Climate Change comes to Rantoul

January 1, 2011
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OK, Garrison. Two (or more) can play this game.

It was a rippin’ week in Rantoul. Acting on a tip from a fellow dance musician, I went over to a local antiques dealer to check out a cylinder phonograph. The antiques shop, succumbing to the recession, is closing shop, slashing prices.  The shopkeeper took me to the phonograph: the tag labeled it a “Standard D,” but in fact, it’s a  “Home B.” The machine was missing a few things. No horn crane, no crank. Some things needed work. The case is in need of refinishing and minor repair, but the Edison decal is intact. The horn, original Edison Standard ‘morning glory,’ is painted in thick blue paint, white deep within the bell. The weight of the paint alone requires a sturdy crane. The reproducer was missing its hinge pin and its diaphragm link pin. It became mine, at 60% off. ($240.)

I dragged my kill home via pickup truck, and spent a few hours with needle nose pliers, various salves, unguents and hand tools.  Here she is, playing a Lambert Indestructible. I’m using the witches hat horn in the photo. No crane is needed for that. In this configuration, she’ll play four records on a winding. I’m not willing to wind until the stop. That’s antique grease in the barrel.
By the time I got done with the phonograph, it was new year’s eve and 58 degrees Farenheit. The snow of last week was a “thing of the past.” To all: an happy New Year. Good luck…we’ll need it.