A dad who kept his vinyl and likes building things, and who needs a project rather than a possession.
What it is
A 424-piece laser-cut wooden gramophone kit that plays real vinyl via a hand-crank generator, with volume adjustment, USB power port and 33/45/78 RPM speed wheels for 7 to 10 inch records. Includes a 7-inch vinyl record. About 8 hours to build, ages 14+. No glue or batteries.
Why we picked it
Unlike almost every model kit, the finished object does something: he builds it for eight hours and then plays actual records on it. That combination of long build and working result is what makes it land for a dad who finds ornaments pointless.
