What's it like to Be Retired? Interesting Commentary by Irwin!

Remember records and record players?

by Wendy
(www.retirement-online.com)


Anyone remember this funny little thingee?


RCA introduced this snap-in plastic insert to make the smaller 45 rpm records (with larger middle holes) compatible with the smaller spindle size of a 33⅓ rpm LP record player.

Millions were sold in the 1960s when single records were sold.

This was before Cassette Tapes, or music on a CD, or audio downloads of today!

Comments for Remember records and record players?

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Thingee
by: Joe W.

Wendy,

Hi! When you first showed us the thingee I could not guess what it was except maybe a giant colored snow flake. Wow, I must be getting older faster.

Anyways, for all the Golden Oldie music diehards we can still buy the portable record player today with the new version being better designed than the older model. I still have a large record album collection including the Beatles, Rolling Stones and ABBA, but looking around I can't find the thingee anywhere.

Have a prosperous day! And, to all my American friends a very happy 4rth of July. In Canada we celebrated Canada Day on July 1rst.

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45 adapters
by: Don_Cracraft

OH YES! I remember when I found a way to adapt my 45s to use on a standard record player! Wow, no more wondering whether a friend's player had an adapter that would allow you to put a stack of 45s on and enjoy a dance party or just some romantic background music with your girlfriend.

These things allowed a stack to be put on any record player that would automatically change records. They were cheap enough to leave them in all of my 45s.

But, I do love MP3s now that I have a car radio with a USB connection that will play MP3 files. I have several USB 'sticks' with over 3 hours of music that I like. Romance, Rock, Folk, Country, etc!
Don

Wendy Yes, Don.. I do remember you could put a stack on and listen to record after record! I had forgotten that!

I can't do USB in my car, yet... still using CD's or just the radio. Some Day.... guess I need to update my vehicle...
I still hear "His Master's Voice" in my dreams
by: Retd. Prof. Mr. Durgesh Kumar Srivastava, New Delhi, India.

Esteemed Ms Wendy,

Your write up with the graphic of "the thingee" has stirred old memories, not of 1960s, but of early 1950s, when the gramophone was the main instrument (beside the radio) of family entertainment in India. The record with the emblem of the dog looking into the large conical speaker of the gramophone is firmly implanted in my memory.

When there would be a wedding or other function, a rented gramophone+records+one or two loudspeakers+ a helper to run all this equipment would be hired and film songs will be played from morning to night to announce that some celebration was on.Children will sit with the hired help who would play the records.

Each individual record will be put in its unique paper envelope on which will be printed a colorful logo and other details. The gramophone itself had little needles to be changed after the sound become blurred and the gramophone will be powered not by electricity or battery, but by a hand crank. Children would compete with each other to be given the chance to turn the crank.

The Indian music scene was one or two steps behind the Western standards in everything technical, although not in the quality or range of music. One of the Indian singers of that era, Ms Lata Mangeshkar, probably holds the world record for the number of recorded songs over a career starting in 1942 and continuing till date.

Inspired by your present post, I am now ready to delve back into my memories of 1940s and 1950s to find some fine sweet memories on which to base my next blog in a week or so. Thank you for stirring old memories. DKS, 4 July, 12
record players of yesteryear
by: Anonymous

Yes i remember those things to use with the 45 records. I still have a few in my big long stereo.
Ahh the good old days.
Thingies
by: Linda Helen

Hay, I not only remember them but I bought many of them over the past years ~ loved that I didn't have to toss out my records ~ yeah!

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