The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

De gustibus non disputandum. But I still think the Kurtzmann is a very pretty phonograph--

audiophile102 wrote:Undoubtedly way ahead of it's time. I'm a traditionalist so it doesn't appeal to me.

I think audiophile102 and I may be like-minded: I like cabinets based on established traditional furniture styles (Chippendale, Renaissance, Adam Bros., William & Mary, Jacobean, Elizabethan, Louis XVI, etc...)

My problem is that I love the sound of the early Victrolas but the standard lineup isn’t my style (because it’s not really any particular established style—it’s a whole separate animal, and I respect that). I much prefer the period cabinets. The early Edison cabinets are gorgeous, imo, especially the Modern Renaissance, Chippendale, and Sheraton Inlay—but they house Edison machines, and those aren’t for everyone, lol. The only thing I’d do with a Kurtzmann glass phonograph is carefully and respectfully pass it on to someone who appreciated it

I wonder how much glass they broke making it. I like it . It is unusual . Tom

What kind of talking machines appeal to a "traditionalist?"

I think JW got it right when he mentioned the period cabinets. I was surprised to learn that Edison had some copy cats in the making of period cabinets. I am looking for a Cheney machine right now and they come in Sheraton, Hepplewhite, Queen Anne, Georgian, William and Mary, etc. type cabinets similar to Edison. A simpler definition of traditionalist would be "Knock, knock, made of wood!"

PeterF wrote:My house.

But it’s only to look at, and in your case would require transcontinental travel to a place where the political climate might be a bit too blue for ya.

I keep meaning to do a Featured Phonograph dealio on it, and will try to get that done.

In the meantime it seems that not many of them sold far from home (Rochester NY) originally. So scan Craigslist for a radius around there (don’t forget the nearby bits of Canada) for Kurtzmann and glass phonograph and stuff like that, and one might turn up.

These were made in Buffalo, not Rochester.

Jerry B. wrote:What kind of talking machines appeal to a "traditionalist?" I do think it's good that each collector has his or her own focus. Just curious...

Jerry Blais

I love cabinet photographs like my 1916 Sonora Invincible. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21672 Innovation in technology and design is a wonderful. Yet I am attracted to cabinets designed in the 1900s. I see modern industrial design gaining in popularity and I just don't get it. The Kurtzmann and glass phonograph clearly is a machine that would be at home in a museum of modern art despite it's age. Way ahead of it's time. I think it's great that each collector focus on what gives them pleasure. Modern design just doesn't do it for me. To each his own.

JohnM wrote:
These were made in Buffalo, not Rochester.

Yikes, that’s right! Oops. Should’ve said “western NY” or something like that. Thanks John.

I think that the Kurtzmann is one the most attractive machines ever made but then again I love every machine that involves glass.

Jerry B. wrote:What kind of talking machines appeal to a "traditionalist?" I do think it's good that each collector has his or her own focus. Just curious...

Jerry Blais

I don't know... since this one seems traditional to me, like the Pathé Diffusor... but I like odd variations of records and machines. Maybe the term "traditional" applies to the furniture style of the cabinet, even though most cabinets are "phonograph period" fantasy interpretations of some type of furniture style. I think that any early phonograph is "traditional", given that they are all historic, obsolete technology.