Looking back over his long career, Thomas Edison once said, "Of all my inventions, I liked the phonograph best." Well, Mr. Edison, your light bulb was pretty amazing, too, but I have to agree with you. There is nothing that quite compares to cranking up the old phonograph and listening to the music of another era, hearing the sounds as they were meant to be played.
My father had a large collection of 78 rpm records that he would pull out from time to time and play for us. He always played them on his stereo turntable, but would tell us about the crank phonograph his mother used to have, always giving a little sigh when he'd talk about it. A few years ago I received one of his albums, and my quest for an antique phonograph began.
It turned out to be easier than I expected to find one in working condition. These machines were produced in large numbers in their day, and many were lovingly preserved over the years. Others have been carefully restored by people who enjoy and respect the charm and nostalgic value these machines possess. Of course, just as many were stored in attics and barns, used as liquor cabinets or, inevitably, as plant stands, so you need to make sure of what you're getting before you hand any money over.
It's extremely important to do your homework before investing in a phonograph. There are several brand names that come to mind, such as Victor, Columbia and Edison. These are probably the most common machines available today as they were produced in the greatest numbers. However, there are many off-brand machines that offer high quality and can often be found for lower prices. My machine is a Silvertone, which I found listed in the 1927 Sears catalog for $45. I purchased it a couple of years ago for $282.00, definitely on the affordable end of the scale; and it works perfectly.
There are many ways to find a phonograph. Antique shows, antique and estate auctions often have them pop up. We purchased ours through eBay, which can be a great source if you're careful. There are a lot of fakes out there. Plus, many people do not know the actual value of their machine and list it as "rare" when it's not...with a price to match. I once saw a fairly common machine with a price in the thousands because the seller claimed it came with a ghost!! Yikes! So, as I stated before, do your homework.
I strongly recommend the book The Compleat Talking Machine by Eric L. Reiss. This gives valuable information on the history of the machines, tips on where to find them, and how to spot fakes. The book mainly focuses on the repair and maintence of phonographs, which is the reason I purchased it. I wanted to know how to care for my little piece of the past. A well cared for machine will continue to entertain for many years.
Thanks, Mr. Edison.
My father had a large collection of 78 rpm records that he would pull out from time to time and play for us. He always played them on his stereo turntable, but would tell us about the crank phonograph his mother used to have, always giving a little sigh when he'd talk about it. A few years ago I received one of his albums, and my quest for an antique phonograph began.
It turned out to be easier than I expected to find one in working condition. These machines were produced in large numbers in their day, and many were lovingly preserved over the years. Others have been carefully restored by people who enjoy and respect the charm and nostalgic value these machines possess. Of course, just as many were stored in attics and barns, used as liquor cabinets or, inevitably, as plant stands, so you need to make sure of what you're getting before you hand any money over.
It's extremely important to do your homework before investing in a phonograph. There are several brand names that come to mind, such as Victor, Columbia and Edison. These are probably the most common machines available today as they were produced in the greatest numbers. However, there are many off-brand machines that offer high quality and can often be found for lower prices. My machine is a Silvertone, which I found listed in the 1927 Sears catalog for $45. I purchased it a couple of years ago for $282.00, definitely on the affordable end of the scale; and it works perfectly.
There are many ways to find a phonograph. Antique shows, antique and estate auctions often have them pop up. We purchased ours through eBay, which can be a great source if you're careful. There are a lot of fakes out there. Plus, many people do not know the actual value of their machine and list it as "rare" when it's not...with a price to match. I once saw a fairly common machine with a price in the thousands because the seller claimed it came with a ghost!! Yikes! So, as I stated before, do your homework.
I strongly recommend the book The Compleat Talking Machine by Eric L. Reiss. This gives valuable information on the history of the machines, tips on where to find them, and how to spot fakes. The book mainly focuses on the repair and maintence of phonographs, which is the reason I purchased it. I wanted to know how to care for my little piece of the past. A well cared for machine will continue to entertain for many years.
Thanks, Mr. Edison.
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