The first Dansette record player was manufactured in 1952, by the London firm of J & A Margolin Ltd, and at least one million were sold in the 1950s and 1960s.
Dansette became a household name in the late 1950s and 60s when the British music industry shot up in popularity after the arrival of acts such as Cliff Richard, The Beatles and The Shadows.
Larger models such as the Bermuda could be fitted with optional legs for home use, while the Viva, Junior and Diplomat models were designed to be transportable, with a handle and studs affixed to the side of the case and latches to secure the protective lid.
Dansette set a "standard look" for all portable record players of the time - a latched lid on top, a speaker and control knobs on the front, and sometimes a carrying handle.
Dansette production ended in December 1969, following the introduction of relatively cheap and efficient Japanese and other Far Eastern imported hi-fi equipment.