If you could only keep one machine and one record from your current collection, what would it be? Keep it honest, only something that you currently own that’s your absolute favourite that couldn’t be pulled from your dead cold hands!
I’ll start:
My Edison Idelia
Edison Blue Amberol no. 5095 “Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie”.
Finest in music box and phonograph restorations for over 40 years
Hi Darrin-- Only one machine? I'd keep my Victor Humpback II ... I used it for the Daddy/Daughter dance when one of my daughters got married--
One Record? "That's Annabelle" by the Harmonians on Harmony label-- One of my granddaughters is an Annabelle -- now 5, but has loved this song since I got it when she was 2.
"If you know a girl who's twice as pretty, as any other girl in this great big city, you'll know..That's Annabelle!" "If you know a girl who dances better, that any other girl, better write me a letter, I'll know.. That's Annabelle!"
That's a terrific tune Brad. I'll have to look for it. As a dealer/restorer I hold no sentiment to any of the machines I own or have owned. Gotta pay the bills you know! But when I die and I'm lying there in the casket there is one record that will be lying beside me and that is the first 78 rpm record that I found on my first Victrola. The title is "You Wanted Someone to Play With" by Charles Hart.
For machine, I'd probably have to say my VV-XVIII. Nicest item in my collection by far.
For record, it's a near-mint condition copy of "My Little Dutch Colleen" by Ada Jones (Edison 2M record #9267). This was the first wax cylinder record I ever played, and I'm picking it for the sentimental value.
I guess I would choose my rear mount Victor Type M, only because every part on the machine is absolutely original to the machine. As for one record, I would probably choose “The Wizard of the Nile: Star Light Star Bright” by Dan W Quinn, Berliner, 1896
The machine would be my Edison A-150 Diamond Disc Phonograph. I've always liked the design, and, although not, objectively, the best or most desirable that I own, it may well be my best *sounding* Edison machine. More importantly, it has sentimental value: it was a surprise from my wife on our third wedding anniversary. Over the years, I've even managed to assemble a set of the original Edison albums to display on its shelf (they're too fragile to serve as record storage). They're probably worth more than the machine is.
As to the record, it would need to be a diamond disc to play on the machine; there are records from other labels that I might choose in a vacuum, but given that constraint I think I'd go with Edison no. 82208, Consuelo Escobar de Castro singing "So anch'io la virtu magica" from Donizetti's Don Pasquale backed with Maurio Laurenti singing "Ouvre ton coeur," a Spanish serenade by Bizet. That was one of my very first diamond discs, from back right after I got my first player for them as a high school student. It's a good, clear recording, and de Castro is charming, Laurenti vigorous. In short, a good way to start down the collector's road and something of a nostalgia trip whenever I play it.
I've been giving this some thought but not have reached a real conclusion. However, simply for listening purposes, it would be a close call between my Orthophonic 8-9 and my Credenza. The 8-9 having a slim edge. I also play my Edison Opera, (Concert), somewhat regularly too, so...
Picking a favorite, (or even a favourite ) is nearly impossible. As to narrowing down a record: Impossible.
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) is nearly impossible. As to narrowing down a record: Impossible.