The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Interesting photo that begs the question - "How do you play a record on a horn machine in a canoe?"

Can you say “needle run”?

Perhaps he’s doing it for the enjoyment of other boaters - he’s one of the first DJs.

Curt A wrote:Interesting photo that begs the question - "How do you play a record on a horn machine in a canoe?"

Victor clearly thought that it could be done :

Given his attire and pose, I expect he wanted to put on airs by playing Gilbert & Sullivan's The Gondoliers, but in fact he probably ended up playing "Paddlin' Madeline Home" or "In My Tippy Canoe."

Answer: Very carefully.

There is an island park in Detroit called Belle Isle. The "Lagoon" is a popular canoeing spot, and has been for well over 100 years. Old photos of the park show dozens of canoes with phonographs along for the ride. Every time I see such a photo, it makes me wonder how many phonographs are rotting away under the waters of Belle Isle's lagoon.

Jerry,
I've seen those photos of Belle Isle and wondered the same thing. I also wondered if this photo might have been taken near there...

"he probably ended up playing "Paddlin' Madeline Home" or "In My Tippy Canoe."
That's more than likely true...

There is a lot going on here...

The phonograph looks like a Columbia Graphophone and the large reproducer on it suggests post-1910 (it's not the early Analyzing.) The man appears to have stuck his canoe full of flags and other decorations; perhaps it is the Fourth of July, or he has decorated his canoe for the 1918 cease-fire. In that case the graphophone could have been charged with patriotic records. He certainly isn't dressed to impress anyone, but the fact that he is wearing "American trousers" (aka, no "fishtail" waist and has a belt, and the very scant bow tie, suggest he is keeping up with fashion trends for that era.

Then again, the bunch of cushions in the front of the canoe makes me think he is bringing a girl along--maybe his wife, maybe applications for that position are open. The seat in the stern of the canoe is right there--he probably spilled a bunch of water on the graphophone trying to paddle and use it at the same time. I don't see the fun of taking a girl out in a canoe only to have 50 pounds of loud graphophone stuck in the way of actual conversation.

By the way, the amount of nails in that timber he has his canoe next to, is worrying, considering the canvas hull...and some people tilt their hats and stand up straight, but he put his hat on straight and leaned into it.


The 1906 Victor catalog answers the question of how to use a gramophone in a canoe: bring a cherub along to wind it up and change records. However, as the machine has no needle cup and the cherub's highly abbreviated apparel has no pockets, I wonder where they stashed the tin of spare needles.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:The man appears to have stuck his canoe full of flags and other decorations; perhaps it is the Fourth of July, or he has decorated his canoe for the 1918 cease-fire.

He certainly wasn't dressed for November!

George P.

Charles,

I believe those "nails" are just weeds sticking up.