The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I ask this because tomorrow I will be on a 6 hour road trip to pick up a special phonograph, I will reveal it when I get it home. for the meantime, what is you're most lengthy travel and what was it for?

Martin

I once drove from north of San Francisco to far south of Los Angeles -- and back again -- in a single day. That was about 16 hours total.

But I came back with a wonderful early Hexaphone 101.

TinfoilPhono wrote:I once drove from north of San Francisco to far south of Los Angeles -- and back again -- in a single day. That was about 16 hours total.

But I came back with a wonderful early Hexaphone 101.

Holy cow! If it was a good price, it was worth it. A hexaphone is at the top of my list in terms of desired phonographs.

Martin

In an unguarded moment I agreed to help a friend collect this rare Micro-Perophone Chromogram Model MP30 from a seaside resort on the South coast.
It was a 400 mile round trip, so we took the easy option and stayed overnight in a hotel at our destination.

From Newcastle to Exeter and back twice!, though it was for my Expert Junior

I flew down to visit Paul Morris, he kindly took me to collect the gramophone from Somerset and store it at his house in Exeter then I flew back home, later a friend drove me down to Exeter to collect it, we stayed the night then drove back, so about 1,500 miles

Worst part is, there's another I need to somehow collect from Somerset in the not so distant future...

About 15 years ago a restorer/friend of mine died suddenly and unexpectedly right after a visit to me in FL. He was only 41.

When the shock settled, his widow called me and asked me if I still wanted to buy the last piece he restored, which had been already committed to me. I then drove from Miami to the mountains of PA, about 1300 miles, for the one and only purpose of paying my respects and collecting it.

Upon my arrival, she sat down at the kitchen table with me and cried, explaining that upon reflection she couldn’t bear to part with it, because it was the last restoration he ever worked on. So I sat with her for about an hour, drinking coffee and exchanging stories about her late husband, and took my leave to go. As I drove down the driveway, she came running after me and said she had a change of heart, that it wouldn’t be fair to me or her husband (who was buried in her back yard). So, with that, she took me to his shop and helped me load it in the car.

2600 miles, round trip, and I can still remember that visit like it was yesterday.

Raphael

Raphael...
I remember your friend as well. I also visited him, but just a few weeks before he passed away.

I once travelled to the far eastern shore of Long Island from NW Missouri to pick up an item that I had purchased from the family of the original owner. I rarely pay attention to miles...it’s all about the journey for me!

I once went to central Long Island (I used to live there for 34 years) to pick up an Edison Model "D" Standard I saw on Craigslist then I put it in a printer paper box and took it "Carry-On" onto the plane with me. You should have seen me going through airport TSA Security... They (TSA) didn't know what it was! It did chew up some of my time and it was fun opening the lid and explaining to TSA what it was..lol ,but they eventually let me through on my way back here to Melbourne, Florida. Of course I visited friends and family while I was up in NY.... It was fun bring the Phonograph back though. It just barely fit in the "Overhead Bin"...and I watched it the whole time during the flight.. My arms were sore from carrying the darn thing by the time I got back home...but it was worth it!

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

I had a lead on a Columbia BF and an oak half barrel cabinet. I asked for measurements of the cabinet and determined that it would fit in the back seat of my 1989 VW Rabbit convertible so off I started to Spokane, Washington. The condition of the BF was less than desired but the record cabinet was wonderful and included some brown wax cylinders. We worked out a price and I pulled into his carport because it was raining. I took the top down and together we laid the record cabinet carefully in the back seat. I left just as the rain was turning to snow and headed home. My route took me through the beautiful Columbia Gorge which separates Oregon from Washington. It's not uncommon to have 50+ mph winds through the gorge and that day was no exception. If I was driving 60mph into the wind the sound was like driving that little car at over 100mph. Luckily I had some ear plugs which helped considerably. The next day I did the math and realized I had driven nearly one thousand miles for that record cabinet.

Jerry Blais

I drove just last year, a little bit over 6hrs one way to grab a columbia BKT. I had always wanted one, we agreed on a good price so I drove! The wife and I dropped the kids off with my parents and made a long day trip. It was fun!