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The RCA Victrola Portable Elvis Presley Phonographs (1956)

 

By Ger Rijff
 
 

Victrola

 

Billboard 1956-11-03In November of 1956 RCA Victor felt the time was right for every Elvis fan to have their own Elvis Presley record player!
And not just one, but two different models were on offer!
 
The AUTOMATIC 45 VICTROLA was priced at $44.95, while the 4-SPEED VICTROLA sold for $32.95.
 
 
 
 
Victrola 2

(Billboard, November 3, 1956)

 
 
 

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foleys billboardA couple of full-page ads for the Victrola’s:
 
LEFT:
From the Foley’s department store in Houston, TX.
 
RIGHT:
From Billboard magazine.

 
 
 

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The 4-Speed Victrola

4-Speed (1)

 

4-Speed (2)

 

The Automatic 45 Victrola

Automatic 45 (1)

 

Automatic 45 (2)

 
 
 

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SPD-23 SPD-22Both phonographs came with cool Elvis bonus records in gatefold sleeves:
 
The SPD-22 double disc set (2 x 4 songs) was added to the 4-Speed.
And the Automatic 45 came with a triple bonus set (3 x 4 songs), the SPD-23.

 
 
 

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zz zzz

 
 
 

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RCA Victrola Spots PromoRCA RADIO VICTROLA DIVISION SPOTS
For radio promotion RCA had asked Elvis to record two spoken messages for his fans, telling them how wonderful these new Victrola record players were. Snippets of his hits can be heard in between the talking. This promo was a one sided pressing playing at 33 1/3 speed.
It’s possibly the rarest of all RCA promo releases.
 

Click the PLAY button to hear Elvis
advertise the Victrola Phonographs:

 
 
 

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bbElvis himselvis can be seen in quite a few photographs listening to the 4-Speed
Victrola
model. He even took one with him to Germany, in ’58.
 
 
 
03

 

AW2 AW1Had he wanted to, he could have even made use of the 1956 Elvis Presley Record Case to store his favourite 45’s as well.
 
 
 
Naamloos

 
 
 

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Victrola ad 4 Victrola ad 1Here we have more of those rare vintage advertisements for the Elvis Presley phonographs!

 

Victrola ad 3 DIG photoshoot (update)

 
 
 

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British VictrolaELVIS PORTABLE VICTROLA FROM BRITAIN!
We’d never heard of its existence before, let alone seen one! But the photo proves there was an Elvis Presley RCA Victor ‘Victrola’ portable record player, with his name engraved on the lid made for the teenager-market in Great Britain, back in the 1950s! Just how rare is that?!
No other information available at current.
 
 
 
UK Victrola

 
 
 

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27 Comments Post a comment
  1. Jim #

    He probably helped sell a lot of record players. SPD22/23 I would love to have them. The 33 1/3 record I have never heard of.
    Great post. Thanks.

    April 5, 2013
  2. Precisao #

    Woah this weblog is wonderful, I really like reading your articles.
    Keep up the good work!

    April 7, 2013
  3. Ger Rijff #

    Kool! Love to read comments such as yours! This place is growing fast, proving our point,
    the Elvis fan world is ready for a new fresh approach of things! Leave it to us for many
    more interesting topics to come. Yes, many!
    The only setback is we would need more hours in the day, to write, compile, and
    put our stuff online. But we also still need time to ‘relax’ a little inbetween our Elvis
    related work. It’s a hobby after all.

    April 7, 2013
  4. Dave Christmas #

    Alway thought your work was fantastic but totally love this site!
    Thanks for all your hard work!
    Cheers,
    Dave

    April 9, 2013
  5. Charley #

    Hot damn! Never saw the RCA Radio Victrola Division Spots disc before!
    This kind of interesting stuff make me smile and make me come back to this digital Elvis 50’s shrine.

    C.

    May 2, 2013
  6. Alan White #

    I always wanted one (Victrola).

    May 29, 2013
  7. Paul Pearce #

    Gee, very beautiful, indeed. I think Mr. Giles had this record player and the triple EP for sale…man, love to have it, but it’s not cheap!

    June 3, 2013
  8. JOÃO CARLOS GONÇALVES #

    THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT INFORMATION. TRUE TREASURES FOR THE ELVIS PRESLEY FAN. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND GOD BLESS YOU.

