Hi guys!

[Tara M]

We don't have cacti here in Phoenix-we got lots of cactus though. Seems like alot of phono collectors are in your new part of the world rather than here. In fact one of our members moved from NY to Arizona was here for a few months and than back to NY.
I will be out gathering some needles shortly and when I do I will PM you and send them to you. By the way I'm one of those old giesserers hwo cat'n sellp either.
Abe

Abe... I like that dry sense of humor you have! Do you use harvested needles on your phonograph? What's your opinion of them versus the regular fibre needles? Thank you for the offer to send needles, I appreciate it!

Welcome, Tara. Great to see younger people on here and it's a lovely story about your upbringing and where your interest came from - comparable to mine, I grew up enthralled and enchanted with the amazing "vintage" world that was my grandparents' house (I still have their HMV 109 gramophone and a lot of their collection of 78s - plus loads more now, of course!). I still feel young, too, although middle aged now!

There's a small but seemingly growing bunch of younger people collecting over here in the UK too, which is nice to see.

That is so exciting that you have a phonograph that has been in your family! It's neat to imagine that it was part of so many holidays and events in the lives of your grandparents. Thank you for the warm welcome.

[Orchorsol]

That is so exciting that you have a phonograph that has been in your family! It's neat to imagine that it was part of so many holidays and events in the lives of your grandparents. Thank you for the warm welcome.

Yes! I spent a lot of holidays there and what I loved best was spending hours spinning 78s. That gave me my very wide tastes in music and inspired me to learn music. What amazes me now is the collection they had - as well as unusually fine classical, comedy, dance bands, popular etc it included some really hot 20s discs that were super rare over here even when new - original issues of the Cotton Pickers, Mound City Blue Blowers etc on the UK Brunswick Cliftophone label, issued the same years as the same US Brunswicks. As to who had such great tastes and why, all I know is that my grandparents were great dancers in their day.

[Norfolkguy]

Tara, I'm so happy you're here. This is an awesome forum, I've been collecting and loving phonographs since I was six, and thought I knew a lot until I found the forum. The members are so generous with their time and knowledge. You won't be bored!

[artglass86]

Hi Tara, I'm in Tucson! We've got barrel cactus everywhere. They make the best needles. I find the sharpeners put to much of a point on them, and it leaves them bristoly on the ends, so they don't last long. So I sharpen em on a grinder, they last about 3 plays and sound better.
But I do know what you mean by your family not being as excited as you! My family a bummer! They just don't understand! They bring pictures of there dogs,there garden etc. They could care less about the machines and the music they make. My wife tells me to put a sock in it! But I have to admit, they are super loud. So if it wasn't for the collectors around here, I'd be one lonely old sucker. One of the best things about down here, there's yard sales year around. That's how I've made a living since 1986 You don't find many phonographs, but I deal in all kinda of antiques.
Have fun!, Mike