The Passing of Ray Phillips

[Jerry B.]

I received an email from Jeff O. about the passing of Ray Phillips. Ray was one of the kindest and most generous members of the collecting community. Years ago he and his wife, Nancy, opened their home to collectors that travelled long distances to attend the CAPS sale. The pool side meal and evening were delightful. When Nancy found out that our anniversary was days away she send home the table centerpiece with me. It was a challenge to get a huge bouquet back to Oregon but I was successful. We enjoyed the flowers at our camp site on the Oregon Coast and sent a photo to Ray & Nancy. Jerry Blais

Here's what Jeff sent:

Ray Phillips - 1920 - 2017

Last evening Ray Phillips passed at age 96. Ray was among the most respected authorities of the life and work of Thomas Edison and a renowned collector of phonographs and all things Edison.

Ray has always had a great interest in history and historical preservation. He and his late wife Nancy traveled the world with a focus on history and viewing / appreciating artifacts of the world. They visited folks from all walks of life on their trips, and entertained collectors / historians when they came to Los Angeles.

Ray was the dean of antique phonograph collectors, having started as a teenager in the depression years of the 1930's and with a continuous active interest until a short while ago.-- over 80 years later. Through his efforts, many of the most historic phonographs have been located, conserved and placed where they can be best appreciated. He has been a mentor to more collectors than any one, including virtually all collectors of the 1970's - 1990's living in southern California.

Ray was instrumental to the formation of the California Antique Phonograph Society (a forerunner to APS) and major contributor to the City of London Phonograph & Gramophone Society.

Ray was truly a Renaissance Man and always a gentlemen.

[alang]

May he rest in peace!

Andreas

[TinfoilPhono]

Very sad news.

Ray was a very special collector and I felt privileged to know him for so many years.

Many phonograph collectors are not aware that he was equally famous in photography circles. He is listed in books as the 'father of modern daguerreotypy,' having brought back the 19th century process in the 1930s, long before it became popular among many of today's enthusiasts. Ray made a number of outstanding daguerreotypes which are today in the collections of the Getty Museum. In the 1940s he had one of the world's finest collections of antique daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes. He ultimately sold his entire collection in order to focus all of his attention on phonographs, which he had started collecting as a teenager in 1936.

[phonogfp]

It was indeed a privilege to have known Ray. He was quite a fellow, and truly a pioneer in our field.

George P.

[Polyphone]

Thanks for sharing Jerry. Nicely said. It is great he had such a long life and influenced so many people in a positive way.

Steve O took me to Ray's place back in 90's......it was a jaw dropper before I even know what I was doing in the hobby. He had a minty Class M with the early special/high quality gold plating that was one stunning machine.....you needed sunglasses on to look at it.

RIP Ray, k

[martinola]

I am sorry to hear of Ray's passing. I've only met him a few times, but each time came away enlightened in some way or other. Prayers and best wishes for him and his family.

Martin

[Phonofreak]

I had the privilege to see Ray a few times when I was at the CAPS show. He was a real, down to earth man, who always shared his knowledge of phonographs with newer collectors. He will truly be missed.
RIP Ray, and prayers to your family.
Harvey Kravitz

[GeorgeDixon]

There is a photo of Ray and my father in his phonograph room.
Their friendship spanned some 5+ decades.
I can remember growing up and attending a few of the CAPs shows where he and Ray would talk about all things phonograph.
They both had a passion for the hunt and freely exchanged information, knowledge and support.
I do recall them discussing on occasion the pursuit of any and all things Bettini; conversations that made their eyes wider and smiles deeper.

He was a very kind man and a great ambassador of the hobby.

Respectfully,
Ben Hawes

[NEFaurora]

I didn't know Ray, but he was obviously a man of my own tastes..

Rest in Peace Ray..

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[gsphonos]

Ray was a class act! He was one of the first collectors I met after joining the California Antique Phonograph Society in the 1990's. He and his wife Nancy were very welcoming to me. After we formed the Golden State Phonograph Society, we would have almost yearly meetings at Ray's home. What a pleasure it was to go to his home! The machines, the historical Adobe artifacts, the huge Orchestrion, the RARE machines, cylinders, and records--it was the next best thing to visiting the Edison National Historic Site!! We had our last meeting there in about 2005. Fellow collector and GSPS member Nestor Guzman has a daughter who is a professional photographer. So, with the help of Scott Corbett and Michael Khanchalian, we had turn of the century clothing to put on and pose for a portrait with Ray--as Thomas Edison--along with one of his original tinfoil machines and portrait of Thomas Edison. We all had a lot of fun that day, and all of us have our individual pictures displayed with our collections. At another earlier meeting, we had a good old fashioned recording session. Ray had purchased a box of about 30 original blanks many years ago, and offered them up to us to make our own custom announcement, followed by a professional banjo player who played a tune. I still have my cylinder.

About 10 years ago, when we had one of our GSPS meetings at my home, in Riverside, CA, I was VERY honored that Ray drove the 75 miles to my home, and I was able to show and share my modest collection with him. He made sure to call back, after the meeting was over, and thank my wife and me for our hospitality. I always enjoyed speaking with him. He will be deeply missed! Ray is now reunited with his beloved Nancy. Rest in Peace!

Mike Sorter