The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

some of you might fondly remember charlie martin's store in bristol, pa, called "the place." it dealt mainly in antique phonographs, but also regularly had some music boxes, radios, clocks and even antique phones (functioning and fully restored by someone charlie knew). it was there for years until maybe five or six years ago, I used to stop in almost weekly... it was a fairly small store, but charlie kept normal hours, offered very fairly priced and quality repair services (unlike another NJ store/dealer, other than charlie the closest to me at the time, who butchered something I brought him while assuring me that a motor he rebuilt for me had been playing perfectly before I arrived, despite that (it couldn't possibly have been because) he had installed the entire governor BACKWARDS) and always had many many machines, a regularly rotating stock, a ton (actually, probably multiple tons) of records, as well as parts, project machines, ephemera, etc. even beyond the scarcity of actual retail stores that focus on this stuff, there was always something special about charlie's (I haven't spoken to him in a while, but he was still selling at the wayne show from time to time).

either way, I was on craigslist today and noticed for the first time an ad for a place, also oddly enough called "the place," that seems little more than a victrola and parts booth in a north jersey antiques co-op...

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/atd/4347869957.html

has anyone heard of this one? it couldn't possibly be charlie working again, could it? or just some lame rip-off of his store's name?

Here's their website:

http://www.theplaceinkeyport.com/

Looks like a nice "place."

Joe

Charlie Martin moved to florida and I believe moved in with his brother. He is no longer in the phonograph business as he sold everything to one person when he closed. This is just another place calling itself " The Place " .

Hey Brian,

I don't know for sure but I believe this might be Don Lukowski. Don introduced himself to me at an auction when I started collecting and was a great generous source of information and knowledge for me as as newbie. He also sold me my very first cylinders. A great guy. I know he lives in Keyport with his wife and they actively collect all the items they list on the web page. Also in the Links page is a link to vintage78s.com which is Don's website.

Don and his wife (who I can't recall her name sorry to say) usually sell records at the Wayne show and have always been in front to the left just as you enter the hall (between the door and Don Gfell's table).

I'll have to stop in next time I am in Monmouth County.

Brad wrote:Hey Brian,

I don't know for sure but I believe this might be Don Lukowski....

I just checked the website link I posted above on "who is" -- http://whois.domaintools.com/ and that's who's listed as the owner.

It is in fact, Don and Lorraine Lukowski who are some of the finest, friendliest folks you can know. In fact they have supported the Wayne show for many years. So I do not think it can be consider some LAME ripoff. He hasn't been to the Wayne show the last couple of times since he opened the store in Keyport. I will ask him if he was deliberatly "ripping off" Charlie when I speak/email to Don tomorrow. He is coincidentaly checking out my request for a couple of pieces I am interested in. Don is primarily a record and Sheet music person. Very knowledgeable and has some great stuff including hardware over the years. John

Ripduf1 wrote:It is in fact, Don and Lorraine Lukowski who are some of the finest, friendliest folks you can know. In fact they have supported the Wayne show for many years. So I do not think it can be consider some LAME ripoff. He hasn't been to the Wayne show the last couple of times since he opened the store in Keyport. I will ask him if he was deliberatly "ripping off" Charlie when I speak/email to Don tomorrow. He is coincidentaly checking out my request for a couple of pieces I am interested in. Don is primarily a record and Sheet music person. Very knowledgeable and has some great stuff including hardware over the years. John

relax, it was just a question (prompted by noticing an exact same type of business having the exact same name as "the place" I used to frequent). like I said, I had no idea whose store it was, now I do and I'm sure they're wonderful people. but you can certainly ask them anything you want.

Hi Brian,
Here is Don's reply:

"I know Charlie Martin and from what I'm told he has moved to Florida. We did take his name and he was flattered when we told him our plan. We do get many calls asking if we are "The Place" that was in Bristol."

So it is all good. John

thanks for finding that out. I figured there had to be some sort of connection. considering the reluctance I recall of charlie to do or sell anything on-line, it still amazes me how many people he's managed to connect with through this hobby.