RCA Victor CP-5203 Turntable: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This model CP-5203 45 RPM turntable was manufactured by the RCA Victor Company around 1949. The black plastic motor-mount and turntable are housed in a wooden case with brass hinges and brass-plated corners. The turntable could be locked with the key; opening the case reveals a brass plate that reads “RCA Victor.” In 1947 RCA Victor introduced the “Berkshire” line of custom built combination radio-phonograph-television cabinets meant to serve as a home’s entertainment center. In 1949 RCA Victor introduced its 45 rpm format records and issued this 45 rpm turntable attachment to the Berkshire line to allow it to play the new format.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: ca 1949
• maker: Radio Corporation of America
• Object Name: phonograph
• Other Terms: phonograph; Audio Device
• Physical Description: wood (housing material)
• Physical Description: brass (hardware material)
• Physical Description: plastic (parts material)
• Measurements: overall: 8 in x 11 1/4 in x 8 1/2 in; 20.32 cm x 28.575 cm x 21.59 cm
• Subject: Music
• ID Number: EM.330658
• catalog number: 330658
• accession number: 1978.0824
• Credit Line: from Irving Kolodin
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.