The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm looking to find a key with tassel for XVI for a reasonable price. I see keys all over the place, but none with the tassel.

Thanks,
Bryan

You can buy a nice tassel at any good fabric or craft store. People added tassels to compliment the keys. I don't know of any phonograph manufacturer making tassels. For a Mahogany phonograph, I suggest a burgundy or a maroon one. For an Oak Machine, I suggest a golden one.
Harvey Kravitz

The tassels seem purely a modern-day collector activity. I've never seen a period illustration of tassels used on phonograph keys.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:The tassels seem purely a modern-day collector activity. I've never seen a period illustration of tassels used on phonograph keys.

George P.

Makes it easier to keep track of the keys for us old folk with our failing eye sight.

Tassels were used in Victorian times. They were attached to furniture and cabinet keys. It was only natural to attach them to phonograph keys. I have them on my phonograph, furniture and cabinet keys. Also, they look nice on the small Christmas feather trees.
Harvey Kravitz

Phonofreak wrote:Tassels were used in Victorian times. They were attached to furniture and cabinet keys. It was only natural to attach them to phonograph keys.

Of course - - I didn't mean to imply that tassels themselves were a modern development. I suspect they predate Victorian times. But a floor-model phonographs were not originally supplied with them. The OP seemed to think that all Victrola keys were originally equipped with tassels.

George P.

Here are some nice tassels for a reasonable price... now all you need is a key...
https://www.amazon.com/Inch-MAHARANI-Ta ... ssels&th=1

Sorry everyone. I didn't mean to imply a key with tassel from Victrola. I know they didn't come with tassels. My thought would be a key in which someone added a tassel to a while ago versus a brand new tassel.

Tassels serve a number of purposes, not the least of which is decorative. My wife buys them for me at stores such as JoAnn's Farbrics and Michael's (both are large chain stores). I have bought some cheap ones on Amazon but they were not of a standard to use on phonographs.

They do provide eye-appeal, and I have sold expensive phonographs such as a B-375 Edison, whereby my customer has reminded me to be sure to incude the tassel. And in another case, when kept the tassel for re-use, a customer who bought a Sonora Supreme contacted me after receiving it and asking for me to send the missing tassel.

Raphael

Now, we have an ongoing tassel hassle...