This story might intrigue you all - It is about a collector I knew briefly, and who some of you undoubtedly knew. I was reminded by of the story Dan's finding the Standard Talking Machine in the trash. When I was living in San Francisco, I had the great fortune to meet Art Wilmoth, a major collector, who was only too willing to open his home to a 27 year old collector and two friends (I was the 27 year old collector). He told us how when he started collecting back in the teens and 20s or so, he could simply walk down the alley and find phonographs piled on the trash as people were tossing out the older machines in favor of Victrolas, etc. He and his wife were quite gracious (he was then 90 or more) and he ushered us into the customized room where he kept his collection. He described how he had it lined with fire resistant Type Z drywall, and showed us his fire alarm system. It was an amazing collection, comprising one of each Edison cylinder model and submodel, (i.e. Standard model A through G, etc). He had some fabulous cylinder and machines (although only one was a Victor - he said he had it only so he could play 78s), and along one wall was a shelving system upon which he stored one of almost every Diamond Disc released. As I recall he was only missing about two dozen to make it a complete collection. He also showed us some Sophie Tucker 4 minute wax amberol cylinders, and I remember how I held my breath when he removed one from the box, because his hands shook so that I was positive he would drop it!! He told us how, back in the thirties or forties (my memory isn't what it used to be), Sophie Tucker came to town, and was staying at the Fairmont Hotel. He went there on a rainy evening, and asked to see Miss Tucker. He was told it wouldn't be possible, but he said that he had some of her Edison cylinders and wanted to show her. A messenger went upstairs, and came back with an invitation for him to join her in her suite. He said she was terribly interested to see the records after so long, and asked if he would sell them to her. He graciously turned the offer down, and she graciously autographed them to him. I got to see her autograph on the lids. When we finally left about 10:00 that evening, Art asked us to come back soon and gave me a repro VIctor water slide decal as a memento. As you know. life gets in the way, and though he called a month or two later to invite us back, by the time I got around to calling him back, he had passed away the previous day. That taught me a valuable lesson. It was a wonderful evening, and I have never forgotten his kindness to me. That's partly why I always try to help new collectors, it's a way of passing his legacy forward. John Robles
Dan Kj <[email protected]> wrote: The rapidly-approaching-death Buffalo NY, unfortunately. We are now below the population of 1890. ----- Original Message ----- From: "john robles" To: "Antique Phonograph List" Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 9:40 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Another gem from Mario I'd like to know what neighborhood you're in, Dan! John Dan Kj wrote: Meanwhile, real antiques are readily available and sometime go begging or into the trash ! I just got another Standard disc machine, in very decent condition, out of the trash of an elderly neighbor whose kids stuck her into a 'home'. Some modification to the spindle & it'll be ready to play 'normal' 78s. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mario Frazzetto" To: "Antique Phonograph List" Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 5:16 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Another gem from Mario No prob Ray. It is just amazing how many of these crapophone auctions there are in Australia, and Germany seems to be the other big culprit. _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
