In a message dated 11/20/2006 11:44:01 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
One or two of these videos may turn up on ebay - I am in the process of converting all my VHS tapes to DVD, and am disposing of the VHS copies. I think I also have one of the Dennis Valente tapes that I will be converting also; I think it has to do with rebuilding Victor Exhibition reproducers, if I remember right. I also have a tape that I made of Dave Heitz' collection. I had the wonderful opportunity of a private showing of his collectin on my thirtieth birthday. The tape is rather 'homemeade' but the machines are magnificent. Now that the collection has been cast to the four winds, I might see if I can make a quality DVD of that tape. I had promised Dave that the owner of the collection would remain secret, because he didn't want everyone knowing what he had, and he didn't want it to be broadcast all around, but now that he is gone and the collection is dispersed, I would think that it is ok. It was a wonderful thing to see his collection in his house and barn-museum, and it was very generous of him to open it to me. My friend Charley, owner of an antique phonograph shop called 'The Place' in Bristol, PA (Charley used to answer the phone, "This is The Place") got me the invitation, and I took a collector friend with me and Charley met us there. Anyone on the board know Charley or his store? He was a great guy, and his shop was a haunt for me. He sold me my first original Cygnet crane for $75 or so, and he gave me machines to work on as I learned how to do so. Some of my repairs he had to go over and refine, as I was just learning, but I will never forget him entrusting me with Homes and Standards to fix. I would love to go back to those times and his shop, and hang out and talk phonographs with him. Well, this is longer than I meant it to be - sometimes trips down memory lane become tangents! This gives me an idea - I would like to hear from you guys about who was your first influence in the field of phonograph collecting/repairing. Could be an interesting thread! John Robles Hi John, Sure, John. I met Charlie Martin a few years ago at "The Place". Steve Ramm took me there and he really was a good guy. But I didn't know that he wasn't there any more. Did he pass away? If so, I assume that the shop is gone. I just remember a great Pathe' Actuelle machine with the cone speaker in his shop. And there must have been 100,000 acoustic records with no sleeves all stacked on top of one another so that you couldn't go through them even if you had an extra lifetime in his shop! Who knows what great stuff he might have had at home! So as these little shops close, are there any shops taking their place? Does anyone know of any "new" shops for phonos or records that have opened in the U.S. (or in the world)? They are certainly disappearing in the Denver area. ---Art Heller
