The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Watch this and think about this - has it ever happened to you ?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO_8A9tObR0

No, my wife has never painted or wallpapered before.

My wife does not like my collection especially, but she is very tolerant. I'll say, "Look at the beautiful 'XYZ' that I just bought" and she'll say, "That stuff does not interest me". I will say she went to Union and had a good time checking out the whole scene.

I once teased that she'd probably sell my collection before my body was cold. She replied that she'd keep the Opera as a memory of me.

My wife knows life could have been far worse - she could have been a football widow. Or I could have had a mistress or a drinking problem. Every guy needs a vice of some kind. I had the choice of "wine, women and song" - I chose song.

Ah, while there are minuses of course, there are some advantages to being an old bachelor. It would take a saintly spouse indeed to put up with all my collection clutter I expect.

Clay

I find that it takes a special person to appreciate a phonograph collection etc. However, at least there are spouses that are tolerant. I get a feeling most would sell their spouses collection in a blink of an eye. LOL

Fortunately my wife is very tolerant of all the machines filling up the house. But I try to be careful to make all the displays in the public part of the house tastefully arranged -- and well-dusted. My office is a bit more cluttered, but I still try hard to stay on top of the dusting.

One thing that she does appreciate about my collection -- and often comments about when we have guests -- is how much attention I pay to keeping them clean and in working order. They do look great, and the fact that visitors invariably comment about that fact helps her accept my having taken over the place. But the living room and dining room is where I have my showiest machines, with fancy morning glory or wooden horns dominating.

There is one machine that she truly does love, and I admit it surprises me: the Manhattan coin-op. The day I got it, and put it in my office, she looked at it and said "I wouldn't mind having that in the living room!". How could I refuse that invitation? Now whenever we have visitors she invariably insists that they listen to "her" machine. No complaints from me, she can take ownership.

My wife actually purchased my first phonograph - an Edison BC-34 - at a furniture auction. Little did she know what she started. She definitely liked it better when I had only a couple machines and a hundred records. With that times 10 I'm feeling I'm pushing her limits, so I have to tread more carefully.

Andreas

What wife?

I am not sure what to say. I only had one forgotten machine with a couple of records when we met that was 12 years ago. I then started collecting vinyl many thousands later I starting buy electronics amp tape decks cd players Reel to reel decks etc. Then the 78 bug bit mainly through my brother and a local yard sale Then an Amberola 30 came home to be followed by an A150 then an RE45 that was it though I shut myself off and now focus on records, cylinders, turntables that have 78 speed. I play my collection and she likes most of the music so things are good we understand each other. So I guess I can say yes she does
Dwight

I agree with Clay, as I got rid of my wife 20yrs ago so now
I'm just an old bachelor with alot of machines and like
Garret I say "What Wife"
Gene