I’m on a big push right now to get the rest of my grandpa’s records digitized as quickly as possible. I know I’ve said this before. This time, though, I actually have a deadline looming. Later this year my family and I will be moving out of the country and we can’t take the record player or records with us. Even if I thought they could survive the journey (which I don’t), shipping costs would be astronomical. As much as I love the player and the records themselves, what’s special to me is the content and the glimpse it gives me not only of my grandpa, but of life in a different era. Once I have that content preserved, I can handle parting with the physical media and player.

To see exactly what this “stuff” is, click on the “About” menu at the top of the page. For the gear, select “The iPod” and for the records “The Playlist.” The only part of the turntable setup that is currently functioning is the 78rpm motor. The 33rpm motor worked until about a year ago, when I think it burned out. It will start but immediately starts to lose speed and eventually stops, all while making a loud humming noise. The Altec A323B amp lights up (or did the last time we messed with it) but it’s not connected to anything.  The records are in a custom case made of 3/4″ plywood lined with foam, on large heavy-duty casters. For a picture of it, see my very first post.

But now I need your help. What do I do with this stuff? My first thought is to try to sell it (especially the equipment) but for a lot of it, shipping is impossible. The smaller components from the record player are the only things that I could possibly package and send. I’d also be willing to consider donating (particularly the records) to a museum, archive, or some other place that would appreciate and share what I have. If you know of any person or organization that might be interested in either my gear or my records–or if you are interested–please contact me either via comment or by email.

I think it will take me at least another month or two to finish digitizing everything, so I’m guessing I’ll be ready to part with it sometime after the beginning of April. We will probably be moving in mid-May. We will leave central Florida by car, stop in St. Louis en route to Detroit to visit family and friends, then fly out of Detroit to Thailand, our final destination.

While digitizing will take priority over posting for the next couple of months, I am going to try to keep getting material up. And even after we move I’ll be able to keep posting, so please don’t go away–there are lots of great programs to come.