    June 3, 2013
  9. Alexander Nijeboer #

    I spend years buying the SPD-23 set. I started out with the 3 discs (one damaged), then found myself an original SPD-23 foldout cover without any discs and finally succeeded to replace the damaged disc with a very fine upgrade!

    Anyone over here actually owns the Automatic Victorola 45?

    If so, I would sure like to read your story because it is a great collectible! Thanks Ger for this great thread again!

    June 3, 2013
  10. Ger Rijff #

    In days long gone by, I did have both the Elvis Victrolas and the SPD-22 and 23.
    Sold them all around 2001, while going thru bad times, and needing the money
    badly to survive. To save my life, I can’t remember to whom I sold the record
    players… My head was running over with stress at the time. Anyway, they look
    better on photographs than in real life. Maybe not so when you’re lucky to
    find them in excellent condition? Mine were a bit tired looking after a long
    life in the basement of the previous owner… Paid $ 800 for the two.
    That was back in the early 90s… Neither can I remember where SPD-22 and 23
    ended up? Probably to Mr. Giles. My saviour in troubled times.

    June 3, 2013
  11. Alexander Nijeboer #

    Don’t bother Ger, getting the real deal is most of the time more exciting than having the real deal. I am perfectly happy with your pictures. Hope you got a good price for them in 2001 though.

    June 4, 2013
  12. Great to hear Elvis talk about these rare reccord players.
    Never heard it.

    July 13, 2013
  13. What a beautiful post, very interesting and hard to be seen items … elsewhere …

    This place is very unique!!!

    Bruno

    July 21, 2013
  14. Terri #

    I have a Elvis portable Victrola, good condition, works. How much is it worth?

    November 13, 2013
  15. Marie Sheraden #

    I own one of the 4 speed Victrola with Elvis signature in gold letters, and I have no idea of the value. I believe it was manufactured in 1959 according to the letter I received from RCA Victor.
    Any idea just how much these are selling for (as mine is in fair condition)?

    October 5, 2014
  16. Hey boss, Bob … where did the the light brown & cream colored Victrola 45 go?!
    It’s the rarest of the rare ! Bring it back in this topic please. Some nice additional
    photos of the Flash added. But I have the feeling you left out some illustrations
    we found when we started this topic. Am I right?

    June 25, 2015
  17. Didier Thielens #

    I’ve bought a 4-speed Victrola back in 2008 at an auction in New York. It’s in excellent condition without any damage and came with a letter of authenticity. I’ve paid $800 for it. I’m still looking for the double disc-set to complete it… Anyone?
    DJ

    January 7, 2016
  18. Alexandra #

    Hello friends,
    I need to sell my The 4-Speed Victrola.
    Can you help me with the value?
    Thanks.

    January 17, 2016
  19. Hi Alexandra,

    We might be interested in your 4-Speed Victrola Portable record player. I would say the range for a 4-Speed Victrola is at the moment between $ 400 – $ 900. But the value really depends on the condition/color, and if tags comes with it etc. At the Graceland auction this January the 4-Speed Victrola sold for $687.50. But at the end of the day it all depends on who wants to have it and how bad ;). We recently bought one in a record store with a price tag of $ 150.
    Maybe you can send us more details and pictures?
    Aloha from Switzerland, Oliver.

    January 28, 2016
  20. Earl E. White #

    Bought this about 10 years ago, works great, 7-ep-45.

    March 28, 2017
  21. Sebastiano Cecere #

    Hello Ger.
    Do you know the exact date when Elvis recorded the two sposts (it should be between 26 and 28 october 1956).
    Sebastiano Cecere

    June 20, 2017
  22. Isid #

    Where can I buy this?

    December 5, 2017
  23. Deanna #

    Does anyone know how many record players were made of each style by RCA? I have been trying to figure it out for years. No one seems to know. I have a non working one.

    September 11, 2019
  24. Tony Jackson #

    I have 1 for sale, needs a needle, it turns fine. I can send pics to anyone interested.

    February 14, 2020
  25. Matt Dollar #

    Tony Jackson: msg me themattdollarshow@gmail.com

    April 6, 2020
  26. Dee knapp #

    I have a 1956 Elvis Presley phonograph record player I would like to sell. It’s in very good shape.
    If you could give me an idea what to sell it for, my email is: deeknapp@cinci.rr.com
    Thanks.

    June 4, 2021
  27. Glenda #

    I have one of the autographed automatic 45 victrola. I can remember playing a lot of Elvis Presley records on it.

    August 30, 2022

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