A beautiful night for music in the driveway

[dzavracky]

It was so nice tonight I decided to put my Edison standard out on the driveway for a few tunes!


I wish my iPhone took better pictures

Does anyone else put their phonographs outside on nice days?

[VanEpsFan1914]

That looks pretty great, David! All that driveway needs is some couples out there dancing--I'm impressed; the Edison looks great.

I've not done it in a while, but here is a snapshot of part of my DJ setup at a small town festival last year. Visible are a Victor III c. 1909 and an Oxford BZH Hornless c. 1916; not shown are the Fireside and the Amberola 30. I don't have the Oxford but it was essentially a 10" lidless Grafonola with a grille instead of louvers.

I moved the machines later to a hotel garden instead of the park. The hotel had a bar wide open.

Drunks are a strange audience.

[dzavracky]

Hey Charles,

Thanks, the standard would not be operating if it weren't for your help!

Playing 78's for a drunk audience does sound rather interesting! How'd you get that gig?

[VanEpsFan1914]

Well, thanks for inviting me over to try getting the Standard going! I am still kind of tickled with the way that little motor took off once we got all the gears and the spring back in--almost like it wanted somehow to run.

As far as getting the DJ gig, well, I live in a town that is overrun with people who thought the big art festival was a good idea. Some guy showed up one year with crocheted VHS tapes hung from a ceiling and everyone called it "art." Naturally, in keeping with the impeccable taste and breeding of these people, they have music to match: the rhythms either go like Boom Boom boom Boom, or there's the other one that's like Boom, Boom Boom, Boom boom Boom and anyway, you get the drift.

So in 2017 I got curious about showing up and playing some music with a whole different rhythm. Anyway, I showed up in 1920s period clothing and carrying a pair of old portables (the big ones, a Vic 2-65 and a Brunswick 109 Panatrope--You need a portable Panatrope seeings as you like Brunswicks) and anyway, just set down someplace in the park and started grinding the tunes. Figured if I had to listen to their music, they'd have to hear mine...also, I at that time was fairly retiring and reserved so forcing myself out into public was kind of necessary.

It went great. I was unlicensed but looked kind of official so people didn't bother me; they wanted their picture made with me but didn't hassle about my nonexistent business license. A great big fat lady nearly squashed the portable Victrola. I gave records to people who enjoyed the old-school music. (Always have some spare records handy! Always!)

And I had a great deal of fun and so did the people who listened.

I've done DJ work there since, using a mix of machines: Vic 2-65, Brunswick 109 Panatrope, Vic III, Edison Standard (Models A and E) Fireside, Amberola, Columbia BK, Oxford BZH Hornless, and I think that's all. I should have never sold the Panatrope and the BK, and I would rather like to have not sold the Standard E, but that is that. Don't get in a hurry to sell phonographs--even if they are "cheap" for you may, like me, find yourself unemployed, and that will not change your expensive tastes. You are in college like me so you know how it is.

Anyway, it's fun--I love phonographs indoors or out; always wanted to haul a full-size upright Victrola somewhere but never did.

Favorite part of it all? I tested my Vic III against a fast freight train to see what was louder. The phonograph won!

[Zkeener323]

I take my smaller machines and portables outside all the time. Once the sun sets and the air is still and quiet, the sound transforms like you're in your own amphitheater. It's amazing how the sound travels more readily at night. I met a neighbor from down the other end of the street once because she wanted to figure out where the "eerie music" was coming from. Once in a blue moon I lug the Columbia 810 or the Victor Credenza into my sun room that is all sliding glass windows. Let me tell you, with the windows all open on a clear night- it creates one impressive sound stage. I use to take them to the beach but; heat, sand and the sound of the ocean/bay prove to problematic. An interesting aside, I had my HMV 102 at the beach once and the diaphragm was picking up the sound of the waves and amplifying it through the horn. I was hearing the waves in "stereo".

[AmberolaAndy]

I’ve had my VV-50 out on 4th of July and played some Sousa marches. (Only with a soft tone needle) I need to get more marches on cylinder.

[dzavracky]

Thats a great story Charles! I wonder if I can get some of those kind of gigs here in town. Although I am not sure what machine I would bring if I did get a gig lol.

[dzavracky]

[quote="Zkeener323"] she wanted to figure out where the "eerie music" was coming from.


I have hear that same line from my friends when I showed them my phongraphs. That's funny you played them at night and she was out trying to figure out where the music was coming from

[audiophile102]

I enjoy carrying my VV IX out on the back deck and hear it blast away with a loud tone needle. Warm weather is coming back here and it will be great fun playing 78s outside again.

[Gramtastic]

In the UK at 8pm every Thursday we are asked to go outside and clap for our health workers etc. Last week I took the Barrel Piano outside while my son did some fire eating !!