Jump to content

What's Up with the Talking Machine Forum


Recommended Posts

Posted

Sorry if this is not the proper section to place this query in, but there seems no appropriate place.

 

I have been trying to register with the Talking Machine Forum (https://forum.talkingmachine.info) f or several weeks now, but get no response (authentication e-mail). Does anyone here also belong to the Talking Machine Forum?

 

The forum is active, but the administrator is not. Could anyone here shed some light on this? The forum looks interesting and I would like to ask some questions.

 

Thanks and regards,

 

PeterN

  • Like 1
Posted

You have accurately described the situation when you wrote, "The forum is active, but the administrator is not."

 

The Talking Machine Forum was launched in January 2009.  It was (and remains) owned by a collector who had limited online skills, so a friend (David) set up the site and administrates it for him.  Within a short time, the owner of the TMF lost interest and dropped out of sight.  This left David  - a non-collector with no interest - sort of "holding the bag."  David kept the site going for several years, but its performance began to degrade noticeably.  It would go down for a day or two, then reappear.  The APS became concerned for TMF's welfare, and contacted the owner with an offer to 1) purchase the TMF, or 2) to underwrite the cost of maintaining it.  The owner received the proposal via Registered Mail and signed for its receipt, however he never replied.   After a month, another copy of the proposal was sent via Registered Mail, with the same result.  The end seemed inevitable, so the APS invested in the development of this forum on which we are now interacting.   However, as long as the TMF remained operational, this forum would not be launched.

 

In early 2020, the TMF crashed, and after a day or two the APS Forum was launched to replace it.  However, David repaired the TMF site and it reappeared - resulting in two forums.  David did a good job of revamping the TMF - all on his own time - and it has run well over the past few years.  In order to do this, David asked for donations to reimburse his efforts, and a number of collectors generously did so.  Unfortunately, David stopped providing active administration of participation requests, and has not answered online requests for help, so it has been difficult (if not impossible) for new members to join. 

 

We're pleased to have you ask your questions here, Peter.

 

George P.

 

 

 

 

  • Like 4
audiophile102
Posted

The real tragedy for me has been the loss of all the pictures uploaded to the TMF.  I especially appreciated the Featured Phonograph section.  I would like to see it revived here.

  • Like 3
Posted
  On 3/2/2023 at 2:55 PM, audiophile102 said:

The real tragedy for me has been the loss of all the pictures uploaded to the TMF.  I especially appreciated the Featured Phonograph section.  I would like to see it revived here.

Expand  

 

I fully agree.  Stay tuned for developments...

 

George P.

Posted

George P. summarizes the story very well.  It appears the administrator of TMF last posted in June 2022.  There's just no interest on his part or on the part of the owner.  TMF is basically running on auto pilot.  All of the pictures except those recently posted appear to have been lost.

 

The advantage of investing your time and discussing things here is that APS Forum is owned and run by an organization, not just one or two people.  It surely would have been nice if APS would have been permitted to assume responsibility for it in some way but that was not to be.

 

  • Like 2
Posted

O.K. Thanks for the explanation. I was afraid COVID or something got the administrator. Sadly, this the same case as other forums I have been using in the past. The originator loses interest or dies, and also as the sole administrator, support ends. It is then a matter of time until the website provider closes it down for non-payment of the web space.

 

Unfortunately, on this site it seems you have to be a member in order to search, as there is no search facility shown if you are a guest.

 

Regards,

 

PeterN

Posted
  On 3/4/2023 at 1:32 AM, PeterN said:

O.K. Thanks for the explanation. I was afraid COVID or something got the administrator. Sadly, this the same case as other forums I have been using in the past. The originator loses interest or dies, and also as the sole administrator, support ends. It is then a matter of time until the website provider closes it down for non-payment of the web space.

 

Unfortunately, on this site it seems you have to be a member in order to search, as there is no search facility shown if you are a guest.

 

Regards,

 

PeterN

Expand  

 

You can do a search of the APS Forum since you're an APS Forum member.  The APS Forum is free.  (You joined January 13th.) 

 

In order to search the over 30,000-page archive on the APS website, you must be an APS member.  It's one of several member benefits, and APS members underwrite the costs of the website,  some of the Chicago and Los Angeles EXPO expenses, and the printing of the quarterly magazine.

