Philco, a division of Ford Motors, produced the most famous flexi-disc series: Hip Pocket Records. These flexi-discs were one sided and played two songs each, including over 50 different Top 40 Songs, as well as children’s songs.
Philco/Ford teamed with three major record companies, Atlantic, Mercury and Roulette, to produce popular music on the Hip Pocket Records. They were sold for 69 cents at Woolworth, and also at local Ford Dealers. Hip Pocket Records were only manufactured for two years (between 1967 and 1969).
Philco produced a small phonograph for the Hip Pockets called the Miniature Radio Phonograph (model S-1378WH). The Mini Radio Phono, as it was called, was especially made to play Hip Pocket Records, but played regular sized records as well.
Hip Pocket Records came in very colorful packaging that was about 6 1/4 inches tall by 5 inches wide and listed the two tracks it played and displayed a photo of the artist or band. In addition, the packaging was a form of advertisement that stressed the Hip Pocket’s portability, durability, and sound quality. The back of the packaging read:
Buy the hits you missed
25 to 50 hip pocket records can be carried in pocket or purse
Hip pocket records can be mailed with greeting cards as a gift
They will outlast a regular 45
Drop them or sit on them...they are almost indestructible
Take them to parties or to the beach or picnic...they are the most portable form of music
Don't let the small size fool you...the sound is amazingly big
Start your collection of hip pocket records today.
Interestingly, the bit that states Hip Pockets will outlast a regular 45 was written and manufactured before it was discovered that flexi-discs did not last very long. However, the part stating that “the sound is amazingly big” was true.