kevinstlaurent's video: 1933 Odeon Gramophone in Action

Axel shows me his 1933 Odeaon Gramophone (aka - phonagraph in the USA). Interesting details: -no electricity, purely mechanical -a full wind up will play 2 sides. -format 78rpm shellac records. -record in the video (1931 Duke Ellington). -it's a destructive format, every time you play the record, the needles slightly destroy the shellac record. -needles come in various thickness, the heavier the thickness, the louder the sound, but also the more you destroy the shellac record. Axel had three different thicknesses. -the amplifier is hidden under the record. -it was portable, simply close the case, grab a few records and head over to your friends house to rock out to some jazz music. -was made in Germany. -Axel was given the gramophone by an Aunt. It had been in the family since the 1930's and as you can see it is in immaculate condition. -normally Axel plays his 400 shellac collection on more modern record players to avoid destroying them. Thanks for sharing Axel, it's amazing to get a vibe for what life was like in the 1930's, the heyday of Lindy Hop. Apparently they used these players well into the 1950's.