The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have that one as well....I got it at an estate sale a few years ago and put it up and forgot about until I got my Victrola XVIII a couple of months ago. I started to look at it and noticed it seemed to have info about early recordings which is something that is really starting to interest me also.

I also collect 33's and love listening to them so I geuess the two go hand in hand!! To me there's something intiguing about a recording that was made a hundred years ago...... but I think I'll try and master one thing at a time.....I gotta learn to crawl before I can learn to walk!!

As a "semi-newbie," you should know that From Tinfoil to Stereo, although an important book in the history of our hobby, is riddled with inaccuracies. It took me years to "unlearn" some of the stuff I digested from that book. For an idea of what I'm talking about, here's a PDF file of an article I wrote a few years ago. The download is safe - I posted it!

http://sd2cx1.webring.org/l/rd?ring=pho ... ndex%2Ecgi

Go to "CAPS Online News." Then click on the 6th item down: "Tinfoil To Stereo." As I say, the download is safe.

If you're interested in early recording artists, especially operatic and classical, Roland Gelatt's book, The Fabulous Phonograph is a good read and not plagued with inaccuracies.

George P.

I've been advised that the above link involves signing in the other website, so let's try this:

phonogfp wrote:

Retrograde wrote:
The books by George Paul & that other guy are a must too.

George P.

Stay away from the Fabrizio (other guy)/ Paul books if you don't want to be depressed by the phonographs you don't have but wished you did!

Books, as expensive as they can be, are a must for the hobby. I don't think anyone's mentioned the Frow books, a must for the Edison collector for sure.

If you focus on buying books before machines, I think you'll make better choices in the machines you buy. If you are not sure where you want to focus, the Fabrizio and Paul books are excellent at giving you exposure to what's out there. They also give you a chance to see, at least in pictures, very rare machines that few of us will ever be able to own.

So... my advice is choose the book you want for Christmas and then quickly make known which one(s)you want for your birthday!

Andersun wrote: Stay away from the Fabrizio (other guy)/ Paul books if you don't want to be depressed by the phonographs you don't have but wished you did!

Depressed? We should rejoice at what's out there - both discovered and still undiscovered.

Just 3 weeks ago I stumbled across something very much like one that had appeared in one of our books 12 years ago. Had I not seen one before, I wouldn't have known what it was. I never dreamed of owning the item in question, yet now I do because it sure helps if you have an idea of what you're looking at. There's still a lot more phonographs out there waiting to be discovered!

George P.

George,

Many thanks for posting your article - have printed it and am looking forward to annotating my copies of the book!

Regards, Glenn.

recordo wrote:George,

Many thanks for posting your article - have printed it and am looking forward to annotating my copies of the book!

Regards, Glenn.

You're very welcome, Glenn!

George P.

Yes, thanks George. Have put a copy on my computer.

I have a copy of Tinfoil to Stereo, but have been vaguely uncomfortable with it for awhile (without knowing enough to spot all the problems, but spotting enough to realize that all was not well). I guess I regard it as a landmark along the way. Important because it may have gotten people interested in the hobby, but nothing I would use for serious reference in most cases.

Clay

Jeff,
Keeping in mind that I am an Edison collector, my favorite books that I keep within reaching distance are:

Edison Cylinder Phonographs 1877-1929 Albert Sefl and George Frow
The Talking Machine An Illustrated Compendium Fabrizio and Paul


My sincere thanks goes out to these authors! My depression comment above was meant to be a joke. In actuality, its exciting to see what is out there to be had in the realm of phonographs!!!!!

Steve