Kosmophon / Europhon – Olive Green Portable Record Player – 1970s Italian Space Age Design –USB - Kosmophon Record player

An appealing example of 1970s Italian portable audio design: an olive-green Kosmophon record player from the Europhon brand family, designed for playing 7-inch 45 rpm singles.

Its compact, approximately square body combines gently sloping sides, softened edges and an integrated rectangular carrying handle. The moulded plastic housing features a finely textured surface, a broad ribbed speaker grille and an adjoining smooth panel. Silver-tone controls and the red Kosmophon lettering provide contrasting details, while the narrow record-loading slot gives the player its distinctive “mangiadischi” appearance.

The low profile, geometric proportions and olive-green colour capture the expressive approach to everyday objects associated with Italian design of the period.

Dimensions: approximately 28 × 28 × 9 cm.
Weight: approximately 1.4 kg.

HISTORY AND DESIGN

Europhon was an Italian consumer electronics manufacturer founded in Milan in 1949 by the Zenesini family. Kosmophon was among the names used for its products.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the company became known for radios, televisions and portable record players, including the colourful slot-loading players commonly called “mangiadischi” in Italy.

These products bring together everyday consumer electronics and the expressive visual language of post-war Italian industrial design. Colourful moulded plastic bodies, compact forms and ingenious mechanical arrangements helped turn practical appliances into recognisable objects of their time.

MECHANICAL DESIGN

The small electric motor drives an elastomer ring positioned beneath the platter. This is a compact mechanical solution suited to the restricted space inside a portable player.

It should not be confused with the conventional long-belt transmission commonly found in domestic belt-driven turntables.

REVERSIBLE USB POWER MODIFICATION — CONVERTER INCLUDED

The player was originally designed to operate on six 1.5 V batteries, providing a nominal supply of 9 V.

This example has been fitted with a reversible USB power conversion. The included adjustable DC–DC converter takes a 5 V USB supply and raises it to the 9 V DC used by the record player. In this application, it therefore operates as a step-up voltage converter.

The converter supplies electrical power to the existing motor and audio circuitry. It does not add USB audio playback, digital recording or Bluetooth functionality.

The modification can be removed to reinstate the original battery-powered configuration; battery operation following reinstatement would need to be checked.

IMPORTANT: the converter output must remain set to 9 V DC. Never supply the player with more than 9 V. Correct polarity must be maintained, and batteries and USB power must not be connected simultaneously.

WORK CARRIED OUT AND PLAYBACK

The player has been cleaned, the stylus cleaned and the playback speed adjusted. It has been tested and plays records, as demonstrated in the video.

Sound reproduction should be assessed in the context of its compact dimensions, small built-in speaker and straightforward vintage electronics and mechanics. This example sounds somewhat muffled, particularly at higher volume; the precise cause has not been established. It is offered with this characteristic disclosed.

Please view the demonstration of the actual player:
https://youtu.be/s7yujdqHGBI

COSMETIC CONDITION

Vintage condition with visible signs of age and use, including discolouration on the underside, small dents, scuffs, scratches and surface marks. Please examine the photographs for the condition of the casing, controls and decorative surfaces.

INCLUDED IN THE LOT

The Kosmophon record player and the USB DC–DC converter used for the reversible power modification.

The vinyl record shown in the photographs and demonstration is not included.
This is an original electromechanical device approximately fifty years old, with the reversible power modification described above.

Although the unit has been tested and operates as described and demonstrated in the video, vintage equipment may require future maintenance, adjustment or repair.

Ageing components, including electrical contacts, potentiometers, capacitors, motor parts and rubber elements, may show the effects of time and use. Cleaning and testing do not constitute a complete electronic or mechanical overhaul.

Minor background noise, slight speed fluctuations or sensitivity of the controls may occur with equipment of this age and technology. These considerations do not replace or qualify the specific playback limitations disclosed in the description.

The item has been described accurately and in good faith. All functions specifically stated as working have been tested at the time of listing and will be checked again before dispatch.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO

The photographs and demonstration video form an integral part of the description and show the actual item offered.

Please examine them carefully to assess its appearance, signs of wear and demonstrated operation.

Slight colour differences may occur due to lighting, photography and individual screen settings.
The item will be carefully packed using suitable protective materials, with double boxing where appropriate. Shipping will be tracked.

A final functional and visual inspection will be carried out and documented before packing. The item will be handed to the carrier in the condition documented immediately before dispatch.

The buyer is responsible for providing a correct and complete delivery address and collecting the parcel within the carrier’s stated time limits.

In the event of unsuccessful delivery, refusal of delivery or an incorrect or incomplete address, the applicable Catawiki procedures and conditions will apply.

By placing a bid, the buyer acknowledges having read the complete description and reviewed all photographs and the demonstration video, including the disclosed cosmetic condition, playback characteristics and reversible USB power modification.