The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I don't know anything about inscriptions on phonographs, but I do know there are a bunch of 1985 Chevy Malibu & Monte Carlo with my initials on the bottom.

Watchmakers do that too. In fact, they will write initials and date inside the case every time the watch is cleaned or serviced.

bigshot wrote:Watchmakers do that too. In fact, they will write initials and date inside the case every time the watch is cleaned or serviced.

The older piano tuner/technicians did the same thing: initial the plate and add the date of the tuning. We younger ones don't do that, or at least I don't.

JRT 20/2/16.

I have seen that twice before, usually on the mainspring barrels. I think that indicated the service date on the mainsprings.

...or at least I don't...JRT 20/2/16

lol

Whoever carries my Credenza into the future is going to find a long story about the restoration shellacked to the inside of one of the back panels, I tell you what. Because that machine was just about dump-ready when I got it, and when I finished working on it, I wanted to leave an account of the machine's history with it.

I've had a number of old clocks with longish lists of service dates pencilled somewhere inside. I've often wished they included names, and places. It's an old custom that needs to be continued,and even expanded with some narrative, because it adds so much to the interest of the item.