The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

After the dealer set-up/Early Buyer day closed at the 2015 Union Show, the APS sponsored a free presentation open to anyone. The video of Shawn O'Rourke's enjoyable presentation entitled Drop A Nickel In The Slot is now available on the APS website:

http://www.antiquephono.org/videos/

Suitable for the hard-core collector, newbie, and patient friends/family alike, Shawn's program describes his first encounters with antique talking machines and the growing obsession with which we are all familiar. He also pictures and describes items that might fuel the daydreams of any collector.

Also included is a Question & Answer forum which followed Shawn's presentation.

We hope everyone who was unable to see the live presentation will enjoy the video, as well as those of us who were fortunate enough to be there.

This might be a good time & place for a reminder that the December issue of The Antique Phonograph will soon be appearing in mailboxes around the world. If that journal and the annually sponsored public presentations such as those at Union and Buena Park are the type of things you believe are of value to our hobby, we would respectfully ask you to consider becoming a member of the Antique Phonograph Society:

http://www.antiquephono.org/join-us/

Best to all,

George P.

Thanks for posting about this presentation. I really appreciate Shawn's research on coin-op machines. The original tokens are very scarce so it was nice to see them also.

A great resource George.

I have added a link to your video page on the website I manage for the Southeast Chapter of MBSI. http://www.mbsise.org Hope it helps drive a little bit more traffic your way.

Clay

Thank you, Clay!

George P.

Ken,

Thank you for your comment. I love learning and sharing about coin-ops. Phonograph tokens are just one of the many complimentary items that hold my interest.

Here are a few of the more important tokens that I have acquired since I published my first two articles on coin-operated Phonograph Tokens in 2012. All are nickel-sized

• The Texas and Tennessee tokens are from the North American era. These Phonograph Companies were both North American affiliates.
  
  The Amet is from approximately 1894/1895. There was a coin-operated Amet machine based on the Class M, as well as the Bell Tainter.
  
  The Multiplex Grand was an attachment that was made for a Class M top works to play multiple cylinders. There was a coin-operated version of this mechanism.
  
  The three Multiphone tokens speak for themselves. They would have been used by a technician to work on the machines.

Shawn