The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

NEFaurora wrote:I thought Edison's lab was being disassembled and being moved back to Menlo Park, NJ within the last few years...At least that's what I read on the Edison Orange, NJ website a year or two ago...

No?

Can Anyone comment on this?

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

I sincerely doubt there is any truth to this at all. I live 20 minutes away from THF, know several folks who work or volunteer there, and have never heard a peep of this.

Indeed, it looked the same this year as it has since I was a child. I don't think anything was moved.

I would try to see both, but if I only had time to see one, I would pick Greenfield Village. Be sure to get a ride in a Model T touring car too. It's very fun and like you are back in time! Your daughter will love it. Marc.

marcapra wrote:Be sure to get a ride in a Model T touring car too.

Or just swing by my place and I'll give you a ride in mine!

Dave D wrote:I think you will find the museum a disappointment if you are hoping to see very many phonographs. The last time I was there, the phonos had been reduced to a sort of representation section. A cylinder machine, tin foil, Berliner and than it moved on to wire recorders, 8 tracks, etc.

Museums do rotate exhibits. The last time I visited the Ford museum was in 1988. There were a lot more historical and technical things on display then than now, apparently. A friend of mine visited there a few years ago and said a lot "of the good stuff" had been removed and replaced by exhibits of hands-on contraptions to demonstrate scientific principles to inner-city kids. He was dubious how much was being learned - he likened the atmosphere more to a playground than a museum! We have noticed that trend in other museums around the country too.

Yes, that's true. Museums now try to be classrooms with teaching goals and objectives, like the history of the women's liberation movement that was/is in the Henry Ford, complete with a jail cell where women protesters were held for demonstrating for the right to vote. The Science museum in LA actually has a large SUV that kids can lift by pulling down on a giant lever demonstrating the Archimedes principle of a fulcrum and lever. If you go into the Henry Ford looking for phonographs you will probably be very disappointed. They do have a lot of cars.

Update from me--we arrived at the Henry Ford yesterday to 345 pm after driving in pouring rain all the way from Valparaiso, Indiana. We had just one hour in the musuem itself, but loved it! Only 1 phonograph on display--an average diamond disc. But, the musuem was still an awesome experience---even for just an hour! My daughter, parents and I loved it. Today we went to Greenfield Village. The rain had stopped, and it was a beautiful day! We went right to Edison's lab, and we're the first ones there. We had the guides to ourselves! Jerry Davis is the man seen helping Mo make a tinfoil recording on the great TV show--Innovation Nation. Jerry was there, and after I told him I had three tinfoil machines at home (reproductions), and my daughter Ellie, who is 11, starting talking about making recordings at home, he let us behind the rope to inspect and then record on the original tinfoil machine on display there! He got out Rene's tinfoil book, and I showed him my machines. He had me sign the back of the book with my name and date of visit. After We recorded and played back, he removed and gave me the foil as a souvenir. Jeb Bush had been there just a couple of days ago, ahead of his big presidential run news and had recorded. We talked tinfoil for some time and then another guide showed how they re-load the tinfoil machine, and they use something like a rubber rolling pin to smooth out the foil. It was all awesome! We videotaped and took pictures. So, we really got a being the scenes tour of everything there at the lab. It was awesome! We only had until 1 pm to be there, so after spending until noon in the Edison areas, we took the model T ride, and then also the bus ride around the park, just to see what we didn't have time to see in depth. The whole experience was awesome, and I specifically asked about any movement of anything back to Menlo Park, and the answer was an absolute no! Everything is staying put, as is, right there. This was quickly done on my iPad-too hard to type a lot, and I haven't checked for errors. It was great to see so many of you at Union on Sunday morning! Only thing I will not be able to do is go to Cal Stewart's grave? We changed directions and went to Michigan instead of down through Indiana to Kentucky. So, maybe another year to visit Uncle Josh!

Would have loved to visit some of the local collectors there like His Master's Voice, but we were just so crunched for time. Another time hopefully!

Thanks for all the advice from everyone!

Mike Sorter
Gsphonos

It's great you finally got a beautiful day! I hope you also got a look at the Wright Bros. bicycle shop and Henry Ford's boyhood home!