WHEN DID YOU BUY YOUR FIRST PHONOGRAPH OR GRAMOPHONE?

[Starkton]

I think it is important to know when our members started collecting. Combined with the poll of age structure (http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=5140) this would allow further conclusions for the future of our hobby.

[brianu]

I'm really not sure how much knowing a person's age - presently, or at the time of the first purchase - let alone an online poll concerning the same, will really help in assessing the future general, global interest in the collecting of wind-up music machines. I mean, it's an interesting topic. but I know plenty of people who collect phonographs but simply have no interest in online forums devoted to them.

[Starkton]

I'm really not sure how much knowing a person's age - presently, or at the time of the first purchase - let alone an online poll concerning the same, will really help in assessing the future general, global interest in the collecting of wind-up music machines. I mean, it's an interesting topic. but I know plenty of people who collect phonographs but simply have no interest in online forums devoted to them.

Necessarily, this poll only involves members of The Talking Machine Forum, at present the largest and most active online forum of its kind. It covers only a sample of the collectors' society which means that there is an error rate, as in all samples.

I am curious about the result and the subsequent discussion and conclusions.

[brianu]

I'm definitely curious as well... and was surprised by the age of one person already whose first purchase was not made until(s)he was in his/her 60's. but do you really have concerns about the future of phonograph collecting? if anything, once the economy improves (although who knows how long that will take) and people get a bit more financially secure such that they again increase their discretionary spending, I really only see the interest in and value of these machines just going up (much the same as the truly rare ones continue to do, regardless of whatever financial meltdown might be occurring).

[alang]

I assume this question is about "antique" phonographs or gramophones? What is the cut off criteria? Crank only, acoustic, 78 rpm, pre vinyl, pre stereo, pre CD, pre 1930, 1940, 1950,...?
Sorry, don't want to be overly smart here, but it should be clearly defined. For example, I started collecting 78s when I was about 14 and I purchased my first record player when I was 17, and I purchased it with a special cartridge to play my 78s. I only bought my first phonograph when I was 48. So what should I select?
Thanks
Andreas

[Guest]

What Andreas said. I bought my first 33-⅓ phonograph around age 20, and my one-and-only Victrola at age 38.

[Henry]

What Andreas said. I bought my first 33-⅓ phonograph at about age 19, and my one-and-only Victrola at age 38. If the purpose of this poll is to determine when one became interested enough in talking machines/gramophones to actually buy one, that would give useful information about the hobby. Otherwise, this is just a general interest question and not as informative, IMO.

[Starkton]

For example, I started collecting 78s when I was about 14 and I purchased my first record player when I was 17, and I purchased it with a special cartridge to play my 78s. I only bought my first phonograph when I was 48. So what should I select?
Thanks
Andreas

This is unusual, but if you collected 78s at age 17 my suggestion is to select "18 and under", as you were already infected with the "phonograph disease".
Addition: But only when you bought acoustic 78s !

[Starkton]

What Andreas said. I bought my first 33-⅓ phonograph at about age 19, and my one-and-only Victrola at age 38.

You fall under "30-39", 33-⅓ phonographs don't count.

If the purpose of this poll is to determine when one became interested enough in talking machines/gramophones to actually buy one, that would give useful information about the hobby.

Yes, this is the purpose, and I am confident Andreas' approach to our hobby is a rare exception.

It is of course possible to change votes if you mistakenly put your cross.

[alang]

I'm not sure that my case is such an exception. In my case 78s were already available at my house and I could purchase more pretty cheap at flea markets. I was able to play those on an old 1950s electric record player. With 17 when I got some money I was able to buy a good HiFi record player, but made sure I would be able to play my 78s on it. I looked into gramophones, but back then in Germany everything available was out of my price range. Looking back I'm glad I didn't buy one, because it would have probably been some overpriced India repro or crapophone anyway.
I assume that this situation isn't so unique, young people are fascinated by the old sounds and technology, but may not have the money to spend on a "real" phonograph or gramophone. For many a 1940s or 1950s portable may be an affordable option, but does that count? I think any of these options may lead to someone getting the bug. Electricity cannot really be the factor, because that was used very early on, but maybe acoustic sound reproduction? But this would include the 1960s HMV 102 and other late portables as well.
I think it's interesting that so many started out really young. With a lot of the forum members being more middle aged (as far as I remember) this suggests that people stay with the hobby once they start it. Meaning there is no cure for the bug.
Andreas