The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In a way, moving out of the folks house and into this apartment was the best thing that has happened to my collection. I had completely filled the space I had at home and was moving in a one bedroom apartment... So naturally I had to sell some things. At first it was difficult to decide what should go because I didn't want to sell anything. But it came down to.... "which ones do you actually USE? Sure this one is cool, but it doesn't sound half as good as the one sitting next to it! It's gotta go".

A now having finally finished setting my place set up, I couldn't be happier with having a smaller collection. I bought one more record cabinet for a cylinder phonograph. Now I occupied all the available space; and have a smaller collection that I can easily use each machine routinely. And it gave me some extra money to find decorations for the wall that would compliment the collection. I recently found a pair of 4 wall sconces from 1935 on facebook for $20. Re-wired them and now have them on the walls next to the phonographs! It almost feels like an authentic experience being in here now.

To answer the question: "What do we do when we run out of space?" I'd say: Let go of the ones that you don't use to make room for ones you will. I say it's better to have a smaller, unique collection; than a huge collection of common items. And if the collection was already whittled down and something is being added.... somehow *just* enough space magically appears somewhere

David

dzavracky wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 11:18 pm In a way, moving out of the folks house and into this apartment was the best thing that has happened to my collection. I had completely filled the space I had at home and was moving in a one bedroom apartment... So naturally I had to sell some things. At first it was difficult to decide what should go because I didn't want to sell anything. But it came down to.... "which ones do you actually USE? Sure this one is cool, but it doesn't sound half as good as the one sitting next to it! It's gotta go".

A now having finally finished setting my place set up, I couldn't be happier with having a smaller collection. I bought one more record cabinet for a cylinder phonograph. Now I occupied all the available space; and have a smaller collection that I can easily use each machine routinely. And it gave me some extra money to find decorations for the wall that would compliment the collection. I recently found a pair of 4 wall sconces from 1935 on facebook for $20. Re-wired them and now have them on the walls next to the phonographs! It almost feels like an authentic experience being in here now.

To answer the question: "What do we do when we run out of space?" I'd say: Let go of the ones that you don't use to make room for ones you will. I say it's better to have a smaller, unique collection; than a huge collection of common items. And if the collection was already whittled down and something is being added.... somehow *just* enough space magically appears somewhere

David

That triumph looks great! I display my better sheets too. That charleston one is killer!!!

When you run out of room, you sell!!!

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=54612

When you run out of room, you sell!!!

Or buy a beach house.

Jerry B.

I'm finding that same issue. I have a fairly big Victorian from around 1877. The first two floors are just a little bit better then 4000 sq. ft combined. If I only collected phonographs I might not have as much a space issue as I do but I also have a couple of pianos, a few jukeboxes, vintage radios, 40,000 + records and a bunch of other hobbies that also take up room.

So... I'm getting estimates now on building out my third floor - which has never had anything done to it. It has a beautiful curved walnut staircase that leads up to another 2000 sq. ft of unused space - with a peaked center point of about 12 ft. The plan is to build it out this summer adding another bedroom and a nice-sized bath and then leave the rest of it open for a media area and phonograph display room. I've got machines in the basement and in the carriage house that are just kind of waiting for a place of their own so hopefully when this is done I can alleviate the crowding on the lower floors (and make room for a few more machines as well!) My goal is to never get to the point where I have no choice but to stack a phonograph on top of another.

Sadly, when I kick the bucket there's no one in my family that wants any of my stuff. I'm a single guy and the nieces and nephew vow they will just sell it all and happily take the money. That saddens me. I have offered to leave any one of them EVERYTHING if they'll take over the house and keep the menagerie intact but no takers. How I wish I had had some eccentric gay uncle, when I was a kid, who was willing to leave me his estate! LOL So I'm just gonna keep doing what makes me happy and I really love collecting phonographs. I've done it since I was a kid. And the reason I bought this big ol' place was because I wanted to house my collection(s). So as they say, "A goldfish grows as big as its bowl." I'm just gonna expand the bowl. And when I run out of room up there there's always the loft above the carriage house!

UpstateNYBilly wrote: Sun Jan 15, 2023 4:46 am I'm finding that same issue. I have a fairly big Victorian from around 1877.

Beautiful house!

CarlosV wrote: Sun Jan 15, 2023 6:38 am Beautiful house!

Really gorgeous!

In the UK your magnificent house would be a Listed Building with a Preservation Order on it.
If your family does not appreciate what you have, is there a local historical society which might preserve it?

Thank you for the kind words. It's actually both a state and federal landmark so it is protected against anyone doing anything to compromise its historic integrity. It's really pretty remarkable in that a lot of the original wall coverings and ceiling paper are original to 1877 and the woodwork is in pristine condition. My tiny little town doesn't have the funding to maintain it themselves and sadly I can't seem to qualify for any grants unless I open it up to the public - but it's one of the points of pride for the locals. Here is a FB page I made for it if you care to see a bit more. I haven't updated it recently but - if you're interested - you can get an idea of the layout if you go to the photos section. Thanks again. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071456208618

Thank you for that facebook link. Your home is beautiful beyond words.
-- Grant