The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

"Furniture - Undertaking - Victrolas - Pianos." Now that's a diversified business.... Where to find an easy chair and good music in the afterlife.

They were doing the same in Pennsylvania.
This was likely a promotional item. It’s a brush, not for records, more like a boot brush.
Joe

This thread has been very interesting! Now I have one more "keyword" to use when searching for dealer info.

Cheers,
Fran

I thought I’d search the APS Archives for references to “Undertaker” and found 3 relevant mentions.

1. 1984 New Amberola Graphic – Henry Burr living at Undertaker’s, singing at funerals
2. 1987 New Amberola Graphic – Furniture and Undertaker ad
3. 1990 The Talking Machine Review – Odeon Talking Machines began as partnership with Undertaker


You can view those 3 relevant pages here:

http://www.antiquephono.org/wp-content/ ... rtaker.pdf

This was an easy undertaking – pun intended.

I picked up a VV-VIII today. I’ve wanted to find a decent VIII for a while but couldn’t pass this one up due to the dealer tag. And the serial number is 666xx.

Matt

Maybe that machine is possessed? 666XX

I gather the Meteor phonographs and records had a related connection. From a posting on the APS forum:

"Meteor is considered an interesting off-brand in the hobby. Their phonograph brand was a subsidiary of the Meteor motor Car Company known for making hearses and ambulances." [emphasis added]

Fellow Collectors-
I've owned this sign for a number of years and it definitely fits into the theme of this thread. I know people back in the day used to offer many products and services from the same storefront but since owning this I always thought undertaking and phonographs were an odd pairing. After reading this thread, maybe not!

Chris

I can imagine a serious, boring and sad business as undertaking, taking advantage of their well tied contacts with charpentiers and furniture making firms, blooming in happiness as they jump into the flourishing gramophone business as a sideline during the early century gramophone boom. Easy then to imagine also that advertising the Gramophones immediately takes first and pride place, and the undertaking gets a second place... The gramophone craze must have been a thing to be seen, then...