The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Today I noticed my website went down so called the hosting company and spoke to a very nice woman who solved the technical glitch and got it back up.

In order to confirm it was actually up she told me, "Yes I can see your home page now. It looks like there are pictures of several saxophones or are they old telephones?"

I explained to her that they were neither and she just said, "Well your site is up anyway."

Pictured below are the saxophones and/or telephones from the home page of my website.

Sometimes while exploring a hardware store for some material to cobble up a repair, an over-helpful salesperson will ask what I am trying to repair. One day I was sorting through a box of O-rings. I often reply, an old piece of machinery.

Sometimes that answer provokes another question: "What, exactly"? So I reply, "A phonograph". Blank stare. "A gramophone". Another blank stare. "A Victrola". Yet another blank stare. "A 100-year old record player". Finally, a dim awareness dawns. "Oh".

Young people, sheesh!

VintageTechnologies wrote:Sometimes while exploring a hardware store for some material to cobble up a repair, an over-helpful salesperson will ask what I am trying to repair. One day I was sorting through a box of O-rings. I often reply, an old piece of machinery.

Sometimes that answer provokes another question: "What, exactly"? So I reply, "A phonograph". Blank stare. "A gramophone". Another blank stare. "A Victrola". Yet another blank stare. "A 100-year old record player". Finally, a dim awareness dawns. "Oh".

Young people, sheesh!

I had a similar experience when looking for a typing table for my IBM Selectric. The helpful young clerk had no idea what a typing table was. I thought for a moment and ask if they had a laptop table. Bingo. I was led immediately to a very nice typing table. The exact same thing, just renamed.

Clay

I recall one of the various phonograph books illustrating a telegram about "photographs" because the word "phonograph" wasn't in common use.

I like the telephone on the left in your photo. Jerry

Jerry B. wrote:I like the telephone on the left in your photo. Jerry

I used to drive a 1955 Packard 400 as daily transportation, when it was a 30 year old car. When it was time for a new battery, or wiper blades, or similar...

Auto parts store employee: "What kinda car is it for?"
Me: "Doesn't matter - I just need a size 24F battery"
APSE: "Yeah, for what kinda car?"
Me: "A Packard"
APSE: "Yeah, who makes that?"
Me: "Packard"
APSE: "Yeah, but who makes it - Ford, Chevy, what?"
Me (hauling out baseball bat): "THIRD BASE!"

Many years ago when I lived on Long Island, I got interested in furniture conservation. I didn't know too much and so started to read several books on the topic including some English books. One of them referred to "animal glue." I knew what that was but didn't at that time know the more common name, at least more common here in the Sates. I couldn't find it at my local hardware store and so I started to call some furniture repair shops to see if I could buy some or locate where I could. I called one such place, and a young receptionist answered the phone. I asked if they had any "animal glue." She went "oooo, disgusting!" and immediately hung up on me. Still makes me laugh. Later I learned to call it hide glue. I'm still wondering if it's called animal glue in England.

PeterF wrote:I used to drive a 1955 Packard 400 as daily transportation, when it was a 30 year old car. When it was time for a new battery, or wiper blades, or similar...

Auto parts store employee: "What kinda car is it for?"
Me: "Doesn't matter - I just need a size 24F battery"
APSE: "Yeah, for what kinda car?"
Me: "A Packard"
APSE: "Yeah, who makes that?"
Me: "Packard"
APSE: "Yeah, but who makes it - Ford, Chevy, what?"
Me (hauling out baseball bat): "THIRD BASE!"

"Hey Abbott !!!"

PeterF wrote:I used to drive a 1955 Packard 400 as daily transportation, when it was a 30 year old car. When it was time for a new battery, or wiper blades, or similar...

Auto parts store employee: "What kinda car is it for?"
Me: "Doesn't matter - I just need a size 24F battery"
APSE: "Yeah, for what kinda car?"
Me: "A Packard"
APSE: "Yeah, who makes that?"
Me: "Packard"
APSE: "Yeah, but who makes it - Ford, Chevy, what?"
Me (hauling out baseball bat): "THIRD BASE!"

That happens to me all of the time...

Me: "I need a # 1158 6V bulb"
Auto Parts Store Employee: "What kind of car is it for"
Me: "A 1940 Dodge"
Auto Parts Store Employee: "A Dodge what?"
Me: "A Dodge."
Auto Parts Store Employee: "Our system only goes back to 1955."
Me: "I'll go find it on the shelf myself, thanks..."

Sigh....