Kiddie Record Players
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MEMORIES:
kmarie remembers...I had one of these,way back! It must of been a Fisher Price one. Fun times. More »
Posted on 01/08/08
PHOTOS:
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In a world where portable music devices are commonplace, it seems unfathomable that it wasn’t always possible for a youngster to play their favorite music in the confines of their bedroom. Sure, mom and dad had the fancy, expensive stereo in the living room but it was anything but kid friendly and one was likely to face the wrath of an angry parent if caught mishandling their prized record collection. But, as always, the toy industry would come through to save the day and allow children the same pleasures of the adult world. With the introduction of kiddie record players, music no longer had to be a communal and adult-led activity. One could close the door to their bedroom and have complete control of their listening choices – and the world would never be the same.
These kid-friendly devices exploded on the scene in the 1950’s, just about the same time that Elvis was showing off his wiggling hips to stunned adults and delighted teenagers who quickly caught the rock and roll bug and would forever lock themselves in their bedroom, serenaded by the rebellious sounds of the King. But these little portable record players could be embraced by younger children as well, who could listen to stories and music geared towards a younger audience. Record companies made sure that all of these demographics were well represented and marketed a steady stream of long-playing albums and shorter, two-song 45s to appeal to each particular age group.
Of course, the youngest of children weren’t quite ready for the real thing but still longed to have the same music-playing freedom of their older siblings and Fisher-Price stepped up to plate with the definitive kiddie record player. Mindful that records were fragile beasts, easily scratched and certainly not fingerprint friendly, they devises a series of plastic, almost indestructible, disks for their Music Box Players which were wind-up powered and could read the series of notches in the discs and play a selection of kiddie songs. Now, toddlers and teens alike had the luxury of being their very own disc-jockey and spinning the sweet sounds of the day.
Years later, cassette tapes and compact discs would take over and render the kiddie record players obsolete. Still, kids of today will never know the excitement that came from owning that very first record player. The appeal and charm of these devices remains strong in the hearts of collector’s everywhere. Often adorned with pictures of the superstars of the day, especially Elvis and The Beatles, they fetch a respectable price at garage sales and on Ebay where they are often quickly snatched up by those with an affinity for the little technological marvels that just ooze with nostalgia. People still remember the first record they ever played in their bedroom, the first story that put them to sleep that wasn’t narrated by a parent. It may have been a simpler time, but it was also a magical one, where a kid could finally have a little freedom in their musical tastes and spin the wax to their hearts content.
