An Old-Fashioned Device Gets a Fresh Update

From old timey to amped up: hello, great gift idea!

By Kate Calamusa October 27, 2014

1114gramaphone

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.

Another man’s junk is Fritz Rud’s treasure. For the past decade, the West Seattle–based graphic designer has made a hobby of repurposing found objects for his home furnishings, most recently for his 2-year-old line, Salv.co. In his hands, Korean War–era ammunition crates become tables (as seen in the employee lounges at Amazon headquarters). His latest creation is the ultimate juxtaposition between the tech age and the Industrial Revolution: iPhone amps crafted from vintage phonograph horns. Inspiration first struck after Rud used a spare steel bowl to amplify the tunes playing on his phone; soon he was scouring eBay and Craigslist to find a similar object he could repurpose. “The phonograph horns stood out right away,” he says. “I loved the idea of combining a very modern element with these beautiful old pieces. They have so much character.” The result is a minimalistic marvel that comes in original patina or stained in deep amber brown or matte black, allowing the antique form to speak volumes against a simple, sleek iPhone. $150–$425, available at Click! Design That Fits (West Seattle, 4540 California Ave. SW; 206.328.9252; clickdesignthatfits.com) and salv.co

Meet artist Fritz Rud at Click! on Thursday, December 11, 6-9 p.m. during the West Seattle Art Walk

 

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