The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Earlier this month, I took my VV - 50 to school. I serve as a teacher assistant and help one of the upper grade elementary teachers in addition to other assignments. One of the upper grade teachers was summarizing a group of lessons about gravity, friction, types of force, simple machines, vibrations, and other concepts. I brought in the Victrola, a few records, and a spare motor from another parts machine. The various concepts were all brought together with the demonstration of these historical items. The students were fascinated and learned from the brief lesson. The photo shows me preparing to place the sound box onto the record while several of the students watch. Other classes were also interested, so the demonstration was given four times. This is one good way to share history and some science with children.

It's great that you brought your VV-50 to school and taught kids about the hobby. I remember you were telling me about this on the telephone.

Good for you!

Among other things I teach Chicago history as an adjunct prof and the class this term is dedicated to the 1920s. I'm resolved to bring in my Edison Triumph cylinder player and will justify it by playing some dubbed Blue Amberols from the 1920s--but then will take a leap back to the waxes (after switching to my Model O reproducer, of course) and show them the wonder of those records.

"All's fair" in trying to interest new generations in these machines that live and breathe under an empathetic touch. Today's antiseptic technology has lost that feel.

The old industrial machinery had to be coaxed to overcome its imperfections; in that it shared a commonality with humanity. You could feel the irregular rhythm and physically nudge it towards better behavior; you could "feel the vibrations." Back in the old steam engine days, engineers would (carefully) extend a finger as a piston brushed past and thereby feel the temperature--and judge if the engine was operating correctly. No need for thermometers.

Today one presses a button--and that's all one gets to do.

Ralph

Young kids are eager to learn and when it is something as strange as a phonograph it grabs their attention!
I bet they'll remember the experience later on in their lives.
What was your choice of music? What did they think of the old music?

Also, Ralph, get those older students' faces out of their phones!

James.

Roaring20s wrote:
Also, Ralph, get those older students' faces out of their phones!

James.

James, I hear you and am trying as best I can. So many of them are truly addicted to those phones/pads, etc. But many even at that age are capable of responding to something truly engaging if you "sell" it to them with enthusiasm.

Last term I even sneaked some Maria Callas in....

P.S. I see you still quote Nietzsche at his best; good for YOU.

I have brought both my VV-IV and my G-50 to school. Both drawn people's interest, but when I set the VV-IV up in the cafeteria, to my surprise, some of the people who are couples got up and started slow dancing. That was a sight I'd thought I'd never see, high school couples dancing to Strauss waltzes and even some foxtrot records. I used about 100 needles that day, that's how much interest it garnered.