The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well, as my back and available help allow, I am slowly but surely bringing more machines into the shop. Today I managed (by myself) to bring over my dealer-customized red lacquer Credenza. The factory wouldn't custom finish machines of this era, but the local dealers would. This one originally graced a house of ill repute in New Albany, Indiana. The dealer decal reads: 'Louisville Music & Radio Co./Incorporated'. Notice the factory decal has been covered up by the red lacquer.











John M.

John, that cathouse probably trashed a super-gaudy phonolamp when that Credenza moved in!

Ahahahahaha! Good one! LOL!

John,

It definitely looks like you’ve made a good start on moving machines in—hopefully the remaining ones are lighter than that Credenza. Unlike a lot of the things we see proclaimed as ‘one of a kind’, I imagine that that machine is one of a kind.

Still loving your new location?

— MordEth

Oh yeah! We love this place! It is a beautiful place to wake up every day. And then to come downstairs to this beautiful shop in this beautiful town . . . life is good.

I actually have an odd-ball machine called a 'Castlegrand' made in Richmond, Virginia. It is half again as wide as a Credenza and mahogany. The horn opening is under the lid, so you must play the machine with the lid raised for maximum volume. The entire front of the machine opens with a pair of bi-folding wooden doors to reveal record storage racks, and the records on each rack all tip forward for selection when a wooden knob is pulled. So I have one machine bigger than the Credenza. At 52 (on May 4), I'm still strong as an ox, but it was all I could do to man-handle the Credenza in and out of the bed of the truck without damaging it or myself! I'll get help when I move the Castlegrand! I'll take photos when I get it over here, and post them.

John M

John, Looks like you are off to a great start. Please keep up posted as progress continues. Great looking setup!

Thank you, Bruce. I'm already starting to run out of room, though! I don't like my machines stacked like cord wood. I like to let them 'breathe'. The Credenza sounds incredible in this room . . . much better than it sounded at the old house.

John M

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Thanks! Give me just a few days . . . I had surgery on my shoulder a couple of weeks ago and I'm still a little sore from it. John M

Those machines look stunning in that setting. Brilliant. That Cradenza though I suppose you would describe it as unique, although given that it can from a "house of ill repute" perhaps the colour was appropriate. Also, given where it spent alot of its life you should be grateful that this particular talking machine can't actually talk and tell the tales of what went on around it!

RJ