Introduction and Context

The gramophone was the precursor to the record player. The gramophone, as well as the vinyl record, was invented by Emil Berliner in 1887. Records were the analog sound carriers until the 1980s. The demand for records then continuously declined over many years, but today the vinyl record is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

Today, no music is played on a gramophone. Unlike the record player, the gramophone was completely mechanical. The needle was connected to a membrane in the sound funnel.

The Retro Gramophone from Pantasy draws all eyes with its golden funnel. But what else does this “device” have to offer? Let’s take a closer look.

Packaging and Contents

The box from Pantasy is visually well designed. The brown and the rest of the color scheme reflect the Retro Collection well. On the back, three side walls of the gramophone, as well as the dimensions and the record, are shown again. However, the impression that the gramophone can produce music might arise from looking at the box, due to the playfully printed notes on the packaging.

Inside the box, the parts are packed in individual bags, along with the instructions and a part separator. The instructions are small and handy, consisting of 63 pages.

Building Experience and Part Quality

The Retro Gramophone is built in four construction stages over 142 building steps. It starts with the construction of the baseplate. Then it immediately gets a bit technical and colorful. Many colorful parts are used inside, which on one hand makes building easier, but on the other hand, the eye also builds along, and that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Four large, high-quality prints are placed in a kind of circle, which later rotates, making all the prints visible again. Four great composers of classical music, namely Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, and Mozart, are depicted on them.

The second construction phase continues with the building of the crank. This crank sets the plate and the four composers in motion. The construction of a small stage follows. Here again, bright colors are used: Bright Pink | Light Purple and red. These remain visible later, albeit somewhat hidden. In front of this, a small piano, a microphone, and a mini-gramophone are built. A record with the logo of Pantasy is attached to the red wall.

The third section completes all the side walls. These are all lovingly designed and contain small details. Gilded parts are also used here repeatedly. The front shows the volume control. A movable rubber rod is used here, which is also something I’ve never had on the table before. This rubber rod forms a semicircle on the front side and rounds it off quite well.

With the last section, the gramophone is closed at the top. A record of Beethoven’s 8th Symphony by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is put on. This record is double-sided and looks like a real disc. The holder for the funnel is built with gilded parts.

The big highlight of the set is undoubtedly the golden funnel. It is quickly built, and with its completion, the set is finished. Using the crank mentioned earlier, the record can now be turned, and the prints of the four great composers rotate with it.

The funnel in gold looks great, and the quality here is also very impressive. There are no color variations, and micro-scratches are really hard to find. The situation is different with the brown tiles. These are partially somewhat matte in some places, and small scratches can also be found.

The instructions are clearly structured and allow for stress-free building. It’s also worth mentioning that no stickers are included. 14 parts are printed. In addition, there’s the record, which is double-sided.

Conclusion

The Retro Gramophone looks really good when fully built. The golden parts and the prints make the set special. It looks good from a distance and up close. The small color variations in the brown tones are not really disturbing. Otherwise, the quality of the bricks is very good.

The proportions of the gramophone are also coherent, and it’s sure to look good on a shelf. The building process is consistently pleasant and manageable even for inexperienced builders. I personally have no connection to a gramophone and therefore will not be displaying it. However, for someone looking for a gift for someone who likes gramophones, this set is certainly a good option.