Highway Hi-Fi
.jpg) 1722 Highway Hi-Fi | |
| Media type | Phonograph |
|---|---|
| Read mechanism | Stylus |
| Developed by | CBS Electronics |
| Released | 1955 |
Highway Hi-Fi was a system of proprietary players and seven-inch phonograph records with standard LP center holes designed for use in automobiles. It was designed and developed by Peter Goldmark.[1]
History
[edit]The system appeared in Chrysler automobiles from 1955[2] to 1959 (1956–1959 model years).
Manufacture
[edit]The players themselves were manufactured by CBS Electronics. According to the official Chrysler press release of September 12, 1955, "Highway Hi-Fi plays through the speaker of the car radio and uses the radio's amplifier system. The turntable for playing records, built for Chrysler by CBS-Columbia, is located in a shock-proof case mounted just below the center of the instrument panel. A tone arm, including sapphire stylus and ceramic pick up, plus storage space for six long-play records make up the unit." A button controlled whether you listened to the radio or the records.[3] A proprietary 0.25-mil (i.e., 0.00025 in or 6.4 μm or a quarter of a "thou") stylus was used with an unusually low stylus pressure of 2 grams-force (20 mN; 0.071 ozf) to allow for long stylus life.[4]
Highway Hi-Fi units were factory-installed and were not available as aftermarket add-ons. With a tendency to break or malfunction, and a limited number of titles (which were available solely from one label's back catalog), the product was not a commercial success; Chrysler slowly began to pull support for Highway Hi-Fi as early as 1957 when high warranty service costs became evident. Another automobile record player was manufactured by RCA from 1960 to 1961. This later version dropped the "Highway Hi-Fi" label (not being Chrysler-exclusive) and played standard 45-rpm 7-inch (180 mm) records.[5]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Morton, Jr., David L. (2004). Sound Recording. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33090-5.
- ^ Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
- ^ Oldcarbrochures.com
- ^ "Ook - highway hi-fi". Archived from the original on 5 May 2007.
- ^ Ookworld.com Archived 2007-05-05 at the Wayback Machine
References
[edit]- Goldmark, Peter. Maverick Inventor:My Turbulent Years at CBS. Saturday Review Press, 1973.
- Greenfield, Jack. Practical Auto Radio Service and Installation. Gernsback Library Inc., 1960.