What a great story of your father. Sounds like my kind of guy. By the time I was that age I had a Barracuda. Ahahhahaha What girl could turn that down? I mean, it had an 8 track 4 channel stereo!
I had the red brush thingy that I put one drop of the magic fluid on before I put it on the turntable and oh so gently wiped the album before I dropped the arm. Queen was indeed part of that library.
I am sorry your father is not still around to laugh at life with you. He learned early, obviously, the secret. Life is a cosmic joke and it's our job to find the punch line.
Your comments by itself makes me wanna sit, legs crossed, whiskey in hand and listen to all your stories, I bet you have the best stories ! My dad was a pretty wonderful man, 7 years since I lost him this Saturday and I miss him like you would miss your arm if someone ripped it away from you. I am very much a jnr version of him which is why when my mother scolds and say "you are just like your father," I feel proud!