Antique phonographs play a beautiful tune for this couple

By Elena McKennon
For The Sun

Photo courtesy Sun/Elena McKennon

In 1996, Loran and Genetta Hughes purchased an antique phonograph that would become the first piece in their collection of antique phonographs and records.

"We were in an antique mall and found an upright Victrola," Loran said. "And Genetta said 'Well, you've always wanted one, why don't you buy it?'"

Their initial purchase sparked a passion for collecting they both share. "It hit us over the head," Loran said. "As soon as we had one, we started looking for others."

Soon they were combing antique shops, some so crammed with merchandise it was difficult to squeeze down the aisles. "But you never know what you're going to turn up in a corner," Genetta said.

At first they bought anything that struck their fancy, but over time realized they needed to be more selective in their purchases.

"I think that was our biggest challenge," Loran said. "To go from the point where we bought everything we saw, to being very selective in what we spent our money on."

Today their collection of phonographs dates back to the late 1800s with their oldest piece, one of the first machines that Columbia made for home entertainment, dating from around 1895.

After many mistakes were made while trying to care for their first purchase, the Hughes determined they needed a crash course on caring for antiques.

"Anything you could do wrong with an antique, we did it," Loran said. "We decided we needed to figure out what we were doing, so we looked around on the internet and found someone who sold books. And actually, that's how we met other collectors."

The discovered an international organization of collectors, The Michigan Antique Phonograph Society. Members of the club network to share information and, of course, buy and sell antique phonographs.

"It started out as a local organization and they now have members all over the world," Loran said. "We have a chapter in the Northwest called the Oregon Territory Antique Phonograph Society and we meet on a quarterly basis."

Through their website, the Hughes maintain a mailing list for phonograph collectors.

"Today we have 145 people on the list. I've got authors and booksellers and some real old-timers on the list. It's a great source of information. You ask a question (via email) and you'll get an answer back within hours."

While cleaning and maintaining their purchases, Loran has learned so much about the inner workings of the machines that he is able to perform repair work for some other local collectors.

"Usually I get these (antiques) and the motor has 75- to 80-year-old grease in it that's pretty much turned to cement. So normally, I take the motor out and take it down to the smallest pieces, and it gets a good cleaning," Loran said. "Then I put it all back together with modern greases and oils."

The Hughes' interest in antique phonographs has taken them in the direction of buying old music as well.

"He's always looking for machines, and I guess I'm always looking for records," Genetta said. "There was this man who had cartloads of old records," Genetta said. "We'd say, 'Oh, look at this one, it's from 1919. We've got to have it!" So we have hundreds of records and most of them are terrible!"

"We tend to concentrate on jazz and vaudeville now," Genetta said. "Some of this stuff is just wonderful."

The Hughes own equipment that allows them to produce CDs from old records while significantly improving the sound quality.

"We have a couple of CDs that are pretty popular with the older folks because they remember listening to this when they were kids," Genetta said.

For more information, visit the Hughes' website: www.oldcrank.com.

Freelance writer Elena McKennon can be reached at emckennon@charter.net