The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

bob27556 wrote:What was your most gut wrenching moment involving a record you personally broke?

Believe it or not I broke only one in my entire life. It kind of vaccinated me.

I was a child (around 10) and brought my beloved portable to school for some sort of show & tell. I thought it might be fun for other kids to listen to an advertising record in which Stan & Ollie sang a song about a cheese. Quite obviously the voices were not Mr. Laurel's and Mr. Hardy's, but of their italian dubbers, that is the young Alberto Sordi and whoever was his fellow at that time. Is there a better place on earth to store the record than the dedicated record compartment in the lid, I thought? Well you guessed it: the record arrived at school shattered in pieces. I love Stan & Ollie and the cheese song was a really amusing one, so I still mourn for it. In all these years I could never find another copy.

So the pretty bitter school lesson that day was: never, for any reason, carry a record in the record carrying compartment.

When your wife / mother asks you about it, how much do you cut down the actual sale price of your newly purchased gramophone?

Thanks for the question at the beginning of the collection I did not speak the real value for my wife, however after it became serious and the collection grew, she realized the legacy and now yes, I must speak the purchase price of each speaker machine or accessory.

The question:
What is the oldest talking machine of its collection? and what the newest? considering the only mechanical or hybrid models. Post photos if possible.

The oldest phonograph in my collection is an Edison doll. The newest is a Mikkyphone that is marked "Made in Occupied Japan" which puts it post WW-II.

How do you involve your non-collecting spouse or significant other in your collection?

Jerry Blais

Thank You! What kind of Diamond Disc I would make would be new acoustic and electric Diamond Discs, of live jazz bands, or even new popular music (Would prefer someone who writes there own songs). Serious orchestra and opera records as well. What kind of thing would be good on a new 78, some reissues I suppose, but how about new music on them, original songs. My question is what would a mandrel, pulley shaft and gear, and lower bed plate for a Columbia AG/HG run, and where can I find them.

Jerry B. wrote:How do you involve your non-collecting spouse or significant other in your collection?

Jerry Blais

My girlfriend isn't interested in the history of phonographs, but she does like how they look. Instead of seeing 1 here or 1 there she likes to see many under 1 roof so she enjoys coming with me to auctions and shows.

How many machines a year (average) do you buy/sell/trade?

Around 20.
Which phonograph did you sell you wish you could buy back?

Mine was a Victor 5 with an automatic brake.

Amberola wrote:Which phonograph did you sell you wish you could buy back?

The Edison Diamond Disc "Sheraton" model that my Dad bought for me one Christmas. He used to assess property and found it in a house he was working in. He bought it from the original owners and was so pleased to give it to me. I sold it when I needed cash and have always regretted it.

What was the most surprising or unusual place you found a phonograph for sale?

While in college in the early 70's, I bought a 1953 Chevrolet. It wasn't until I got the car back to my apartment that I looked in the trunk and found a portable Victrola. So in a roundabout way, I bought a machine at a car lot. In addition, it was my second machine so it made me an official collector.

Have you found anything interesting or unusual inside a phono?

Jerry

I found a list of record titles behind the record slots in my H-19. What made it interesting, was that there was a name and phone number on it, as well, although I have never convinced myself to call it.

Has anybody ever had to un-bend a warped record or horn door, and if so, how was it done?

winsleydale wrote:Has anybody ever had to un-bend a warped record or horn door, and if so, how was it done?

I bought my Credenza out of a storage space where it had been for a very long time without any form of climate control. Part of the resulting issues was warped front doors. Fortunately while I was trying to decide how to tackle the job, they straightened themselves. I have since become aware that several other people have had a similar experience with warped doors righting themselves when left in climate controlled space for a few weeks. The take-away for me is to be patient and always let cabinets that have not been stored in good conditions stabilize before mucking with them.

What is the machine in the number one place on your "I've always wanted one" bucket list?

Clay