 

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

 

George P.

Posted

GeorgeP,

 

Sorry for the confusion about searching. I was referring to the Talking Machine Forum, the subject of my last message.

 

Regards,

 

PeterN

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 3/2/2023 at 2:55 PM, audiophile102 said:

The real tragedy for me has been the loss of all the pictures uploaded to the TMF.  I especially appreciated the Featured Phonograph section.  I would like to see it revived here.

Expand  

Ditto. An enormous loss of thoughtfully compiled data. It's really tragic, imnsho.🤢

  • Like 2
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

It seems crazy that if the owner has zero interest, he won't sell or let someone else manage it... totally selfish.

 

  • Like 2
Posted

I notice that TMF has been down more than up the past few weeks, at least for me.  We'll see if the administrator eventually puts on another bandaid or it's down permanently.

  • Like 1
Tinfoilphono
Posted

I haven't seen it go down recently but it was running super slow yesterday. It seems normal today but who knows about tomorrow. And of course all the old photo links remain broken. 

 

It really defies belief that the owner and administrator wouldn't gladly sell it to APS and be done with it. They are clearly not interested in it.

  • Sad 1
Posted

It’s been like a ghost town over there for some time.  I have been tempted to point members over to this forum, but I am not ready to get banned quite yet.

Posted

I don't think you would get banned. There is no moderation or support at all over there.

  • Like 3
Posted

"...I am not ready to get banned quite yet."

 

It doesn't appear that there is anyone "home" to ban you...

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

As usual, I seem to be a little "behind the times" but will now begin to follow this forum a little more closely...... I had noticed it was getting a little quiet on the old TMF.

Edited by Granby
  • Like 1
nippers_lounge
Posted

I am still posing my YouTube videos on there, and on occasion get a reply.  There are still people posting over there, even if David is no longer overseeing operations.  It hasn’t turned chaotic or out of control. People have been very respectable. I was part of the old Antique Phonograph Forum or whatever it was called, before that place went out of control, and David Started the Talking Machine forum. The Archives  is still there with past featured  phonographs posts.  It’s just not as vibrant as it was fourteen years ago.  I think it was someone named John? I could be wrong?  Who left for health reasons, and David took over, but then he became busy with his actual job, and could no longer be active on the forum. So as of right now, it’s just running on it’s own.  If I knew anything about forum building and how to manage one. I could do it, but I don’t see that happening. 

 

There was briefly a Talking Machine Forum Shop, and even a Facebook page. Though those went by the wayside. 

 

Paul

  • Like 2
Joplin-Collector
Posted

I updated the email address on my account over there before Christmas… but have been locked out since and even contacting the person who apparently is kind of handling things via their work email has got no response. I really like that forum… but I’m at a total loss. Sure wish that would change.

Posted

Last November I had tried to join the talking machine forum. I received an email that my membership was pending admin approval and I would receive a follow up email about my membership which of course never happened. I then at the end of December sent an email regarding the delay and...you guessed it....no response!. I figure that this admittance to that forum is never going to happen unless someone responsible takes over the reigns.

  • Like 1
Posted

You're always welcome here!

 

George P.

  • Like 2
Posted
  On 3/21/2023 at 2:13 AM, phonogfp said:

You're always welcome here!

 

George P.

Expand  

George P.

 I am definitely glad to be on this forum!

  • Like 1
nippers_lounge
Posted

I recently tried to email David aka MordEth, but my email was undelivered.  

 

It’s nice to have a new forum here. 

  • Like 2
  • Confused 1
Posted

I have a phone number for David that he gave me about two years ago, but it rings and then goes off-line: 617-755-0474.

 

Perhaps he is ill or deceased?

Raphael

nippers_lounge
Posted

Well, i had contacted Andreas who is, the  Global Moderator on the TMF, and he does not have access to operate the forum, and has not been able to contact David.  So as of right now, the forum, is running, but new members aren’t able to join. Sorry! I don’t know what will become of the TMF. A lot of us would hate to see it go. 

 

It’s nice that the Antique Phonograph Society started this forum. 

 

Paul

Posted

Too bad  they can't transfer the saved info here...

  • Like 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...