very nice sir One record Plyar send me please sir Thanks

Sounds like Looney Tunes!