Day One for Our Grandson

[phonogfp]

I probably shouldn't call this "Day One" because Henry has been exposed to many antique phonographs over the past year or so (his favorite is a Victrola Credenza).  But today, he got to wind up a VV-IV, lower the needle (that poor record), and open/close the doors to his heart's content.  We had to play a few different records, but I was surprised in how interested a 2 year-old would be in how it WORKS.  I made the mistake of removing the turntable, and once he spotted the moving governor weights below, he was on fire.  We played with this thing for about 45 minutes, which - as any parent/grandparent of a 2 year-old will tell you - is a long, long time. He may be hooked.

 

[Valecnik]

Oh classic pic!  I hope you're getting that one blown up and framed George!

[phonogfp]

Barbie took a bunch of them!

[RodPickett]

That explains why they are so good.

[phonogfp]

😄

[phonogfp]

UPDATE: March 17:

This morning our almost 2 1/2 year-old grandson was adamant in his desire to revisit the phonograph collection. I had been putting him off since Christmastime, so up we went. True to form, he wanted to hear records on several machines, but now he's definitely more interested in the machines' workings than the music. In the past, he liked a Credenza, but after half a record, we went on to a Sonora William & Mary, then a Model D Gem, then a B-250, then a VV-XVI - - all abandoned after about half a record. A Rosenfield Illustrated Song machine caught his eye, and I knew he'd like that. Yes - we had to watch the gears, chains, and other machinery cycle through twice (no interest in the record of course). When he asked for a third rendition, I grabbed an Eagle Graphophone. Oh boy... Spinning governor weights and gears! After "Forest Whispers" had played for a minute, he pointed to the speed control knob and said, "I use it," which is his way of asking. I told him to go ahead, and he enjoyed watching the difference in the governor's motion. Then I showed him the brake, and he really went to town - all very gently and respectfully. He was interested in the lid latches, and once I told him about the lid he replied, "Want lid." Rather than digging out the lid for that particular Eagle, I grabbed another Eagle. Soon he was doing a circa-1900 DJ thing with the two Eagles. We spent about a half hour just watching those motors running and winding them up again and again.

He didn't want to go downstairs for snack time, but I promised him we'd go back up when he visits next time.