RCA's 45rpm record player

John Vassos designed this 45rpm record player with the assistance of Lynn Brodton who have each signed off on this drawing from the Styling Department of RCA Manufacturing Co. in Camden, NJ.  It was part of the design process and evolution for what became the 45rpm record player released in 1949.  This model has classic streamlined moderne details, the vertical grill (it had no external speaker and had to be plugged into a radio so this was purely decorative" and the layered box duplicating motif on the side of the record player.  The streamlined tear drop shaped needle speaks to the 1930s while the spare, stark placement of the knob is fitting with Vassos's devotion to modern design, simplicity and clarity for users. The model evolved over time to an even more clean design as seen here in this photo with Arthur Fielder of the Boston Pops. 

​