Discomatic models

This page sets out to list the different Discomatic models and their variants. There is also a table of features. If you have a Discomatic and are not sure of the model, the table should help you decide.

Gerinvex model naming

So what did the Gerinvex model names mean? All models were covered by the general name Discomatic, but there were different Discomatic versions in the catalogues of the day. The list goes something like this - Type A, TD-ASS, TD-COF, EL-COF, EL-POR, X-100. I've had plenty of time to think about that and have a theory that some of these were French abbreviations.

• Type A. Well, this is probably self-explanatory. If it was the first Gerinvex model then Type A was a pretty good choice!
• TD-ASS. The prefix TD may have been an abbreviation for 'Tourne-Disque', French for a turntable. ASS may be the abbreviation for ASSiette, relating to the TD-ASS being a 'deck' without amplifier.
• TD-COF. Same prefix as TD-ASS, but could be TD-COFfre, indicating this was a 'turntable' without amplifier in a wooden cabinet.
• EL-COF. The prefix EL may indicate 'Electronique' if these included an amplifier. The EL-COF would therefore be an amplified version of the Discomatic in a wooden cabinet.
• EL-POR. This one is easy. The same EL prefix to indicate it has an amplifier, but a PORtable version.
• X-100. This name doesn't fit any pattern. Did the X-100 exist or was it just a photo in a brochure? Was this Discomatic not a Discomatic? Check out the X-100 page for my speculation on this.

Non-Gerinvex models

How many other manufacturers adopted the Gerinvex mechanism and made players or jukeboxes based around it? I don't know the answer to that question, but will add any confirmed versions that I come across.

The two I do know of are listed below

• KB Discomatic. Arguably the most famous of the Discomatics. Mostly sold originally in the U.K. and Australia though some have found their way to other countries. The KB Discomatic will only run from 240V so would require a quality step-up transformer for use on 120V mains. Many KB Discomatics have survived and are in regular use. Many more surface on a regular basis.
• Victor Discomatic. Manufactured by Victor (Japan Victor Corporation or JVC). Victor made some very stylish consoles and home players based around the Gerinvex mechanism. I've never yet seen a Victor Discomatic, but have included the information I've found so far on the Victor page.

Timeline

In this section I've listed key dates in the model history of the Discomatic models from owner accounts, news items and advertisements.

• 1964. In August the Discomatic was announced in the U.S. and shortly after in the U.K.
  Confirmed in Billboard articles. The photos show a prototype so probably pre-dated the official models.
• 1964. In December the Discomatic was soon to be available in the U.S.
  Confirmed in a NY Times article. The article suggests that the TD-ASS chassis would be the first model available in early 1965 at a price of $100. This would be followed by an assembled version later in 1965 for around $180. It appears that this launch never happened. The EL-POR Discomatic was first sold in the U.S. in 1967 as listed to follow.
• 1965. The KB Discomatic was on sale in the U.K.
  Confirmed by an original owner who bought his low serial number KB Discomatic in 1965 and still plays it today. He paid 77 guineas which was £80/17/0 at that time.
• 1965. The TD-ASS, Type A and TD-COF were launched.
  My speculation that these other 'twist-start' machines were launched just after the KB Discomatic which featured the same mechanism).
• 1966. In July the first version (V1) EL-POR was being manufactured. This would have replaced the Type A.
  Confirmed by a hand-written note on the amplifier chassis of a V1 EL-POR.
• 1967. The KB Discomatic was nearing the end of its life.
  Confirmed by an original purchase receipt for a late model, blue Discomatic on 14/8/67. This machine was apparently new, but cost only £47/5/0. Perhaps the retailer discounted it to sell it off as discontinued stock?.
• 1967. The Gerinvex factory moved to Thonon-les-Bains in France. Factory build began in 1967.
  From the Swiss Jukebox Art book by Franz Urs Linder. The build was funded by Loel Guinness.
• 1967. In September Gerinvex licensed the Victor Company of Japan to build full-size jukeboxes.
  Article in Billboard.
• 1967. In September the V1 EL-POR was launched for sale in the U.S.
  Article in Billboard. This was probably the first time that the Discomatic was available in the U.S.
• 1967. In November the Symphomatic was launched in Paris.
  Article in Billboard.
• 1967. The Discomatic is available in the U.S. in time for Christmas 1967.
  Confirmed in a news article about Gloria Guinness, wife of Loel Guinness. Price was scheduled to be under $200.
• 1968. The TD-ASS was available from shops in the U.S.
  Confirmed in an advertisement in a paper local to the U.S. distributor. The price for the TD-ASS was $120.
• 1968. In June 1968 the V2 EL-POR was for sale in the U.S.
  Confirmed in an advertisement in a local paper in Delaware. The price was $225.
• 1968. Frank Sinatra plays a Discomatic!
  Confirmed in an newspaper article, CN U.S. The Discomatic was a present from Gloria Guinness.
• 1969. Refurbished EL-POR 'seconds' were available from the Discomatic distributor in the U.S.
  Confirmed in an advertisement for a warehouse sale. The price for the refurbished units was $99, regular price was $225. Perhaps they were making way for the new stereo machines?
• 1970. The 'new' stereo Discomatic was available in the U.S. This would probably be the EL-POR V3 or V4.
  Confirmed in an advertisement from a newspaper in WI, U.S., September 1970.
• 1971. In January the EL-POR was available to rent.
  Confirmed in an advertisement in a newspaper in MA, U.S. The rental price was $2/week.
• 1982. The factories in Thonon-les-Bains were closed.
  From the Swiss Jukebox Art book by Franz Urs Linder. This was probably when the last Gerinvex full-size jukeboxes were produced.

Table of features

The table below covers some distinguishing features of the portable Discomatic models that I've encountered. If you own a Discomatic you should be able to identify the type from this table.

The EL-POR evolved through at least four design variants over the years it was manufactured. Gerinvex did not identify these as different models, but I have shown each version separately in the table to help with identification.

Check out the EL-POR page for more information about the different build versions shown in the table.