The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have often seen record covers advertising cycle shops and gramophone dealers. I have always assumed the link was purely mechanical but I have just bought this 1903-4 catalogue of side lines for cycle dealers which makes it clear that the selling of gramophones and phonographs was a winter activity when people weren't buying many bikes ! It all makes logical sense now but I hadn't realised that was the connection before !
In all my years of collecting (and collecting tins) I have never seen a "Phono Repair Outfit" in a tin - has anyone else ?

I thought you might like to see the models on offer to help while away the winter evenings until the warmer cycling season began again !! (You could also fit a household electric bell, expand your chest, take up indoor rollerskating shoot the local wildlife (presumably through an open window) or do fretwork !)

The summer trade in gramophones only took off when portables became popular in the 1920's. They were extensively advertised for outdoor use.