The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Sad to report that my good friend Charles Tyler passed away recently. Charles got me started in the phonograph hobby by selling me a "long john" Home with a 3-4 min attachment - I often told him I didn't know if I should thank him or blame him for my addiction. Charles was a fixture at the Union Show having attended every year since the very first one. Charles, Les Wilson (RIP), and I would travel together to Union every year and shared many good times together. I'm especially attracted to Columbia machines and bought many from Charles since he would call me and tell me he had acquired another one of those "junk" Columbia phonographs. His true love was anything Edison - as you might remember Charles sold his entire collection a few years ago at the Stanton Auction and it included many rare Edison phonographs including Operas, Ideal, and Class M.

Here's a picture of Charles with his newly purchased Class M's - notice one has a Polyphone attachment.

Charles was my go-to guy for anything having to do with phonographs plus a really good friend and he will be missed.

Charles was a great guy! I talked to him many times at Union, he always had a smile on his face.

Sad to hear of his passing.

Bob S.

Sorry to hear the news. Charlie was a great dealer at the Union Show. I really enjoyed sitting in his booth and listening to his stories.
Ken Brekke

Charlie was a great guy , a true example of integrity and honesty to the hobby, My wife and I met Charlie when we first started collecting some 25-30 years ago , we had just found an Amberola 3 ,which I wanted to trade to Charlie for some items that he had that I needed to finish a couple of projects, I suggested the terms of the trade but Charlie being the man of integrity that he was, insisted on giving me more than I had asked for. He wasn't about to take advantage of a new collector. Everytime we visited him in KC he would invite us to stay at his home to save us on a hotel room, while we never took him up on his offer it was heart warming to have been asked. Larry Nelson

I'm sorry to learn of Charles' passing. He truly was a "great guy." For many years Tim Fabrizio and I were set up next to him at Union, and I always enjoyed talking to him.

Seems as though we're losing a number of longtime collectors quite recently.

My condolences go out to Charles' family.

George P.

It's sad to hear about Charles. He always had time to talk even though I only saw him at the Union shows.
I remember back in the day he always had plenty of NOS Edison DD T-bars with diamond stylus available.
So I only bought what I thought I needed to last until the next Union show, knowing I could get more.

Larry Crandell