Kits

Makafone: A Vintage DIY Phonograph Kit

Makafone: A Vintage DIY Phonograph Kit

The Makafone was a mail-order kit produced by the Modern Phonograph Supply Company starting in 1919. This ad and others like it were printed in Popular Mechanics and various trade magazines that catered to craftsmen. With the recent resurgence of interest in vintage vinyl and other archaic forms of media, I’d be curious to get a look at the plans for a Makafone and maybe build one myself.

In the Maker Shed: Poulsen’s Wire Recoder Kit

Poulsen’s Wire Recoder Kit, from the Maker Shed, uses wire and magnetism to record sound. Danish engineer Valdemar Poulsen discovered that it was possible to record electrical signals in magnetic material and invented the magnetic wire recorder (telegraphone) in 1898. This simple yet fascinating kit lets you explore this phenomenon not just on wire but anything magnetic! Save your voice on scissors, chairs, or even an escalator!