Re: [ARSCLIST] Other memorable record stores/ Soldier Boy Houston

[Robert Hodge <rjhodge@xxxxxxx>]

Syracuse N.Y. was once a great place to find good records, too.

In the 1960's the local Salvation Army had bins overflowing with nice stuff-They handled the records with care to prevent breakage.
 And when I was the  technician for the Rescue Mission Alliance's television repair department in the 1970's , I was encouraged to peruse the donated 78's for whatever I wanted to take as "There was no market for 78's". Victor Program Transcriptions, 6000 series Brunswicks, 24,000 series Victors turned up often ! And in fine shape, too. 

In the 1950's 78's could be bought for 5 cents each from the Salvation Army. Spring wound phonographs for $2.00, as is , in good working condition. Any make , any model. 

In the late 1960's , the flea market located in the Farmer's Market in Syracuse had a fellow who married a widow whose former husband was a music teacher and record collector. After a couple of years of  buying many fine records at $2.00 each , he finally told me that I might as well as come over to his house and take whatever I wanted for $2.00 each and save him the trouble of hauling a big box of records to the flea market each Sunday. Others had tried to gain access to h is cellar, but I was the only one who didn't try to talk him down to a dollar or less for his records. 

It was like going to heaven ! The gentleman liked 20's and 30's dance bands and personalities. There was lots of 1940's and 50's  stuff there too.   
He later sold the remains to a fellow who bought them by the foot.

I found my Timely Tunes' disc at the same flea market. The dealer had 4 or 5 of them , but I bought the one that had the interesting  title... Oh to go back 30 years and correct my mistake !! 

In the late 1960's There was an antique dealer by the name of Leon Petty who had a shop on Franklin St. here in Syracuse that constantly had records coming in his door. Almost anything could be had for a dollar or two- from electric edison diamond discs to wax cylinders. And in fine condition. His phonographs were beyond my allowance, though.

House sales proved better for affordable machines.

Pleasant memmories, all !

Thanks !

Bob H.

>>> sternth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 12/12/2005 2:52 PM >>>
In the late 60's there were a number of stores around 
Richmond-Rosenburg(?), outside Houston TX which
had attics filled with ex juke box 78's.  Can't say I remember any one 
in particular, and never found any great
treasures, though I guess 35 years later some of them might be 
considered 'collectable'.  I do think I got a copy
of Soldier Boy Houston's recording.  Has anyone ever determined who he 
was/is and located him?
Best wishes, Thomas.

Karl Miller wrote:

>On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
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>>And, of course, there was Jim Hadfield's barn (DL will remember this
>>as well!). It was actually a couple of outbuildings filled completely
>>with 78's...I have no idea how long it would have taken to look at
>>every record in the place, but it wouldn't have been a "weekend
>>project!" Jim usually brought the genuine rarities inside the house;
>>that's where I found my "electric sample(?)" Radiex...
>>    
>>
>
>And I keep forgetting, still an Austin Texas landmark for over 30 years,
>our own Immortal performances, run by Jim Cartwright. Jim has thousands of
>78s...his "store" is actually a small building in his back yard. He also
>has two long storage buildings filled with antique phonographs. Alas, a
>collection I had hoped to have on display for the ARSC meeting.
>
>In addition to the 78s he has on his own property, a friend of his has her
>garage full of discs. He also has many of his antique phonographs on loan
>to friends...he has no more space for them. It is really an amazing
>collection. Unfortunately, everything is so cluttered, you can't see the
>machines...and it can take a long time to find a record.
>
>Karl
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