The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I know more than a few churches around my area whose sanctuaries were destroyed due to Christmas tree fires in the 1890's - 1900's...

I know people still do it w/o incident, but I wouldn't dream of it.

Too much to go wrong, and too quickly.

At any rate, no I wouldn't have been "surprised" to see candles on the Crawley family Christmas tree, but I wouldn't feel "comfortable" about it either...

The Crapophone was not at Downton, so using the nice HMV machine would not have made sense. The family was visiting Lord Sinderby and it makes more sense that he would have his own record player. Too bad it was a crapophone. The sad truth is, most of the world does not share our passion for these things!

I was watching keenly to see if they had candles or electric lights on the Christmas tree and was surprised to see such small lights too.

Dave

My grandfather still used candles on his feather tree until 1972, when one of his other German buddies said, "Heinz, you'll burn the house down". The next year he has a plastic tree with twinkle bulbs. Very sad.

We still us candles on our feather tree. For crying out loud! The thing is made of wire and feathers, neither of which are combustible. Of course we never use paper ornaments of that tree, saving them for an electrically lighted one in the library. Neither do we use plastic tinsel, and for the last couple of years, tinsel of any kind, since lead tinsel has disappeared.

We still us candles on our feather tree. For crying out loud! The thing is made of wire and feathers, neither of which are combustible. Of course we never use paper ornaments of that tree, saving them for an electrically lighted one in the library. Neither do we use plastic tinsel, and for the last couple of years, tinsel of any kind, since lead tinsel has disappeared.

This is just barely on topic here, but if you want to see a brilliantly done movie as regards to proper art direction, see Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner! Leigh is the British director who made Topsy Turvy about Gilbert and Sullivan years ago. But Mr. Turner is a far better movie that has accurately constructed sets to really look like you are in the 1840s. The two and a half hours went by so fast, and I was never bored for one second! There are many other viewers who have the opposite opinion though.

If you go to "shop PBS" you can buy a Downton Abbey gramophone ornament for about $20.
Jerry

As long as we're on a Downton Abby theme, I don't understand how the series begins in 1912, it's now 12 years later, but no one's gotten any older. Also, I do not see what the single male characters like about Lady Mary, unless they're really into self-centered snobs with a bad attitude.

bbphonoguy wrote: Also, I do not see what the single male characters like about Lady Mary, unless they're really into self-centered snobs with a bad attitude.

I would equate the phenomenon with the "pretty, sweet High-school girl who only goes out with hulking, Neanderthal athletic types who don't treat her well, and constantly has her heart broken ( or worse )"...


Having myself pined after real women not unlike Lady Mary, I cannot deny that people have these strange attractions, though it usually ends in tears...

bbphonoguy wrote:As long as we're on a Downton Abby theme, I don't understand how the series begins in 1912, it's now 12 years later, but no one's gotten any older.

Strangely true, they don't age a day, they just die, like Sybil, Matthew, or Isis the dog.