The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here's the first one.The other day I had my maroon Gem on the porch of where I live.I played "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon"by Ada Jones and "Casey Jones"by Billy Murray on Blue Amberol.Also "Temptation Rag"by Arthur Collins on 2M Indestructible.My neighbor June came by and took a picture of the Gem.Later she put it on Facebook.Her friend saw it on there and asked,"Where's the slot for the CD's?FUNNY!! edisonplayer

Some of them think I am crazy.
I think that it will be these people that will be first on the doorstep when I die.

Boy...are they in for the surprise of a lifetime!!

Hailey wrote:Some of them think I am crazy.
I think that it will be these people that will be first on the doorstep when I die.

Boy...are they in for the surprise of a lifetime!!

I think I know who will be "first" in line.... .

I suspect I have a couple of friends of the "who in the world would want that old junk" school who are secretly convinced that collecting mechanical music machines is evidence of the onset of dementia.

Clay

In 1993 I sold my showroom-condition 1981 Harley-Davidson Sturgis in order to finance a Class M. I had several biker friends ready to put me in a rubber room (and I haven't owned a motorcycle since then).

These days, my/our friends charitably tolerate my occasional outbursts of enthusiasm about a recent event, restoration, or acquisition. A couple of them are careful to never bring up the topic...

George P.

If I had to worry about what others thought I would have given up my love for old records and phonographs a long time ago. A friend told me that generally if someone ask to hear one of his machines they have about a 30 second attention span an then they are though paying attention. I have been fortunate to have a few people I have known for well over 45 years that although they don't live anywhere near me any longer do at least still have passion for records and phonographs which we share though email. I get few passing interest in them if new people come to the house, but except for one person none of the others cares to hear much of them. The most impressive thing to them is now power cord.. Of course that impresses me and always has.

Larry

FloridaClay wrote:I suspect I have a couple of friends of the "who in the world would want that old junk" school who are secretly convinced that collecting mechanical music machines is evidence of the onset of dementia.

Clay

In that case I have been fully demented for 45 years since I was twelve.

My wife likes my collections, but thinks I already have too many machines (sic). My kids think it's good that I have a nice hobby, but also think I already have way too many machines (around 20). Most friends think it's interesting for a few minutes and may even like to hear a few jazzy records. But once in a while someone comes to the house who is amazed and wants to know more. I just helped such an acquaintance find a very nice VV-111 for $100 and he is all over learning about it and cleaning it up etc. He is a student on a limited budget, so he was very happy to get that machine he could afford. That's a lot of fun helping a young person get into phonographs and old music, regardless if it will be his only machine or if it starts an obsession.

Andreas

Regarding my 78's (and cylinders) what I've gotten is mainly bemused indifference / cloudy eyed stares.

I'm not a machine collector, but over the years, the handful of machines I've owned and had out in view have drawn much more interest. A lot of folks are attracted by "Victrolas." They're always, "Victrolas."

I had close to 60 machines at one time and remember comments to the effect "have you sought professional help?"

My wife plays several machines frequently. She loves them and for the longest time I would send her to auctions to bid.

The latest comment was from an auctioneer who came to pick up 17 of my machines. They were all covered up and she lamented "it looks like a Victrola morgue in here."