The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I don't care if it's rare or common... all I care about is how well it plays records. If it doesn't produce good sound quality, I don't care how rare it is.

To me, the cheaper they are, the more cheerful they are.
As an analogy, I used to consider myself more of a photographer when my kids (now adults) were younger. Looking back, I took "ok" pictures with my Leicas, but actually took very nice pictures with my Soviet knock-offs ... I think because I felt more carefree, and didn't feel like the camera owed me anything, because it was so cheap. With a Leica, the pressure's on and you damn well BETTER take a good shot. Likewise, I find it very satisfying to get great sound out of the lowliest of phonographs. I'm not allowed to keep too many around, though. So the ones I keep are somewhat nice. So here's to all the cheapees I've loved before.

And here's to video links that take up very little server space!

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

As a beginner, my interest was merely in something which would be a conversation piece at gatherings, or a novelty to myself and others. I didn't care, and nor did I know, about values, rarity, demand or any of the other values that eventually came into my mind, and neither did Lori. That happened as a result of meeting other collectors and seeing what they were doing.

In the long run, we still value those easy to acquire (common) machines, and several still merit a place in our collection. A 2 minute Standard is one of the first machines I will demonstrate to those who have never seen a cylinder phonograph. That one is in exceptionally nice condition, and often I see surprise and wonder that a device over 100 years old could survive in such nice condition. To a non-collector, that is just as impressive to them as it would be showing them an Edison Opera.

In time and as finances permitted, we upgraded with finer and more desireable additions to the collection. We still have a half dozen phonographs that are low in monetary value, but high in sentimental value. Sometimes the adventure of acquiring a machine makes it priceless to us.

So, yes, we do collect ordinary phonographs!

As a seasoned collector, I have owned many different machines.
But I have always enjoyed condition over rarity.
Luckily, thru the years, I have been able to collect both "ordinary" and "rare" phonographs in extrordinary condition.
Somehow I feel that when I collect "minty" original machines, that I am closer to the joy that the original owner experienced.

Cheers, Bob S.