Why do you do what you do?

[EFearing]

1] I am 57 years old{dosen't seem possible!!!}

2] I also refinish and restore antique furniture, clocks, houses, art and player pianos.

3] My other artistic endeavors are various. I have been playing the piano and theater organ since I was 10. I had a Great Aunt who played in silent movies that taught me. Her thing was to play by "ear" so you could follow the action on the screen, or the performer at the various Minstrel, Vaudeville shows that came to town. I have also acted in many local musicals as well as produced and directed. I used to paint, but this fell by the wayside with all the other activities. Most of these talents were used in my 30 years of teaching. {retired}

4] Music has always been a large part of my life. There is a pic of me at age 5 carring an RCA Victor radio around by the cord. (my favorite toy) I found my first phono at age 10 in the trash. a neighbor was moving and put out a Brunswick Seville for the trash man. I got there first! I wasn't allowed to take it in the house so it remained on our vast front porch tucked away in a far corner where I would spend many hours playing and marveling at the sound and technology. Growing up we had an old maid's quarters behind the hous where I would collect and enjoy my treasures. My grand parents were antique collectors and would carry me on their excursions where I could pick up the occasional Victrola, usually free, (most people considered them junk in the 1960's) These experiences led me to a lifelong hunt for mechanical musical instruments. The antique business also followed, mainly as a side line but also as a way to further my collections

[bbphonoguy]

How old are you? I'm 54

What other objects do you like to restore and enjoy? Anything antique (or just old) and mechanical. All my kitchen gadgets are from the 50's or earlier, and they all still work. I've apparently settled on Sunbeam as my brand of choice. I have the mixmaster (with attachments), the toaster, the coffeemaster, the egg cooker, the waffle baker, and I don't even know what else. I would love to get a Regina music box someday, and an Ampico reproducing piano, but I'd settle for a Duo-Art if I had to. . I'm also working on restoring the 1910 house I share with my friend, but he's actually done most of the work there.

What artistic endeavors do you entertain? I like to sing, and to draw.

Why do you love phonographs or the other interests you have? Well, I prefer listening to the music of the 1890's to the 1930's, so I'm actually more of a record collector, though I do have 5 phonos, with a 6th on the way. My dream machine is a VV230 with an oriental lacquer finish. My other interests are riding the motorcycle and working out.

[Tinkerbell]

There was a similar thread about 2 years ago which was kind of fun:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... e+you+into

Do I really need to reveal my age??

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Me, I'm 54.

I like old junk.When I had the time to fiddle with them, I was very into old radios as well as phonographs. Canadian Marconi sets are a particular interest. And as you folks have certainly gathered from my scans , paper ephemera and periodicals are a great love of mine.

Artistic endeavours are my life. I'm a piano technician and my clientele involves many of the performing arts groups here so my vocation and my avocation end up in a delightful melange. I get to to tune for the concerts and productions that I would otherwise go to see were I NOT getting paid for it. I've served as the Board Chair of one of our mid sized professional theatre companies as well.

This leads into the next point: I taught high school music and English for years before I trained as a piano techie, so it all comes together .The first time I saw an acoustic phonograph was at a friend's 5th birthday party. It was an C250 Diamond Disc
machine...alone and unloved in the woodshed. ( I grew up in the country.) It was kismet: love at first sight and it eventually became mine. I still have it.

In the pic I'm showing the wretched piano in the Tapestry Opera Studio that I mean business. They can sense fear.

[kirtley2012]

Im 14 (15 on oct 21st)
i like to buy, collect and restore just about anything record related, everything from lp's to brown wax cylinders! But i also play the banjo
Im good at making things!, my most recent accomplishment was making a guitar!
I got into gramophones/phonograps about 4 ½ years ago when browsing the internet and discovered some videos of gramophones playing, i was hooked ever since!

[m0xiemama]

Wow Kirtley you are quite young for this hobby and from the sounds of your posts you have done quite well with the collection! I was a very lazy 14yr old so kudos. I am jealous of your drive. Also, please post a picture of that guitar if you get a chance.

[Tinkerbell]

Wow Kirtley you are quite young for this hobby and from the sounds of your posts you have done quite well with the collection! I was a very lazy 14yr old so kudos. I am jealous of your drive. Also, please post a picture of that guitar if you get a chance.

I have to echo what Moxie said, and could not have put it better!

When I have seen you Kirtley on this and the UK forums, even though you are self-described as a teenage collector, I assumed by your collection and knowledge that you were likely late teens.

It's great to see such passion fostered in someone your age... a rarity these days.

[kirtley2012]

Wow Kirtley you are quite young for this hobby and from the sounds of your posts you have done quite well with the collection! I was a very lazy 14yr old so kudos. I am jealous of your drive. Also, please post a picture of that guitar if you get a chance.

I have to echo what Moxie said, and could not have put it better!

When I have seen you Kirtley on this and the UK forums, even though you are self-described as a teenage collector, I assumed by your collection and knowledge that you were likely late teens.

It's great to see such passion fostered in someone your age... a rarity these days.

thank you for your kind words!, sorry it took so long but here are some various pics!:

and to add to my earlier posting, i am very musical, i am currently learning the guitar and banjo, i cant afford a teacher so i am trying to teach myself with help from the wonders of the internet!, would any guitar/banjo players out there reccomend any books/dvds for someone learning folk, blues, country etc music on guitar and any banjo books/ dvd's

(i am holding my 1977 yamaha FG-330 guitar and a modern aria banjo, i soon hope to buy a late 50s framus archtop guitar)

[EdiBrunsVic]

The guitar photos are great! Thanks for sharing them and for your great contributions to this forum!

[kirtley2012]

thanks don!