Really vintage audiophile shows his collection, some pre-electronic

[EERecordist]

From phonographs to Wurlitzers, this Portland collector spins a life around vintage sound​

From phonographs to Wurlitzers, this Portland collector spins a life around vintage sound

As music fans around the country celebrate Record Store Day, which started in 2008, Albert Menashe shares a look at his records and record players going back over 100 years.

www.opb.org

 

[DVDdoug]

I'd separate any "audiophile" interests from interest in gramophones. I wouldn't mind having a gramophone as a conversation piece (if I had the space for it.) That wood horn is beautiful! *

I heard a gramophone once (wind-up with no electronics). It sounded better than I remember 78's sounding on my parent's stereo! It was probably a record in good condition. But what REALLY surprised me was how loud it was. Not like a live band but plenty loud enough for listening... Probably louder than I usually listen to my TV. It was in a bedroom (a house turned into a museum) with hardwood floors and little sound absorbing surfaces so that helps but I was still surprised. (I don't remember if there was a bed.)



* I've seen modern wooden horns that look something like that, but that doesn't appeal to me.

 

[Sokel]

I have a 1912 one, my grandfather's heritage to my late father and then me:






(click twice and the images are huge)

Volume control is by the grilles with a knob on the side.
Speed adjustment, lots of spare needles, etc. I believe tonearm is made of silver along some other parts.

And as you can see it works as a clock at principle.
Perfect working condition after a century.

 

[5-pot-fan]

I have a 1912 one, my grandfather's heritage to my late father and then me:


View attachment 444192
View attachment 444193
View attachment 444194

(click twice and the images are huge)

Volume control is by the grilles with a knob on the side.
Speed adjustment, lots of spare needles, etc. I believe tonearm is made of silver along some other parts.

And as you can see it works as a clock at principle.
Perfect working condition after a century.

Is that manually-adjustable directivity on the sides?!

 

[middlemarch]

Amazing the sheer craftsmanship in those things. I can only imagine the man hours used to make them. Must have cost a pretty penny even then.

 

[Sokel]

Amazing the sheer craftsmanship in those things. I can only imagine the man hours used to make them. Must have cost a pretty penny even then.

Same style ones were somewhere from $150 to $250 back at 1912.
(I have no idea if that's pricey or not by today's standards or if Columbia ones were cheaper)

 

[Snoopy]

Same style ones were somewhere from $150 to $250 back at 1912.
(I have no idea if that's pricey or not by today's standards or if Columbia ones were cheaper)

Found this
„$150 in 1912 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $4,945.35 today“

Or the equivalent of a ton of thanksgiving dinners

Prices in 1912 – A Look Thru Time

We've been looking at life 100 years ago. Let's look at what the prices were for groceries then. I was amazed at how cheap everything was at the time. Then again the average yearly income was $750. People usually ate at home.

alookthrutime.com

 

[Sokel]

Found this
„$150 in 1912 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $4,945.35 today“

Or the equivalent of a ton of thanksgiving dinners

Prices in 1912 – A Look Thru Time

We've been looking at life 100 years ago. Let's look at what the prices were for groceries then. I was amazed at how cheap everything was at the time. Then again the average yearly income was $750. People usually ate at home.

alookthrutime.com

Seems reasonable. The furniture alone (is about 1.2 meters tall with the lower part below the horn been used to store records) must be very well made to last a century.

It looks like rosewood for inner part, don't know the main frame though.
Add the silver used, etc, all handmade and does not seem expensive at all for the time.