I have seen an original gramophone with that "shell" thing instead of an electric amplifier, running those fast rotation discs (70rpm? I don't remember, but I now it's way faster than the regular 33rpm), playing a record from the 30s or something. My dad owns a lot of old records, some of them from the late 40s (all in the "standart" vinyl 33rpm format). While we don't have a record player any longer, my grandmother does, and when I'm at her house I try it out. Those LP players are still being manufactured and sold at some places. I've seen one that is in the shape of an old 1930s radio, but with a CD - MP3 player built in, two tape decks, radio, and... on the top, the long play player.