The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

We were saddened to learn that Allen Seymour Koenigsberg, age 83 has passed away at his home in Brooklyn New York on June 26,2025.

Allen began collecting phonographs in 1966 with a special interest in the historical aspects of inventors and nuances of various machines. With this background and his interest in phonographs, he started publishing a periodical for collectors titled Antique Phonograph Monthly in January,1973 (Vol. I, No. 1) and his last (Vol. VIII, No. 4) December 1986. Allen’s articles were stimulating and creative. Collectors couldn’t wait for the issues to arrive at the doorsteps. The subjects were often unique and thought provoking.

Allen’s complete volumes of Antique Phonograph Monthly can be found on the APS website under member resources and by doing a library search. Take time and read his articles. His research and writings are an educational experience.

We send our sympathy to the family and thank them for sharing Allen’s knowledge with the phonograph collecting community.

Robin & Jjoan

Rob and Joan: Thank you for posting this about Allen. Sad news indeed and the phonograph community lost one of its most important scholars on the subject. I'm glad his legacy will be remembered with all his published articles, books and other research he has provided over many decades

I lived in New York back in the mid-90s and knew Allen. While I never got to see his collection, I did meet him and we used to talk from time to time about his research and collecting.

He will be missed

Scott

The hobby has lost another legend. Allen was an amazing scholar. I've known him since the early 70s, and was one of the first subscribers to APM. We helped each other out with research projects over the years, and I always enjoyed our discussions. He was very generous with information, and relentless in his search for the tiniest details. It is to his credit that he shared his findings so widely.

Sad day, sorry to hear about Allen passing. he left quite a legacy for phonograph community. John

A sad day indeed. He will be missed!

My condolences... I knew about Allen in 1997, when internet opened my narrow hobby sight to the wealthy community of colleagues around the world. He has a devoted page on the Nipperhead site with his books
https://www.nipperhead.com/old/akpubs.htm
I also knew about him though the 78-L colleagues and from Tim Gracyk's Victrola & 78 Journal, which mentioned or included articles by Allen.

Allen was one of the first people I met in the hobby-- I started collecting in 1976--- He helped "solve" my ignorance on a few of the first machines I acquired- He was always willing to share his knowledge, graciously and freely.
In my favorites bookmarks I had saved the link below to a list of some of the articles he had written. Blessings to his family.

Brad Abell

https://phonographia.com/FOTP%20MM/AK%20Refs.htm

Thanks for the link!

A sad loss of a friend, and amazing member of our collecting comnunity.

My thougts and prayers are with his family.

Shawn

May he rest in peace.
- Bill