Your First Phonograph - Share Your Story

[gramophone78]

What a great thread with just great stories.So,I guess I will share how I became a "Phono nut"like the rest of you!!!! !!!.I'm sure some of you that know me have a good idea what my first machine was.For those that don't know me.....it was a Berliner "trade-mark".I went to meet some man that had a house full of stuff.He wanted something I had and asked me what I would like to trade for it.So,I said (as a joke)I alway's wanted the machine you see with the dog.To my surprize he comes back with one in his hand and say's "like this one??!!".I looked at it and thought...WOW!!!!!.Needless to say I did the trade and I have never stopped buying since.Here is a pic of my first machine.I found out later that the "steel" nickel plated Canadian horn was very rare (one of two) and new was a $4.50 option.That was a lot to add on a $15.00 machine.

[m_nakamura]

Old post.

My first phonograph was from my grandmother, but it belong to her grandmother (my great-great grandmother). I was 11 years old when I first saw it back in 2021, still living in Osaka. My great-grandmother (aged 99 at the time), told me all about listening to it as a child in the early-1930's. I asked if her if I could listen to it, she told me "It's broken. No bother." Fast-forward to around 2023/24, my great-grandmother and all her belongings were moved to the US for EOL care. I have a friend who was in my 9th grade Biology class, always talking about phonographs and records. Eventually I asked him to take a look at our broken J1-95, he replaced a couple things in the motor and it came back to life. I had never seen my great-grandmother so happy, so I cherish phonographs as a hobby greatly.

[AmberolaAndy]

Well I got my first machine in September (I think) of 2008 along with my first 78s. It was at antique store I used to frequent that unfortunately closed down in 2013 (miss that place and their flea markets in May and September and went to every one from September 2007 to May 2013). I remember the original soundbox was already shot, but I taped the needle bar to the diaphragm and attempted to play records with that. I was probably doing things like playing post 1935 records, and reusing needles more than once and playing them on this soundbox the needle bar kept coming off of with hardened gaskets and a damaged diaphragm. Things I would NEVER do today!

I still have it. it’s a “Northome” branded machine, must be a OEM machine they stuck a brand name on. Sadly I ruined the case for it storing it not in the most ideal conditions either
But it still works and can take Victor soundboxes too!

[phonograph guy3435]

i only started collecting a little less than 3 years ago but my first was a 1916/17 amberola 30. it makes some weird noises sometimes but otherwise it works great!

[Lucius1958]

I am somewhat surprised I hadn't written my 'origin story' as a collector all those years ago...

My earliest memory of 'talking machines' was of my grandmother, demonstrating to one of my brothers and me a toy replica of a hand-driven Gramophone: this was in the early '60s. A few years later, I was gifted one of those kits that purported to be an 'Edison cylinder phonograph'.

That did not work; but my obsession was roused. My father got a couple of old Hathaway & Bowers catalogues from somewhere, and those were my 'wish books' for some years.

Finally, when I was in 'middle school' (as I believe it is called now), my parents gave me a birthday present: an Amberola 30 from a nearby antique store. It played, more or less, but was in wretched cosmetic condition: nevertheless, I was proud of it.

I first bought a VV-IX myself the next year, and my (late) brother wrangled a Home A for me; but that Amberola 30 was an education. It taught me the basics of restoration- especially, NOT to disconnect the governor when the machine is wound up!

Anyway: after many years of serving as a guinea pig, I think I have got it into close to original condition.

-Bill

[epigramophone]

I am equally surprised that I have not shared my own story.
In the late 1950's my parents and other relations were making the change from 78 to LP. I would have been aged about 11 at the time.
One relation, I cannot now remember which one, gave me their Micro-Perophone portable and some records. When I showed an interest in it, other machines and records came my way as they were replaced by modern equipment.
These machines had no monetary value then, and their owners were only too happy to give them away rather than see them scrapped.
While still at school I had several machines, but parental pressure following the discovery of terminal woodworm in the largest, an HMV Model 251 Horizontal Grand, resulted in a clear-out. The only machine I kept was a Columbia 204 portable which had been an aunt's 21st birthday present in 1934, and which I still have.

The pictures show myself with the Micro-Perophone, and the Columbia 204 with my Morris Eight, since sold.

[TinfoilPhono]

I'm also surprised that I missed this ancient thread.

My journey started as a 12 year-old in 1961 when I came upon a Victrola VV-IX in an antique store for $5. (That sounds dirt cheap but in 2025 dollars it's about $55, so reasonable but not a giveaway.) I was mesmerized. I took it home and played it endlessly. I later found a Columbia BQ with a large nickeled horn. That was my first foray into cylinders, which were that much more special. At that point I was hooked, and I went on to buy (or be given) a couple of dozen machines over the next few years. I sold most of the collection when I graduated from college and moved west but I did take about a dozen with me, packed with the rest of my belongings in a '66 VW Beetle.

I no longer have the VV-IX or the BQ, but I do still have the third machine I ever bought -- a Columbia AB -- which I've now owned for 63 years. I hope that one of my granddaughters will eventually own it. In addition to that I also have a Victor III and Columbia BO from my original collection.

[ChesterCheetah18]

My first machine was a Cecilian Melophonic portable I bought for $15 on April 18, 1973 according to the notes I wrote on the back of the photo. I was two months short of my 13th birthday. It was a nice little machine with good sound and played LOUD until the day I decided to disassemble the motor to clean and re-lube it. Being very new to spring motor machines, it never occurred to me to let the spring wind down first. The second I removed the governor the spring let loose. I never did get it running again and sold it a couple of years later. I did get a lot of enjoyment from it, and still remember it fondly.

Steve

[colmike1]

The first phonograph I ever repaired was my family‘s Victrola XI. It was relegated to the garage and, when I was 10 years old, I decided to get into it to see what made it tick. All it needed was lubrication. The first phonograph that was truly mine was at a neighbors garage sale about a year later (1975). It was a Brunswick York lowboy console. He was asking $25 for it. It might as well been $1 million. After visiting it every single day of his garage sale, He looked at me and said “Mike I know you want it”. I looked at him and said “I’m sorry I don’t have $25”.He smiled and said “it’s yours take it home”. So I went home, got my little red wagon and, with the help of my little brother we hauled it back home one block away. I snuck it into my bedroom before my parents saw it, and the rest is history.
Mike Wohl

[ChuckA]

Guess I'll add my phono history here too.
2048iness partner at the time, 52 years ago. He knew I collected radios and
had a couple of early TV's. He showed up at our business with this cylinder player and said he found it in one of his families houses and thought I'd like it. It was complete except missing the horn, and the spring was broken. I searched all over to find someone that could fix it and finally found this old collector in Minersville PA, Dave Houser, he had been collecting phonographs since 1930. His house and barn was the proof.
We became good friends even though he could be a cantankerous guy at times.

I still have that phonograph, even after doing 3 major sell offs over the years it's still here.

Chuck