Our small town features an annual weekend festival known as Victorian Days. With the help of the local historical society, I spent the weekend doing a presentation on the early history of phonographs. I displayed and demonstrated 6 cylinder machines and 6 disc machines. I was busy Saturday and Sunday afternoon and although I didn't keep count, I would estimate 200-300 people came and heard the machines. Ages ranged from 8-80, and while a lot of the older folks remembered a Victrola or Diamond Disc in the family, almost no one had ever seen a cylinder machine, and even after a thorough (I Thought) explanation, many couldn't understand how it worked. A lot of people were amazed at how loud a machine could play that didn't use electricity. I had a lot of fun and I hope sparked a little interest in phonographs. I have done this display in the past but the attendance and interest this year was a lot better than I ever had before.
Greg Acker
