Museum Artifact: Seeburg Music System “Wall-O-Matic” Selector Jukebox, Type W1-L56, c. 1947
Made By: J. P. Seeburg Corp., 1500 N. Dayton St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Audio & Music
The Harmony Company, est. 1892
Museum Artifact: Roy Smeck Soprano Ukulele, c. 1950s
Made By: The Harmony Company, 3633 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL
For about 80 years, Chicago’s Harmony Company consistently ranked among the largest producers of stringed instruments in the world. Unfortunately, when we’re talking about “the arts,” such a legacy of quantity can often presume a deficiency in quality—warranted or not.
Vee-Jay Records, est. 1953
Museum Artifact: “Introducing The Beatles” Vinyl LP, 1964
Made By: Vee-Jay Records, Inc., 1449 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
To a serious record collector, the copy of Introducing… The Beatles in our museum collection probably wouldn’t appear all that special. It is, after all, a non-mint example of the second and considerably more common version of the album,
Maher Printing Co. – DownBeat, est. 1936
Museum Artifact: 8 Issues of DownBeat Magazine, 1964-1968
Made By: Maher Printing Co. / Maher Publications, 205 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Ludwig Drum Company, est. 1909
Museum Artifact: Ludwig Universal Speed Master Bass Drum Pedal, 1960s
Made By: Ludwig Drum Co., 1728 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL
The night that famously marked a sea change in American pop culture—the Beatles’ 1964 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show—was also the dawning of a new golden age at a certain musical instrument factory in Wicker Park.
Before that night,
Lyon & Healy, est. 1864
Museum Artifact: “Improved Own Make” Cornet, c. 1919
Made By: Lyon & Healy, 4100 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
General Television & Radio Corp., est. 1932
Museum Artifact: General Tube Radio 19A5, c. 1947
Made By: General Television & Radio Corp., 2701 N. Lehmann Ct., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Motorola Inc., est. 1928
Museum Artifact: Motorola Volumatic AM Car Radio, 1956
Made By: Motorola Inc. / Galvin MFG Corp., 4545 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Portable Tube Radio Model 5P31A by Motorola Inc., 1957
Motorola Inc. / Galvin MFG Corp., 4545 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Archived Reader Comments:
“This radio is a Motorola Roto-tenna portable radio, Corsair model 5P31A, circa 1957. The case is metal, covered in Grey Tweed Miracle Fabric; with maroon plastic trim. The rotating handle, an exclusive Motorola design,
Regal Musical Instrument Co., est. 1908
Museum Artifact: Regal Soprano Ukulele, c. 1940s
Made By: Regal Musical Instrument Company, 3209 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
The Cable Piano Company, est. 1880
Museum Artifact: “One Hundred and One Best Songs” Songbooks, 1910s
Made By: Cable Piano Company, 57 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.