The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I like as an interactive art installation.

James.

TruBuilt wrote:

Wolfe wrote:

The homemade machine is very interesting. Especially in the use of fiberglass resin for the horn.
Nowdays, one with the skills could try some different things with modern materials. Maybe make a very nice sounding machine. As good or better than machines of old.

How refreshing to see something like this, instead of another horrible crapophone.

Thank you...I posted this and then started reading some of the crapophone threads and was like uh oh. I thought I was gonna get razzed for sure. Sounds like a possible business venture...my brother is a sound engineer and audiophile so I think together we could scratch up and engineer a marketable product that works very well.

I think there's a world of difference between what you're doing, and what the manufacturers of crapophones do. On a certain level, crapophones are designed to deceive and rip people off (there is the exception of people who purchase one knowing what it is, just as a decorator piece, but even then, it is tried to be passed of as "just like the original"). Generally, crapophones are poorly made, with cheap parts, that don't allign well. What you are doing serves a very different purpose, and is anything but cheaply made. Additinoally, no one is going to mistake that for anything from the early 20th century. It's actually quite interesting to look at, and a very nice piece. I know many people who have at least expressed an interest in "creating" machines out of odd parts. Not to fool someone, or pass off a frakenphone or crapophone for something it is not, but just out of the tinkerer in all of us. I've considered doing the same.

(just catching up on this thread).

Very impressive. I too am an avid wood worker and have toyed with the idea of building a completely wooden clock. Not knowing how far you have to take the project for your portfolio, one potential way to power power it is through a water wheel. You should be able to regulate the speed just by regulating the flow rate of the water from a reservoir over a water wheel.

Otherwise you will need to add a governor. I hear Schwarzenegger is free these days

Good luck and keep us current photo wise on the project. you might just get hooked by the bug.