This tin of gramophone needles was produced to be used in conjunction with a Decca Gramophone. The Decca company was founded in 1914 by Barnett Samuel and Sons and their gramophone as patented as the world’s first portable gramophone. The company became known as the Decca Gramophone Company in 1928. Portable gramophones became very popular, especially with the soldiers in World War One. Today the gramophone is largely a collector’s item and has been replaced by more sophisticated sound systems. These needles and their box are of interest as an example of a recreation product in the past. Gramophones were found extensively in homes up to the 1950s. This is a small rectangular-shaped tin with rounded edges. It has a hinged lid painted green on the top. The top has printed material in green, black and white lettering. Inside the tin is black paper lining and inside the lining are about 50 gramophone steel needles. This is not a full tin. The needles are in good condition but the tin is a little rusty‘Decca Soft Gramophone Needles Finest Sheffield Steel Use Once Only’ gramophones, history of warrnambool

The Boyds purchased their record player and sound system from Thomas’s in Melbourne. Patricia Boyd (later Davies) was very interested in opera and was later appointed to the Board of the Australian Opera.Operatic Highlights Die Fledermaus (Johan Strauss). LP 33RPM vinyl, Catalogue Number: LXT 2576, Record cover, no sleeve, 1 vinyl disk. Cover notes, no author listed. Johan Strauss, Conductor: Clemens Krauss, Vienna State Opera and Choruslp, sound recording, opera

The Boyds purchased their record player and sound system from Thomas’s in Melbourne. Patricia Boyd (later Davies) was very interested in opera and was later appointed to the Board of the Australian Opera.Operatic arias. LP 33RPM vinyl, Catalogue Number: SXLA2159, Record cover, Plastic sleeve, 1 vinyl disk. Cover notes, Gordon Stewart. Joan Sutherland. Conductor: Nello Santi. Paris Conservatoire Orchestra.57/6lp, sound recording, opera

The Boyds purchased their record player and sound system from Thomas’s in Melbourne. Patricia Boyd (later Davies) was very interested in opera and was later appointed to the Board of the Australian Opera.Joan Sutherland Luciano Pavarotti Operatic Duets. LP 33RPM vinyl, Catalogue Number: SXL 6828, Record cover, Plastic sleeve, 1 vinyl disk. Cover notes, Jon Perrin Cover photo: Christian Steiner. Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti. Conductor: Richard Bonynge, National Philharmonic Orchestra, London Opera Chorus (Chorus master Terry Edwards), Jacquelyn Fugelle, soprano; Elizabeth Cornell, mezzo-soprano.lp, sound recording, opera