The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Sounds like an old cartoon...

ColumbiaBY, the rap-ists don't respect anyone, including themselves. Don't waste your time trying to reason with them. They are ignorant and proud of it.

In spite of endless attempts to explain the difference, one of my friends, who is way more than old enough to know better, insists on calling them "radios".

I also occaisonally hear:
- Where's the power cord?
- Wow! those are old! Are they from the 1960s???
- What makes it go?
- So where do you get those round discs?
- So where do you get those round discs? (while looking at cylinders)

Most of my friends are collectors of gramophones, classic cars or both, so their comments tend to be intelligent.

When I am playing a machine at a classic car show, the most common comments from the general public are :

Where did you get it?

Did you restore it yourself?

Where are the batteries?

Can you still get the needles for it?

How much is it worth?

It sounds much better than I expected.

The ONLY comments I get tend to be money orientated!

"Blimey, that must be worth a few quid!" (tending to conveniently forget that it has COST me more than a few already - I don't inherit this stuff! )


And why do the same people also assume that I am in it solely for the money? (as if). The statement is usually followed up quickly with the question: "Are you going to sell it?"

Most people tend to think that collectors are lucky people who miraculously find stuff when they trip over the milk in the morning. In 23 years I can honestly say I've never found anything worth buying myself. It has all come from Ebay / dealers / other knowledgable (about the price) collectors etc and none of it has been cheap.

Two of the most stupid comments I've recieved are, don't you think you've got enought now , and why don't you sell them and have a massive holiday Gordon.

epigramophone wrote:Most of my friends are collectors of gramophones, classic cars or both, so their comments tend to be intelligent.

When I am playing a machine at a classic car show, the most common comments from the general public are :

Where did you get it?

Did you restore it yourself?

Where are the batteries?

Can you still get the needles for it?

How much is it worth?

It sounds much better than I expected.

I nearly forgot the stupidest comment of all.

I was showing a non-collector an HMV102 portable, and opened the corner needle container where I keep the case key.

"Oh look" he said "An ashtray! They thought of everything in those days."

"Are you the original owner?"

Now, I do have a fairly long beard, going white in the middle, but at the sunny age of 46, I don't think I bear much resemblance to Father Time...


About four years ago, I purchased one of my childhood dream cars, a 1928 Model A Ford coupe. Mostly unrestored, but fixed-up into a reasonably presentable and reliable daily driver.

I was ( and continue to be) impressed by many of the comments I receive from the adolescent, tattoed/pierced, and hipster crowds, most of whom are quite complimentary and seem genuinely interested... they usually ask "what is it, what year, is it restored, does it still run ( duh - I didn't push it down here to the grocery store!), what engine is in it, etc."

They are usually astounded when I tell them the details, how it is mostly original, mechanically unrestored, has 88,000 miles on it, dricen daily except during salt season.


The knuckle-heads who ask questions / make comments about chopping / dropping a small-block in it, etc. are mostly middle-aged guys ( my own age ) who just can't believe that an 80 year old car can be perfectly functional, AND fun...

So, I generally try to be patient with the folks who seem genuinely interested, and to move-on as quikly as possible when the knuckle-heads show -up.

I'm sorry to read about the original poster's experience. When I was in college, I dragged the family's VV-IX into my dorm room, but don't recall anybody being annoyed by it... but then, the rest of my freshman doprm was full of "wrestling majors". ( I was a music major ).

I don't think I converted anyone into vintage music enthusiasts / record collectors, but I never received such vitriolic persecution over my interests... most of that seemed to be left behind at high-school...

or...

- I demonstrate my (fill in the blank) phono for a friend
- He asks, "What's something like that worth?"
- I tell him it's in the range of $x,000 to $x,000 or so (x is usually between 1 & 5)
- He replies, "Gosh, wish I had that kind of money!"

I turn my head for a look out the window, see my 12 year old car parked next to his $3x,xxx (insert name of car here) and say, "Another beer?"

Covah wrote:Sounds like an old cartoon...

Or, "is this from a cartoon?"

I've heard variations on that one several times over the years.