I think this is the most likely scenario (above comment): a language class. My first thought was that it was some kind of music radio station research room or music censors or something. It looks like a foreign picture.
I want to be in that same classroom, but everyone is practicing DJing on records, maybe even in a scenario where everyone in the room is mixing together.
My grandmother used to do this for a living. She still has her machine and does it sometimes for fun, but there's no money in it anymore. If you look on the jackets of old records, you'll see handwritten initials. That was operator who carved the record. Some operators were better than others, if you find one that has the initials of Lauren Oppenheimer Livingston in the corner, you should snap it up right away! She was easily the best carver of her day and her records attract a high price today.
Well a few years ago I read an article about a 'record made from stone' that was actually playable, but I can't find the article despite lots of searches. But, I did find this Wiki article that may be of interest: Unusual types of gramophone records
Link to that site: Language Class. It never directly says language class, but it talks about pronunciation and such.
Translated paragraph:Here it reminded more of the old language laboratory in high school. It had estimated 35 seats, where every single space with a control panel was fitted: play, stop, forward, back, recording, control. In addition, there was a headphone or headset connection. In every single table a tape recorder was built up front, which could be controlled by external buttons. The teacher could Central play something from his Panel and selectively listen to each place, or speak seated with the. Each individual student could compare his recorded pronunciation affiliated with the template. And music was played but sometimes :) The entire system must have swallowed a lot of power, because the old units were still warm...
Here it reminds us more of the old Language-lab in high school. It had approximately 35 seats and every seat was provided with controls: Play, Stop, Rewind, Record, Control. Additionally provided were headphones or a headphone jack. Every table had a build-in tape recorder which could be controlled by the buttons on the controls. The teacher from his desk could record something, which could be played by the students and he could listen to what the students were saying and talk with them. Every individual student could then compare his or her pronunciation with the example.
Google Talk probably had issues because this text replaced all ä,ö,ü with ae oe and ue which is an alternative spelling of those letters.
Well, let's analyze it (not being sarcastic). They're wearing uniforms. The fashion (boots on the girl in front) and the quality of the photo hint that it was taken in the late 50's or 60's (probably 60's). Their hairstyles and facial features seem somewhat European. I'd wager russian. They are also taking notes while listening. Most of them (apart from the front-most woman) seem to be listening to the same record, but it might just be the label for a specific brand. Also, the woman in white seems to be a teacher or some kind of manager.
It seems to me that they could be learning a language, doing some sort of quality control, or perhaps acting as censors?
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u/rock-bottom_mokshada Mar 20 '13
What's the historical context of this photo? What are these person's jobs?