The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I don't but my wife sure does.

My phonographs came with names when I got them...Victor R, Victor III, etc.

I think naming your machines is taking the definition of being a "phono nerd" to the next level.
Jerry

I never understood or had the desire to give "things" personal names, but I found that many people do. We were six siblings at home, three of them gave their cars names, the other three wouldn't even think of such a thing. I've never heard the same for phonographs though. I guess, whatever rocks your boat is OK

Andreas

They don't come when you call them, so why name them?

(clearly I have never owned a cat...)

I don't purposely name phonographs, but there is an Edison S-19 in the living room with all the favorite discs in it that gets used the most, and we all affectionately call it "ED". This machine was purchased in order to play my Great Grandfathers Diamond Discs that I had acquired 15 years previous to buying the S-19 and it started the collecting habit. This one does seem to hold a special place in our lives, and is located away from the rest of the collection.

Mike

When I acquire an item from the family of a departed owner, I try to learn the name/title of that person, and attach it to the machine. So you get stuff like "Grandma Mildred's Cheney." Sometimes stuff from collectors gets the same treatment...how many of us have a "Terry's Triumph"?

But if I were to walk around calling them Jim or Mary or Scooby or Lambchop, I'd very quickly be living in an otherwise empty house, and likely soon afterwards in the madhouse.

(Note to self: Yep, completely insane! Good to know.)

Jerry Donnell named my C-250 Edison Diamond Disc "Donna Faye"and my Credenza "Fannie",named after a music dealer here in Owego,NY by the name of Fannie Beaumont.Also my Sonora is named "Miriam",after the woman that it came from.The rest don't have names.edisonplayer