PhonoLand.com Forum shutting down October 8th 2016

Hi everyone!

Somewhere around 1997 I started PhonoLand.com with a self-built forum. In the following years slowly but steadily the forum became larger and I asked a few regular visitors to help me out in moderating the forum: Joe_DS, Ron Rich and ami-man.

In the following years the forum kept growing and needed better (3rdparty) forum software (now phpBB) able to handle larger amounts of postings. The forum also required better hardware, so it had to run on it's own (virtual private) server. To keep up with modern standards the forum also required template updates and more and more technical maintenance.

The PhonoLand.com forum is my personal hobby website, and although I really enjoy running the forum, I can no longer combine the time I need for the forum with my other priorities in life (family, work). A few months ago I started thinking of quitting the forum, and today I have decided it's time: The PhonoLand.com Forum is going offline.

I would like to give special thanks to Joe_DS, Ron Rich and ami-man for their great voluntary help keeping the forum "clean" and fun for everyone for the many years they have been moderator.

The forum will go offline somewhere on Saturday October 8th 2016. It will no longer be accessible (including private messages, postings, messages etc.): the entire forum will go down.

PhonoLand.com is also active on Facebook. I am not sure yet what I will do with the Facebook group and Facebook page. As this is a separate activity perhaps I will continue these, or perhaps not.

I would like to take this moment to thank all you visitors for having been part of the PhonoLand.com Forum community, your interesting postings and specially those of you who helped other visitors with their various "talking machine" problems.

Kind regards,
Marcel Smits.

Hi All,
It's been a fun ride for the last -how many years-? - Thanks Marcel !
For anyone interested, I still participate at the jukebox list ( jukebox-list@lists.netlojix.com ), and the Seeburg info club (seeburgjukeboxinformationclub@yahoogroups.com)
Ron Rich

Hi Marcel:

I'll echo the comments I sent you via email, but thanks, again, for providing this board, and I wish you all the best of luck going forward.

For those interested in "windup" phonographs and gramophones, please consider joining "The Talking Machine Forum" -- http://forum.talkingmachine.info/ -- which has the lion's share of members and posters in this hobby.

Other forums include:

Gramophone Collecting -- http://www.gramophone-collecting.co.uk/forum/ (Primarily features gramophones and phonographs from the UK and Europe)

The Online Edison Phonograph Discussion Board: http://edisonphonos.proboards.com/ (Mostly Edison products.)

Antique Talking Machines: http://victrolagramophones.proboards.com/ (Not much activity)

Old Time Victrola Music Message Board: http://z13.invisionfree.com/OTVMMB/index.php?act=idx (Not much activity.)



Joe

Thanks all. It's been good getting to know you.

This forum has been a lifeline for information and suggestions. I would have never been able to get my Wurlitzer 2810 jukebox running without Rob from NYC and Ron from SF comments. It had great resources and comments of problems if you searched. Is there anything similar out there?
Thanks all for supporting this.

Hello Everyone,

It is with regret that the forum is closing down.
I have enjoyed my time on the forum and hope that any advice was appreciated.

As Ron says we all tend to be on other forums from time to time, so here is to talking on line to you in the future.

Thank you Marcel for allowing the forums to continue as long as they have. Could you please let forum members have details of the Facebook Group?

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

PhonoLand has been an invaluable source of help. Marcel, you performed a public service, as have the contributors & moderators. If there is a heaven, I nominate you.

Thanks for the kind messages

Phonoland.com is currently on Facebook on the following addresses:

Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/phonoland

Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/phonoland

I am not sure yet about the future of the Facebook group and page, but at this moment they are still there

Kind regards,
Marcel.

I've gained a lot of knowledge and gotten much information from this forum over the years. I'm certainly going to miss it. That said, I want to thank you for the opportunity to learn about and ask questions about various jukes. Not to single anyone out, but Ron has been especially helpful due to the fact all three of my jukes are Seeburgs.

I wish you luck with your future endeavors, and thanks again.

Don

Very tragic news indeed. This sight will be a great loss to many. I wish Marcel the best in the future and thank him for the many years that he was able to make this site available.
I also wish to thank all of the people that gave so freely of the knowledge they have. A special shout out goes to Ron Rich, Rob NYC, Clones and many others that have made this such a great place to learn. I not only enjoyed the assistance I was provided in keeping our jukeboxes up and running, I also enjoyed how other people’s problems were resolved by the great people on this board, which also was another learning experience for me.
To all, live long, stay happy and healthy
Best
Darrell