In a Nutshell
This record player likes to stay together with its better half, a RCA A-20 short-wave radio, both designed by John Vassos in 1939

Introduction:
There were a couple of teardrop shaped record players in 1939 (RCA R-100, GE USA HM-3 (same as JM-3) and Can.GE CJM-3), made from bakelite, that are all very collectible (ref.1). This are very simple 78 rpm-only players with no automatic and needing an amplifier to produce music. GE model JM-21 was a wireless player that broadcasts on the AM band, like my Silvertone 5849 (ref.2). Only the GE models are known to have been designed by John Vassos. The original cartridges were heavy Astatic steel needle cartridges, often with extra weights in the tonearm, which are in most cases not working anymore and are obsolete anyway, since they consume a lot of needles and harm more recent 78 rpm vinyl records. There are two depressions on either side of the tonearm that were intended to store spare needles and (once!) used needles. I routinely replace these cartridges with modern NOS ceramic jukebox cartridges, that have two sapphire needles for 78rpm and LongPlay, where the latter ones can be used for 78rpm too (more noise though) as a spare, or - more importantly - for playing the rare 78 rpm microgroove records, that were produced for a short time around 1948/49, mostly in Canada (14 available on request), and had 3 times the capacity of normal 78's. When playing, the sapphire needle happens to be positioned at about 90° to the record surface, such that the tonearm can as well be put on the approaching side of the record (see picts.17,18 and my youtube video).

Additional information:
- ref.1: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/general_el_phono_jm3.html
-            https://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio-Antiks_CGE_CJM3.htm
- ref.2: https://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio-Antiks_Silvertone_5849.htm
- ref.3: https://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio-Antiks_RCA_A20_5.htm
- ref.4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzIpN83Nd9Q

About my Record Player:
The record player is all-original, except the cartridge, which has been replaced by a modern jukebox cartridge (see above). The original cartridge is still working and will be included in the sale. The bakelite is extremely well preserved and super-shiny with no scratches whatsoever. The turntable still has sufficient original flocking. Two capacitors have been wired in as recommended by the service manual. The player works fine with no serious flutter and good voltage output from the cartridge. It is recommended to group the record player with my RCA all-wave table radio (sold separately at ref.3), which is also a Vassos design. Please watch my youtube video (ref.4, or click on pict.32), to see and hear the two playing together. Please e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.

John Vassos [1898-1985]:
Detailed biographies can be found on the net. John Vassos, FIDSA (Fellow of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)) was a noted US industrial and graphical designer. Born in Romania to Greek parents, he designed everything from hip flasks, subway turnstiles, paring knives, Hohner mouth organs, computers, an electron microscope, corporate logos, and illustrated books (including works by Oscar Wilde and graphic books cowritten with his wife) and magazines. In 1933 he established the first internal design department for RCA and remained as its consultant until 1964. In 1939 he designed the first consumer television sets for RCA that were introduced at the New York World's Fair.

Here are the specifications:

Please have a look at prices and more radios, phonographs and gramophones  here