Gramaphones

[Blackbaronfish]

Do we have any members that know anything about these lovely machines.
I fancy getting one but know nothing about them.

BBF

[darran77]

Sorry bud , i only go back as far as radiogram's.
daz

[TenMetrePeter]

If you mean the clockwork gramophones for shellac 78s I'm old enough to have had one as a kid. Steel needles last 10 plays. Bamboo needles last one play. Volume and tone is controlled traditionally using a sock stuffed in the horn. If you are lucky one winding will play one record. wooden cabinet ones are better tone than open horn ones. Many of the ones you see in flea markets are repros or plain fakes.

[Blackbaronfish]

That's the one Pete. I have a fascination for one. A real work of art really.

BBF

[TenMetrePeter]

I was donated one with a 240V electric motor (valve amp went elsewhere) when a youth club converted from 78s to vinyl 45s. Took the motor out which was built like a tank and made a film developing tank stirrer with meccano. Was into B&W developing and dabbling in mains wiring at 14. Couple of electric shocks in my teens but it was character forming.

[Blackbaronfish]

My favourite book was called magnet bulbs and batteries followed by mechano.
The mechano screwdriver fitted into a 3 pin socket flash bang willow it flew out of my hand which was buzzing just nicely .

BBF

[granville]

did they still have D/C in Nuneaton at that tie ray ?

[Raj]

did they still have D/C in Nuneaton at that tie ray ?

[TenMetrePeter]

did they still have D/C in Nuneaton at that tie ray ?

When I was two I poked a teaspoon into my dad's electric 78rpm gramophone (apparently attracted by the little red lights on the valves) and stuffed it completely. Smoke everywhere. In 1953 that WAS on DC supply!