Is it a book or is it a record?
Not a question you often come across these days.
But back in the day, John Winston solved this age-old problem that was plaguing mankind when he created the Magic Talking Book. Rather than including a record with an accompanying book as many children's publishers did back then, he made the book cover itself into a record: plop the volume down on the turntable and spin away!
I found a copy of one of these unusual artifacts at a used book store here "down under" and thought I would share this fun lost technology with you here.
As the ad copy says, they "add a fourth dimension to books"!
i am pretty sure we had some of these in our old phonograph console at the cottage. My father was a collector of old records from the thrift stores. I wonder what became of them. All I have of his collection are a few jazz recordings.
Posted by: margaret Oomen | August 28, 2009 at 04:46 AM
Wow! I can't wait to see these in person! So beautiful!
Elsi :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | August 28, 2009 at 07:19 AM
It is nice to hear of your travels in Victoria. Found you via Elsita's blogs.
After 10 years of very dry winters it is lovely to have this rain. Hope it adds atmosphere to your film.
Cheers Jan from Western Victoria.
Posted by: Jan Milne | August 30, 2009 at 08:59 PM
What a great find! I can only imagine what "The Chuggity Bus Song" sounds like.
Posted by: dutchbaby | September 03, 2009 at 07:11 AM
Hah....Its a great post!!!Enjoyed reading this!
Posted by: BPM | December 16, 2009 at 01:03 AM
It is nice to hear of your travels in Victoria. Found you via Elsita's blogs.
Posted by: BPMN | January 18, 2010 at 10:21 PM
It is rather interesting that this concept has come around full circle. Books with audio tracks (ebooks) are being published and promoted. Some are music to read by, others are simply audios of the book being read. Technology has taken this quirky little concept and made it a viable element of any electronic book. Amazing!
Posted by: Michael Lockridge | October 04, 2011 at 01:55 PM