The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

We had our daughter, her husband, and our two grandkids at the house over the Christmas/New Year holidays. Our 2 year-old grandson showed interest in an old phonograph (an AH Graphophone) in the front hall. Rather than risk it to a ham-fisted toddler, I brought out a Victrola IV and some common records. Well, son-of-a-gun...he likes it. We've had to play it every day since then! (Click twice on images to enlarge.) Of course, if he collects antique phonographs, he'd better learn how to use a screwdriver, so we lubricated the electric train engine. He didn't understand how the screwdriver worked at first, but after a few seconds he tightened the final screw with no problem. Tomorrow we'll do a mainspring...(just kidding!)...

Our 3 month-old granddaughter was bored by the whole thing. But she likes sleeping on grandpa's chest, so that's just fine.
George P.

A very cute kid... Don't you just love grandkids? Both my grandson (2) and my granddaughter (4) love my Regina and Symphonion disk music boxes. They have learned how to start them and call me to wind them up...

It sounds like you're having a wonderful Christmas this year George!

Cheers to all y'all,
Fran

Great!

My two year-old granddaughter is crazy about my Graphophone Grand. I have no idea why she focuses on that one rather than any others, but that's just the way it is. She constantly begs me to play it for her, and insists I open the hinged front panel so she can watch the motor. She lights up like a Christmas tree whenever I play it for her. But the other day I tried following up with a Columbia AD and she cried.... Back to the GG for another round.

She is also crazy about the Charleston and loves to dance to it. She gets so excited when I'm winding the Victor that she literally jumps up and down and shouts "Yay! Yay! Yay!!" in anticipation of the needle coming down on the disc. Incredibly cute.

My goal is to inspire a genuine and hopefully life-long interest in them. Assuming her interest does continue, I plan to give her a Columbia Eagle by the time she's 10.

That's awesome George! Here's hoping he'll follow in your footsteps and be a collector some day as well.

I hope you all had a great Christmas!

Ahh, precious moments.

My grandson is just one year and I'll be sure to keep a fixer-upper available for his (my) amusement.

James.

George, you and Barbie are fortunate grandparents. Enjoy every moment and thanks for sharing some of them with us.

Jerry Blais

I saw my first Victrola at age 6 in my grandfather's summer house in Vermont and I have been hooked since. Good job starting them out young!

Curt A wrote:A very cute kid... Don't you just love grandkids?

Yes!

fran604g wrote:It sounds like you're having a wonderful Christmas this year George!

Cheers to all y'all,
Fran

It's been fun, but it's over now. I must admit I can use a rest!

TinfoilPhono wrote:Great!

My two year-old granddaughter is crazy about my Graphophone Grand. I have no idea why she focuses on that one rather than any others, but that's just the way it is. She constantly begs me to play it for her, and insists I open the hinged front panel so she can watch the motor.

You see, that's the difference between us, Rene. You're a GRAPHOPHONE GRAND grandpa, but I'm only a VV-IV grandpa! Your granddaughter is clearly not as impulsive and pathologically curious as this kid. He hasn't been up to the third floor yet, and the thought of it give me hives. Maybe by the time he's 8...

NateO wrote:That's awesome George! Here's hoping he'll follow in your footsteps and be a collector some day as well.

I wouldn't bet on it, but we can dream, can't we?

Roaring20s wrote:Ahh, precious moments.

My grandson is just one year and I'll be sure to keep a fixer-upper available for his (my) amusement.

James.

Rene recommends a GG for maximum fun.

Jerry B. wrote:George, you and Barbie are fortunate grandparents. Enjoy every moment and thanks for sharing some of them with us.

We are indeed, Jerry. I don't know about "every moment," but it's certainly been a fun 8 days.

52089 wrote:I saw my first Victrola at age 6 in my grandfather's summer house in Vermont and I have been hooked since. Good job starting them out young!

I can't take much credit - - it was his idea. I will, however, carefully exploit the little guy's curiosity until he's hooked good and hard. Mwaaaahahaha...

George P.

This is such a cool thread. I don't know where I'm going with my life (chasing an English degree at the moment--then what?) but if anyone small is ever calling me "Pa" or "Grandpa" I only hope to be as much fun as you guys are.