Rodney provides meticulous care in restoring phonographs, even polishing the screws. This has earned him the nickname "The Phonograph Man". As we started sharing our private phonograph with more people, it morphed into a more significant collection that showcased the evolution of sound recording, from the early phonographs to modern devices like the iPod.
In 2010, we shared the collection with over 200 elementary school children in Greenfield, Ohio. Their intense interest inspired us to share our private collection with more people. You see, it is not only our passion to enjoy antiques and history but also to share it with others.
We combined our skills. Rodney is a Master Electrician and handyman who became an excellent phonograph restorer.  I, Charlotte, am an author and journalist with museum curator skills. Then, we sprinkled my interest in professional storytelling and added a dash of time—five years of exhibit creation. The result is one of only a handful of museums worldwide devoted to early music recording and record collecting. The museum displays 50 playable phonographs, so you can see and hear this authentic early recording technology dating back to the late 1800s.
We are a small museum in rural southeastern Ohio with a significant mission. We aim to preserve the early recording technology, share how people enjoyed and collected records, and educate people about its rich history. By doing so, we strive to inspire people by connecting them to our ancestors' technology, traditions, emotions, and stories. Like the musicians and inventors in the exhibition "How'd We Get Here?", we all have talents to share and struggles to overcome. Each of us can make the world a better place by developing and sharing our gifts. We hope the Music Makers Museum may help provide you with a note of inspiration!