The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I see many people who store their phonographs in bookshelves. I do not like doing this because if I do, I tend not to play my phonographs!

I currently have a buffet table where I display a turntable and a phonograph. But as my collection is getting larger, I don't have enough space anymore !

I was wondering how everyone else displays their phonographs?

Feel free to add photos!

I'm pretty sure there's at least one fairly long thread devoted to this topic on here somewhere...

Try this one:
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ilit=waldo

Matt

I bought some old pallet racks, cut them in two, sandblasted, painted, and cut plywood to size and covered with the same carpet used on the floor. It enabled me to display a lot of machines in a small space. Jerry

Did you notice the space on the top shelf? It's for this years Union treasure, whatever that might be! Jerry

Looks like it might be kinda hard getting that bicycle out from behind the shelving.

Over the years it has evolved to this, for my stuff...

- We have one machine in the living room, a small one that fits the decor of that room. It's more decorative than useful in that role. There are three sort-of "showpiece" machines in the dining room; a floor model in one corner, and two outside horn machines with striking appearance which sit on the ends of a room-wide built-in. So the idea for these two rooms is that casual guests will not be overwhelmed by them, and they are just pleasantly present.

- Further back in the house is the family room, which contains the teevee and modern home theater sound gear and couch and easy chair, plus the majority of the phono collection. So it's the "entertainment center" - and works thematically that way - albeit with a whole ton of entertainment gear available, and kind of overwhelming to the uninitiated. It's a wide room that spans the whole width of the house, so there's plenty of wall space, but it's not too deep. The sofa thus closely faces the teevee on opposite walls in the middle, and the phonos are on the ends. We've got floor models and record cabinets arranged along those side walls, and each has at least one small tabletop model on top. There's also a display case with a couple of table models on top, and a library table next to the couch with a couple more. 18 machines in total are back in there (plus a music box and a roller organ and a Zenith chairside and a Grebe MU-1, just in case).

Everything works with the sad exception of a graphophone that just won't not flutter, but some get used more than others of course. Only difficulty is taking the machines off the tops of the floor models to be able to open the lids and play them. The things on top tend to be stuff like Q's and Gems and Eagles and Coqs, so that's not too hard. Sadly, there are still more machines that could be displayed but just can't be, for lack of space and in the interests of family harmony. They sit quietly in storage, waiting for their chances.

There are plenty of bikes in the garage to ride. It's a two car garage with four bikes on the floor with a bunch more hanging from the ceiling. Jerry

DeeDee and I are very fortunate. We built a house about twenty plus years ago with a full basement. The upstairs is a regular house with one Reginaphone on the main floor. All the collections live in the basement. DeeDee doesn't have to live with them. Perhaps that's why she is very supportive and gives good phono advice. The basement is well organized and I've made an effort to display things nicely but it is very pleasantly crowded. I wouldn't have it any other way. The photo is from the landing looking into the basement. I am a collector at heart. In addition to the phonograph collection, there are bikes, yo-yo's, Oregon Duck sports items, and a variety of things that I describe as "basement worthy". I really enjoy my collecting hobby. Jerry B.

How do I display my phonographs? that's easy, I don't. I've got floor models right now that are double parked! Got to sell some soon!