Sewing Machine Turntable

Built in 2002 Sewing Machine Turntable is the last in a series of motorized turntables built by Lucas Abela since 1994. With a top speed of 2850 rpm it was also the most powerful and dangerous of Abela’s turntable instruments.

Handheld styli bars are struck against spinning discs of vinyl and other materials. The resulting sound: ‘the most ferocious and abstract noise ever produced’. The design of this version of the instrument allowed Abela to stack numerous 7″, 10″, and 12″ vinyls. Due to the instrument’s power, each layer of the vinyl discs would shatter, showering the audience with shards of snow-like vinyl.

Abela soon retired the instrument, helped along after finding chunks of vinyl lodged in the wall after one performance.

* image of Lucas Abela courtesy of mr.snow