The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As collectors, we have all seen the Craiglist ads, museum curators, you tube videos where people have poor knowledge of phonographs and give inaccurate information to the public.

We have heard people refer to cylinders as rolls. (dinner rolls, pianos rolls)
4 minute cylinders on 2 minute machines vice versa
Attempts to play a Edison DD on a 78 machine with a steel needle and vice versa.

Little do people realize the spreading of incorrect information by these uninformed people can really have a impact not only on collectors but on preserving these precious and sometimes rare recordings and machines.

Just think that rare brown wax cylinder may become played with a Amberola machine and the historical significance can be lost forever, or the carriage that sticks causing a worn in ring on a cylinder, or even a tone arm that does not swing freely causing record damage.

I think as much we must continue to educate people about correct playback and use of machines and recordings, In addition to proper repair and maintenance on machines. I have seen far too many damaged recordings, sadly many end up on online auctions. Many antique dealers care less, as long as it looks old, it can command some big bucks!

Maybe we should put out a "how to" guide that covers all these things, something that is easy to access through this site. BUT again antique dealers couldn't care less when they are trying to make the sale. When I switched over from tube radio collecting to talking machine collecting an antique shop in eastern Pa. demostrated a Victor machine using an Edison DD record. Back then (1981) I did not know any better. It sounded like crap and I did not buy the phonograph. Even now I still get confused when it comes to playing cylinder records on what machine, things like that. That's why I always ask dumb ass questions. To learn from the masters on the TMF.

My personal pet hate is to see machines advertised and/or displayed with the soundbox on the "wrong" side of the record, as here :

To atone for his egregious sin, the owner of that machine will promptly pack and ship it to me, postpaid, in Pennsylvania. Include the record also; I've never seen one with the strobe printed right on the label---great idea!

OTOH, the label says "Music while you work." So if I want to listen, does this mean that I have to run out and get an actual job? The deal's off.

Don't worry. I staged the scene!

No machine or record was harmed in the making of this picture.

"Music while you work" records were produced in the UK for the entertainment of factory workers during the Second World War, and there was also a radio programme of the same name.

epigramophone wrote:"Music while you work" records were produced in the UK for the entertainment of factory workers during the Second World War, and there was also a radio programme of the same name.

I'd always wondered about those discs and suspected something to that effect. I found a small pile of them several years ago and picked them up out of curiosity. If I recall correcttly, it's not really a strobe, but just a pattern on the label border. Epic label 78s have this design as well and it doesn't actually function as a strobe, but with the Deccas I could be wrong, so if I am, educate me!

Sean

A few more thoughts:

Be careful what you believe.
Ask yourself: "Does this make sense?"

Example: Do the math.

If something involving numbers and dimensions
does not make sense mathematically, then one
can conclude that there was a typo somewhere,
or a mistake, or possibly some other such
influence such as pure BS.

Chuck

I think the biggest issue is knowing you need to replace the steel needle after each play. Every phonograph I’ve stumbled upon when antiquing has a steel needle which is almost flat from wear. I once had a seller tell me “this phonograph even has its original needle” as though that was some major selling point.