Weddings
Ideal for drinks receptions, garden parties, marquees and vintage-style celebrations.
Vintage Gramophone DJ & The Pramophone
A fascination for every generation
Original 1930s wind-up gramophones, shellac 78rpm records and The Pramophone: a unique roaming musical experience that delights guests at weddings, parties, festivals and special events.
The star attraction
What is The Pramophone?
The Pramophone began life as a rather splendid old Silver Cross pram before being transformed into a roaming home for two original 1930s HMV wind-up gramophones and hundreds of shellac records.
Filled with music from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s, it can be wheeled amongst guests at weddings, parties, festivals and special events, creating a unique talking point wherever it goes. It isn't simply background music. Guests gather around it, ask questions, share memories and discover music from another era, played the proper way.
More than background music
Music, memories and conversation
Children are fascinated by the mechanics. Parents love the novelty. Older guests often remember gramophones from childhood, or from the homes of parents and grandparents. Guaranteed to start conversations at weddings, festivals, village fetes, museums, heritage railways, care homes, pubs, private parties and community events.
“Everyone is still talking about the party and your great gig!”
“The Pramophone was fantastic...we absolutely loved it.”
“You absolutely made the party! Thank you!”
Perfect for
Weddings, parties, festivals and special events
Festivals & fairs
A visual roaming attraction that draws people in and starts conversations.
Vintage events
Authentic period sound and style for themed events, heritage days and community occasions.
Indoor events
The gramophones can also be set up indoors without roaming, perfect for pubs and private parties and accompanied by Nipper, the famous HMV dog!
The man behind the music
The Wind-up Merchant
The Wind-up Merchant is Nick Steel, a lifelong collector of records, gramophones and musical curiosities.
With thousands of original shellac 78rpm records spanning several decades, Nick brings not just music but stories, history and enthusiasm to every event. Visual, nostalgic, gently eccentric and always a talking point.
It started early...
A lifelong love of records
Family photographs show Nick carefully playing records at the age of three.
More than forty years later, that fascination has grown into a unique travelling gramophone experience bringing music, nostalgia and conversation to weddings, festivals and special events.
Real machines, real records
Original wind-up gramophones
Wind
Each gramophone is powered by a spring motor wound by hand.
Play
Original shellac 78rpm records are played acoustically through the gramophone mechanism.
Discover
Guests can see and hear how recorded music was enjoyed nearly a century ago.
Gallery
The Pramophone in action
Kind words
What people say
“I cannot thank you enough for helping to set the scene and sounds of our party — you were brilliant!”
“Your concept went down a storm.”
“Sipping champagne in the sun to Pramophone music was perfect! Many people commented on how nice it was.”
“Your set up is just wonderful and so refreshing...you were the highlight of my day.”
“Your part in the event was PERFECT! So many people found the entire concept so wonderful.”
“Thank you for sharing your company and wonderful music; it was an utter joy.”
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you need electricity?
No. The gramophones are genuinely wind-up and completely self-contained.
Can The Pramophone move around?
Yes. Outdoors or in suitable spaces, it can be wheeled amongst guests while the records play.
Can you perform indoors?
Yes. The gramophones can be set up indoors without the pram if space is limited. Subtle amplification is also available for larger events.
What music do you play?
Original shellac 78rpm records from the 1920s to the 1950s: dance bands, jazz, swing, crooners, novelty songs and rock 'n' roll.
Can guests choose records?
Yes, where practical. Part of the fun is letting people browse, ask questions and discover forgotten gems.
Where are you based?
The Wind-up Merchant is based in Bath and is available for events across the South West and the wider UK by arrangement.
In motion
The Pramophone rolls by
Watch The Wind-up Merchant and The Pramophone making their way to the next event.
Book The Wind-up Merchant
Bring music, memories and conversation to your event
Available for weddings, garden parties, festivals, vintage events, care homes, corporate events, community celebrations and private functions.
If you'd like to chat with Nick, feel free to email him your phone number and request a call back.