As I wrote my little story I thought about first
generation collectors and realized that early phono
collecting was probably much more regional than it is
now. In the Portland, Oregon area there was the
"Edison Club". Some of those members were Ira
Dueltgen, Don Fenske, Wayne Yoder, George Donnough
(sp?), Dona Lee, and Orville White. Orville could
make anything and Ira could repair anything. It was
nearly a self supporting group. I know that Ira
corresponded with a few collectors in California but
I doubt if he reached out much farther in the early
years. I wish everyone could have known Ira. He was
a mentor collector for Mike Stitt and myself. There
was nothing better than spending a Saturday in Ira's
basement. You meet many fine people in your life but
few really rare ones and Dottie and Ira were a couple
of the rare ones. They made the world a better place.
( I am curious... have any other long time collectors
from outside the Northwest heard of Ira? ) It was the
national clubs like the Michigan Antique Phonograph
Society and publications such as Alan K's "Antique
Phonograph Monthly" that helped change collecting from
a regional to national pastime. Today, with the
internet, ebay, and cheap cell phones, it's an
international hobby. With everything available and a
little patience, there's no need to make aluminum
corner columns. Jerry Blais
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