The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am in need of some opinions or guidance. I just bought this rotating (book shelf) stand. It is 66" tall and 18" square. Would you guys leave it as is and display a phonograph on top and reference books on the shelves, or cut it down to phonograph stand height 28" to 36"? I could still use the remaining shelves to store books or record albums. Any and all opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.

It looks like a nice stand as it is. If it were mine i'd leave it as is and display a phonograph on top and put phono related reference books in it.

If it were mine, I'd put a phonograph on it, load up the shelves, and see how well it rotates. The bearings may not appreciate the weight. If they don't complain, leave it full height. A light machine probably would be fine- just as long as it remained plumb. Keep in mind that shellac disc records weigh a great deal more than books! It's all about stability.

Leave it as is... unless you like floor model phonographs that have been cut in two...

If you put a phonograph on top, make sure it's a small one and don't rotate it too fast...

I wouldn't cut it down. I agree that records may be a bit heavy if it were full. You would have to balance the weight of records around it and not put them all on one side.

I would leave as is.

Just as trivia, Pathé made a revolving stand with a similar principle for Inter cylinders.

Cylinders would look great on this but would you need to add weight to the bottom to give it stability particularly if something with some weight to it is placed on top? Alternatively you could just use it for cylinder storage with nothing on top. That way it might be more stable although none of those shelves seem to have a lip to stop them falling off.

I would recommend that it not be cut down. I've had a few wobbly tables pressed into phono stand stand service early in the collecting years. I found that I didn't like any movement involved when winding a machine. I think something on a swivel would be less than desirable.

It's very attractive just as it is. You'll fill a great deal of available space with your phono library over time. I would place a small machine one the top. Perhaps something that is not played often. Included is a photo of a suitable machine. (Notice how I work something with a super rare Gourd-A-Horn into the conversation? ) Maybe it would be a good place for plush Nippers. I have some on top of an old jewelers rotating display but the top does not move.

Jerry Blais

A Silly Parlor Trick...Not to be taken seriously !!

If a disc machine were installed on top, and the stand rotated the same speed as the record, the record would stand still as the machine rotated around it and played the record. The resulting audio would be curious, to say the least. That is if the needle stayed in the groove.

But to reiterate- A Silly Parlor Trick !! Not to be taken seriously as there are too many variables related to moving mass !!

Here's a photo of my tall display piece with plush Nippers perched on top. Jerry