Beatles Caird Hall memento is sure to get auction bids rocking

SALE: Portable record player signed by the Fab Four during Dundee visit is expected to fetch at least £4,000

A portable record player signed by all four Beatles between gigs in Dundee is expected to fetch at least £4,000 at auction next week.

The Fab Four signed the suitcase-style turntable between shows at the Caird Hall on October 7 1963.

The group performed twice that day and had requested a television to keep them entertained.

When they realised they could not get a signal inside the venue, a quickthinking friend of promoter Andi Lothian nipped out to borrow a portable record player from his cousin Jeanette Duncan, nee Gray, who lived nearby.

All four members of the group signed the lid of the record player to say thanks.

They also gave Jeanette a souvenir coin and one of Paul’s guitar strings, although these went missing when she took them to school to show her friends.

In her letter of provenance accompanying the record player, Jeanette explains to potential purchasers how she obtained the record player. She said: “The Beatles came to Dundee in October 1963 to perform at the Caird Hall.

“On the day they were due to perform two shows, an early evening show and a later show. I was lucky enough to have tickets for the early show.

“The concert promoter, Andi Lothian, had arranged for a portable TV to be placed in the dressing room to entertain the band.

“While the first show was still going they realised that the TV could not get a reception.

“My cousin was a friend of the promoter and was at the venue. She said she could get a record player for the dressing room.

“She went to my house and I wasn’t in because I was at the show. She told my dad that she wanted to take the record player away and he initially told her no.

“I don’t think he was too impressed by the fact it was for The Beatles.”

Jeanette’s cousin managed to persuade him and took the record player and a selection of records back to the Caird Hall.

Jeanette added: “The boys were grateful and I was actually invited back stage after the show, but my cousin couldn’t find me so I missed out on the chance to meet them.

“My cousin, who could never be accused of being shy, asked the whole band to sign the record player. All four signed the lid then, with the exception of John, signed the inside rim.”

The record player is being sold by Omega Auctions in Newton-le-willows on Merseyside on Tuesday.

It is expected to fetch between £4,000 and £6,000.

I was actually invited back after the show, but my cousin couldn’t find me so I missed out on a chance to meet them.

JEANETTE DUNCAN

From left: A Courier photographer was on hand as the Fab Four adopted a zany pose in their dressing room; Jeanette Duncan’s signed record player which is up for auction; and how The Courier reported the Dundee concerts.