Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Portable Phonographs

Here at Musical Treasures we often get interesting items that tell a fascinating stories. This one harks back to the 1930s and 40s involving the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their door-to-door preaching methods.

In 1933, Jehovah’s Witnesses began to employ an innovative method of preaching. A transportable transcription machine with an amplifier and loudspeaker was used to broadcast 33 1/3rpm recordings of Brother Rutherford’s radio lectures, in halls, parks, and other public places. Sound cars and sound boats also were used to let the Kingdom message ring out.

The effective use of transcription machines led to yet another innovation-preaching from house to house with a lightweight phonograph. In 1934 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society began producing portable phonographs and a series of 78rpm discs containing 4 1/2 minute Bible lectures. Eventually, recordings covering 92 different subjects were in use. In all, the Society produced more than 47,000 phonographs to trumpet the Kingdom message. However, in time, greater emphasis was laid on oral presentations of the Kingdom message, so the phonograph work was phased out.

Sound cars with large sound horns to amplify the sound were used so the Kingdom’s message could be heard miles away. Also sound boats were used to broadcast the message on such rivers as the Thames in London. Since no power was required they were often used for services in fields and other places with no electricity supplies.

Many of these phonographs were imported in to the United Kingdom from the United States and are now quite sought after. The earlier model looked like a typical gramophone whereas the 40s version was an interesting design known as the vertical phonograph

The phonographs were effective in helping people get started in the preaching work by making the message simple to deliver and accessible. The fact that they were mechanical meant they needed no electricity and so no need for an awkward request at the door.

The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is a religious organisation that supports Jehovah’s Witnesses and the teaching of the Bible. They have produced Bible-based publications in more than 700 languages.