Anyone been to Thailand?

[gramophoneshane]

I came across this youtube channel which has a lot of gramophone/phonograph videos uploaded (amongst others). It appears to be a phono museum (or rather part of the Thailand National Flag Museum) with some very nice & early machines.
Has anyone had the pleasure of viewing this collection in person?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMYcAAT9vCQ[/youtube]

I picked this video because you can see quite a few machines in the background, plus it shows some nice little toys, but if you browse through his videos, you'll find a trademark machine, an early Edison playing brown wax in Thia and a range of other goodies.

[chunnybh]

I visited it a few years back and yes it is a fascinating place.
In fact Asia has quite a few gramophone museums.
This one in Thailand which has a huge collection of Pathé machines. Lots of wonderful Thai cylinders and of course the Siam Soo dolls.
http://www.bangkokmuseum.org/
http://www.t-h-a-i-l-a-n-d.org/talkingm ... xmain.html

There is one in Macau. No website but it is mainly American/Canadian machines in stunning condition. On my last visit they had added a Kurtzmann and a lovely selection of Trademark machines.

The best of course is the one in South Korea. It is simply massive, well two museums actually and has just about everything and more...
http://www.edison.kr/english/index.php

All great holiday destinations too.

[need4art]

Thanks for this info, I will be going to Bangkok in May of next year for the Rotary International Convention then over to Pakistan and Afghanistan. I didn't even think about trying to find anything about antique phonographs there. I wonder about Pakistan and Afghanistan...
Abe

[gramophoneshane]

A second thank you for links here too Chunny.
That book put out by the Thai P&G society looks stunning too. Even though it's text is in Thai, it'd be interesting just look at all those mouth watering goodies.
Certainly makes one wonder just how much amazing stuff has been accumulated by collectors in the various Asian countries.

[chunnybh]

Pluethipol Prachumphol, runs the museum in Thailand. A nicer man you will never meet.
I've never come across a gramophone museum anywhere else except for in Asia. Everywhere else it's usually private collections or one or two machines in Science Museums. Does anyone know of any more anywhere in the world?

The ones in Asia are mobbed. The one in Thailand has loads of "shows" and demonstrations. It's fascinating mainly because it is so Thai. Loads of local music, machines and ephemera.

The Charmsori is heaving with bus-loads of local tourists. It's located on a lake by the sea. Beautiful place, and a popular weekend retreat for the workforce of Seoul. There is nothing to do but eat seafood and visit the local gramophone museums. Wonderful.