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Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 9:25 pm
by GroverOverton08
Hello everyone. As part of my APS student application, I brought up an idea I had for a phonograph club at my school (Cass Tech, Detroit). I've arranged 3 members, meeting our 4 membership requirement for clubs at Cass. I've typed an outline for meetings and other information, and my girlfriend is going to make a poster. Now what do the members of this forum think we could do at this club? We aren't allowed to sell anything like records, unfortunately.
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 9:54 pm
by drh
Maybe implement a program to learn how to service and restore phonographs? Since it's a "technical school," I'd guess it must have suitable facilities and resources for mechanical work. The world certainly could benefit from a new generation of capable phono technicians!
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 12:56 am
by Inigo
Give concerts of phonograph records, maybe thematic...
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 6:38 am
by JerryVan
When there was such a thing as the Michigan Antique Phonograph Society, (MAPS), we had monthly meetings where a presenter highlighted a particular machine, (its history, restoration, peculiar features, rarity, etc.), or records/music, (a particular artist and their recording history, a label, a genre of music and its history, (e.g. jazz, country, Hawaiian...)), or "new discoveries" of machines/records. My collecting & listening interests have been driven largely by those presentations as they introduced me to things & sounds that I was not aware existed until then. Added bonus, the lifelong friendships
Congratulations on attending Cass Tech!
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 11:43 am
by Homestead
It would be great if the APS had monthly meetings....they could be by zoom or teams. That way everyone could attend or watch later. That would spur interest in membership as only members or invited guests could watch. Different topics monthly. Recent restorations and recent barn finds would be excellent. Tours of members collections even if anonymous for security...would be wonderful.
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 3:30 pm
by GroverOverton08
drh wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 9:54 pm
Maybe implement a program to learn how to service and restore phonographs? Since it's a "technical school," I'd guess it must have suitable facilities and resources for mechanical work. The world certainly could benefit from a new generation of capable phono technicians!
Now THAT is a gold idea. I'll have to ask our woodshop teacher, which would probably be the best location, and obtain a poor condition phonograph.
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 3:31 pm
by GroverOverton08
JerryVan wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 6:38 am
When there was such a thing as the Michigan Antique Phonograph Society, (MAPS), we had monthly meetings where a presenter highlighted a particular machine, (its history, restoration, peculiar features, rarity, etc.), or records/music, (a particular artist and their recording history, a label, a genre of music and its history, (e.g. jazz, country, Hawaiian...)), or "new discoveries" of machines/records. My collecting & listening interests have been driven largely by those presentations as they introduced me to things & sounds that I was not aware existed until then. Added bonus, the lifelong friendships
Congratulations on attending Cass Tech!
Very cool, and thank you!
Re: Phonograph Club Ideas
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2026 7:21 pm
by chrisg
We at the Carolina Antique Music and Phonograph group had our meeting last week. We recorded a few cylinders and had planned on woodgraining a horn . Weather was too cold to paint but recording went well