The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This TV series, broadcast on UK Channel 4, follows the fortunes of a resourceful British couple who buy and restore a semi-derelict chateau in France on a tight budget. The sale includes a number of antique and collectable items left behind by the previous owners.

In a trailer for the final episode which airs tonight at 20.00 hours, we are told that they find "some valuable vinyl records". What the clip actually shows is an open horn machine, possibly a Pathéphone, and we then see the couple viewing a collection of similar machines. It might just be worth a look.

I cannot help but think of S.J. Perelman's classic piece, "Down With the Restoration!"
(look it up if you haven't read it).

Bill

This series is now available in the US on Peacock (peacocktv.com, registration required, but no charge for most content including this series).

In S2E3, they take some of the records to Paris, specifically to the Phonomuseum, where they of course meet with Jalal. Two records are played briefly and Jalal encourages them to clean the records and buy a machine to play them properly. They are later shown to use some of the worn records as decorations. At the end, they are shown playing some records on a Columbia table top gramophone that seems to need a reproducer rebuild, and the record they play has a crack and may be playing a bit too fast.