The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My wife and I just bought a house with 2 separate living areas. Mine is full of old phonographs and records (and several other collections of mine), hers looks like a picture from a magazine with the exception of a lone Victrola VV-X in the corner of the living room. The only record in it is Bing Crosby singing Just a Gigolo. It seems to add a ton of ambience to the room. Trying to talk her into letting me trade the X for an XI. Just showed it to her today. SHE LIKED IT!

Small steps...

Cliff

My collecting started with restoring my wife's great grandfather's VTLA. That is the only machine she would not get rid of. The other 15 would be gone in a heartbeat.....She is very tolerant, though and rarely complains. I just don't want to push it too far. I'd rather have the wife and kids than the machines and records.....

My wife not only tolerates the hobby, she is an active participant in it even though she is really more interested in her musical boxes.

Her record collecting interests are French cafe singers, folk music and children's records. She has her own gramophone, a Decca Nursery Model. When collector friends call she is always ready with tea and biscuits, and they often show their gratitude by bringing records for her.

In March this year we hosted one of our regular CLPGS West of England Group meetings. This time my wife devised and presented the programme of records, whilst I just operated the machines.

After 45 years of marriage we have just about got the balance right.

What a great question!! I would, on the most part, have to answer "yes". It has taken her to places that she would have not otherwise traveled to, and allowed her to meet folks that she would have never met had it not been for the "collection". She came into my life after I had been involved in the hobby for some time. Her first visit to the main house came with a bit of an orientation. When she walked into the main house, I said "look around...this is who I am. And, by the way, the little girl at your heels is my best friend Hailee (my toy schnauzer)."

As you can tell by the photo, she is still smiling!!

Isn't the obvious answer to this question yes, my wife is tolerant?

If she wasn't, you would either not be married any longer, or wouldn't have a collection to speak of.

All I can say is HELL NO!!! She got this out of my collecting. And no, I have never been in the water. Click on picture.

My wife's reaction is lukewarm at best, however she is very tolerant of my interests. She could do without the collection but it's OK with her if I have it. The machines are displayed in one part of the house, I keep their numbers down and am limited to "necessary" floor models (Credenza, C 19 and Amberola 1A). Her favorites are the small machines - Columbia Q with nickel horn, Standard AA & front mount Victor E.
As far as purchasing machines, any time I buy a big ticket item, usually at Stantons, we discuss it beforehand and agree on a max bid. It is a system that has worked well for us for many years now.

Jim

After thinking about it, my wife was the reason I started collecting. That was 20 years ago. We were at the big antique show in Charlotte, NC, and a guy had a XVII. She wanted it so I bought it. She thought that was enough. ha ha I think some collectors are hoarders. House so full you can't walk around in. I try to keep mine down to the best machines I like and can show well.