Recording Lathe. KFUO (Fairchild), 1940 - 1959

This is a recording lathe (21” x 17” x 10½”) developed by Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation (No. 539B, Serial No. 207). This came with an information card (#11) . It is black with grey metal parts and looks like a phonograph turntable for oversize phonograph records. It has a fabric-covered cord with a standard 2-prong plug and another cord with an unusual 3-prong plug. The arm apparently holds the cartridge noted below, this looks as if it should be fitted into a box. It was used at KFUO in the 1940s and 1950s primarily for Portals of Prayer and possibly also The Lutheran Hymnal recordings (M120a). The cutting head, labeled as a Fairchild 541A-1014, is 3” x 2½” x 1¼” with black and grey metal. It has a short cord with a small 2-prong plug at the end, and has a Fairchild final inspection tag attached (M120b).