The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Think I have between 56 machines. I'm not quite sure how I managed to collect all these machines.

I'm 57 machines in (could be 58 next week ). I gave up attempting to rationalize each machine purchase yonks ago as I could see any attempted justification was simply pointless and futile. Now I just say "I like that!" and go for it!

It is incurable as Starkton says. I haven't sought medical advice as a result of readily accepting my fate. Long may I suffer from it!

kirtley2012 wrote:ok, lets put it this way, im 15 with 8 machines, along with hundreds if not thousands of records, a turntable/stereo system, a homemade gramophone im working on and a emg horn crammed mostly into one room, and i can say, im not slowing down my aqusitions and my parents arent complaining yet so im sure you can get away with a decent collection, just try to keep it organised and dont let it go out of control (arrangement wise)

VV-X - You're on the slippery road to needing a warehouse to live in!

I'm up to 4 in my cabin (18 x 20) and three in my house. The Credenza is the biggest space-grabber, and the Decca takes space. Maybe I should specialize in small portables? -- Of course, the records take up a whole 'nuther wall...

I've put together a modest collection of 34 Victors and Victrolas and have virtually run out of room to display any more without clutter. When my sons move out on their own, I'll have room to collect more. For me, collecting Victrolas, or phonographs in general, is like collecting works of art (some would say Victrolas ARE works of art); it satisfies a human desire to surround one's self with beauty and history.

"Justifying Multiple Machines"?

I think we'd all agree that they justify themselves!

My collection expands to fill the space available, and I expect that I am not alone in this.

The majority of my machines are portables which live under the beds, in the bottoms of wardrobes, in the cars, in fact just about everywhere.

After two dreadful Summers here in the UK, with many car shows rain affected or cancelled because of waterlogged ground, I am considering selling the cars and converting their garages into an annexe. If this happens, the machine count will increase rapidly!

m0xiemama: you need to get into cylinder machines. They are just so different and so fascinating. I came face to face with my first cylinder machine, an Edison Standard I believe, when I was maybe 10 years old. I begged my Dad to buy it for me, but $40.00 was a lot of money in 1954. I was totally hooked for life but it took me until 1971 to get my first one which I still have.
When you get to that point, check in here. We can give you a lot of useful advice about what look for and what to avoid.

Jim

epigramophone wrote:My collection expands to fill the space available, and I expect that I am not alone in this.

My current problem is that my collection has expanded to greatly exceed the space available!

52089 wrote:

epigramophone wrote:My collection expands to fill the space available, and I expect that I am not alone in this.

My current problem is that my collection has expanded to greatly exceed the space available!

and that is the point when you start to create "mount phono"

As I mentioned one time on another post, I am very fond of Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume's two "inviolate Laws of Collecting":

First: Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions regardless of their size.

Second: Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of an object, however improbable its cost.

Clay