How do you keep your spouse happy?

[Jerry B.]

DeeDee and I have a great relationship. I always try to find her something special on my travels as well as something that has a bit of shock value. A few years ago I was in Minnesota and found this lamp/magazine holder/ashtray (candy dish...see the candy cigarettes?). When I returned to Oregon and was unloading, DeeDee held every door open and directed me to the basement. This treasure did't even get to stop for a complementary photo next to my chair. I sure wish this basement had windows. What's the weather like in Oregon? Is it still raining? Jerry Blais

[EFearing]

Mine left me... squeezed her out with my collections.

More room-less headaches

ED

Ha!! I laughed at that one. At least with phonographs you can turn them off when you don't feel like listening to them anymore. Also, they are easier to put away and pack. Sarcasm intended!!
Harvey Kravitz

Amen!! Ed

[Jerry B.]

A couple of years ago, DeeDee and I were at the CAPS show with other Northwest collectors Dan Melvin and Stan Stanford. On the day of the sale, the collectors drove to the show very early in my truck. Dan left his rental car for DeeDee to drive later in the day. I wrote down directions which included navigating at least four or five Los Angeles freeways. Well, I forgot one freeway in the directions and DeeDee got lost in the Los Angeles freeway system! When she finally got to the sale, I begged for forgiveness and promised a great dinner out. Dan said "forget dinner, she deserves jewelry!". Forgiveness came in the form of a emerald ring. Jerry Blais

[EdiBrunsVic]

We keep each other happy. My wife and I enjoy each other's interests. She likes to collect historical books and I like old phonographs and records. We have limits on how much we collect. Our mutual interest in family history and genealogy keep us both happy and grateful for what we have.

[Tinkerbell]

A couple of years ago, DeeDee and I were at the CAPS show with other Northwest collectors Dan Melvin and Stan Stanford. On the day of the sale, the collectors drove to the show very early in my truck. Dan left his rental car for DeeDee to drive later in the day. I wrote down directions which included navigating at least four or five Los Angeles freeways. Well, I forgot one freeway in the directions and DeeDee got lost in the Los Angeles freeway system! When she finally got to the sale, I begged for forgiveness and promised a great dinner out. Dan said "forget dinner, she deserves jewelry!". Forgiveness came in the form of a emerald ring. Jerry Blais

After spending most of my life living in SoCal and driving LA freeways daily -- until we moved to the Midwest in 1999 -- I have to say Dan gave you very wise advice!

[edisonrestorer64]

Hello a Note to
Jerry B.
on How do you keep your spouse happy?
I would find out what she really likes and tarde in that ashtray/candy dish for something more usegul you got to use a thinking cap for this one
My self personally my girfriend is love to knit and bake maybe some pearlys jerry or diamonds>??

[Ampico66]

Like others, I'm not married, but like other single collectors (mainly men) I have bought way too many machines and could use a few tips about decorating and home furnishings, flow, etc. I wanted to stage my 1920 house as if it were lived in by people from that era. Needless to say, they wouldn't have all the best machines that Victor and Brunswick had to offer, nor would they own 12 different floor model phonographs. Oh well...

My cat enjoys opening the record storage doors on the Victrolas (confused me to great end until I caught her doing it one day), listening to the Credenza at full tilt (right in front of the horn) and climbing up to the top of the Electrolas. She's declawed, don't worry.

[Roaring20s]

In years past, listening to these old records was a solitary act. I would dig into the stacks and sort them when no one was home. Understanding what I liked took time. My wife likes classical music and I would play those for her. She would read, I would work the phonograph. Over time a selectable collection emerged. I learned her likes and she'll now make requests.

Share the music.
Include love songs.
Lower the volume as needed.

James.

[Valecnik]

Like others, I'm not married, but like other single collectors (mainly men) I have bought way too many machines and could use a few tips about decorating and home furnishings, flow, etc. I wanted to stage my 1920 house as if it were lived in by people from that era. Needless to say, they wouldn't have all the best machines that Victor and Brunswick had to offer, nor would they own 12 different floor model phonographs. Oh well...

My cat enjoys opening the record storage doors on the Victrolas (confused me to great end until I caught her doing it one day), listening to the Credenza at full tilt (right in front of the horn) and climbing up to the top of the Electrolas. She's declawed, don't worry.

I really like the idea of decorating a house to an era, in our case ~1912. The good thing is a 1912 house can always have older stuff, just nothing newer. The bad thing, as you correctly point out is most families would have had only one phonograph in a living room and maybe a second older model on a porch or in a bedroom, possibly also a portable. In our case we at least try to imagine it's possible that a family couldn't totally settle on format so we have a Victor V, Triumph Model E and an Edison A250 in the living room.

[Swing Band Heaven]

After spending most of my life living in SoCal and driving LA freeways daily -- until we moved to the Midwest in 1999 -- I have to say Dan gave you very wise advice!

I never drive when we are in LA - those freeways give me the willies!! AND you have to drive on the wrong side of the road