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CHRIS HAMILTON'S

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I am a collector of gramophones, phonographs, cylinders and 78rpm records. I started collecting when still a youngster. My parents gave me a Columbia Grafonola portable gramophone and six 78rpm records for Christmas when I was about 11 or 12 years old. The enjoyment I got from that machine and records started me off in the world of collecting. I still have four of those original six records.

I have moved into a more modern age by adding LPs and CDs to my interests! I am a member of The City of London Phonograph & Gramophone Society and have contributed articles to their journal Hillandale News. One such article was on the Hines gramophone. Hines was the only Scottish-based gramophone manufacturer who assembled eveything on site. Another article was on Great Scott Records, the only Scottish-based record company that produced 78rpm records from start to finish "in house".

My interests in music are fairly catholic and cover Classical Music, British Dance Bands, Jazz, Music Hall, and Scottish Song and Ballads. I have a special interest in Speech and Documentary 78s. I am a member of Dundee Recorded Music Society, which is affiliated to the Federation of Recorded Music Societies and The Scottish Group of FRMS. I give talks to many organisations including recorded music societies. I am a Christian and am an elder in my church.

Every year in November the Friends of Torbay run a musical week-end in the Palace Hotel Torquay. For any friends who may be looking at this site you can view the gallery of photos taken at this year's event.

Some years ago I purchased two interesting 10" 78s for a bargain price at a record fair. These records turned out to be a speech in English by the well-known Japanese chemist Professor Joji Sakurai. A year or two later I purchased another unusual 78rpm record in a private deal. This was a Hindenburg record.