The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ever since the internet has slowly eroded the burlesque marketplace, tassels have collected in large quantities, only to languish in dark, seedy warehouses.

Fortunately the talking machine hobby industry has come to their rescue through some very diligent marketing experts.

Free the tassels!

Chuckles y'all,
Fran

fran604g wrote:Ever since the internet has slowly eroded the burlesque marketplace, tassels have collected in large quantities, only to languish in dark, seedy warehouses.

Fortunately the talking machine hobby industry has come to their rescue through some very diligent marketing experts.

Free the tassels!

Chuckles y'all,
Fran

OK, confession is good for the soul: Not only do I have a tassel on my C-250 (and like it), the grille cloth is a flamboyant Asian-inspired print, not some drab grey-green obeisance to what might have been the cheapest choice the Edison company could scare up as "original equipment" when shipping machines out.

If any of you come across a distasteful tassel with a gold Victor key attached I'd be more then happy to take it off your hands.

fran604g wrote:Ever since the internet has slowly eroded the burlesque marketplace, tassels have collected in large quantities, only to languish in dark, seedy warehouses.

Fortunately the talking machine hobby industry has come to their rescue through some very diligent marketing experts.

Free the tassels!

Chuckles y'all,
Fran

I have vivid memory of being taken, while in my 20s, to a place where tassels were being displayed. One particular display impressed me mightily, being capable of twirling two tassels clockwise, then counter-clockwise, and then both directions at once (one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise). I've seen some very impressive phonographs with tassels, but that particular display really stands out in my memory.

George P.

Have been using them for over 25 years.....so, nothing new to some of us... .

phonogfp wrote:
I have vivid memory of being taken, while in my 20s, to a place where tassels were being displayed. One particular display impressed me mightily, being capable of twirling two tassels clockwise, then counter-clockwise, and then both directions at once (one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise). I've seen some very impressive phonographs with tassels, but that particular display really stands out in my memory.

George P.

Hahaha, George, I would not have thought such a naughty lad lurks within!

Raphael

I like tassels. They add a little color and style that can be changed with the season if desired. They don’t change anything and can be removed or replaced without any damage to anything. That said, only one of my cabinet keys has a tassel, small and emerald green on my Oak 130.

Raphael wrote:

phonogfp wrote:
I have vivid memory of being taken, while in my 20s, to a place where tassels were being displayed. One particular display impressed me mightily, being capable of twirling two tassels clockwise, then counter-clockwise, and then both directions at once (one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise). I've seen some very impressive phonographs with tassels, but that particular display really stands out in my memory.

George P.

Hahaha, George, I would not have thought such a naughty lad lurks within!

Raphael

I was only a fresh-faced lad, wide-eyed and innocent, being led down the path to Purgatory by members of the JayCees (Junior Chamber of Commerce)...

George P.

Chuck wrote: However, there is also some of the "monkey see,
monkey do" influence at work here, I think.

This is pretty much why my VV-XI has a small gold tassel hanging from its key. I saw other people were doing it so I thought “why not?”

I find that non-phono people like the tassels for some reason and have even had people ask if they were original. They soften and add (texture, color, material) to an otherwise stale (from an non-collectors perspective) exhibit. The utilitarian value is well worth the price of admission in my opinion - I would hate to lose a key!