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Fair price for an original leather horn elbow? Real or Fake?

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 2:33 pm
by Django
I am curious what a fair price would be for a decent, original leather horn elbow. I would think that these would be very scarce because 100+ year old leather doesn't generally hold up very well. I would like to put originals on my Berliners if it is not prohibitive.

Thanks

Re: Fair price for an original leather horn elbow???

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:58 pm
by Jerry B.
I've been to Union and APS (formerly CAPS) many many times and don't recall seeing a loose leather elbow for sale. That's something I've never specifically hoped to find so I may have missed seeing a leather elbow for sale. So I think your chances of finding an original leather elbow is decent condition is quite small.

I'd like to see better quality reproduction leather elbows offered. The last reproduction I received seems quite cheap and light weight. The surviving originals seem to be more substantial. I think most of us would be happy to pay for better quality.

Can anyone point me towards a good reproduction leather elbow?

Thanks, Jerry

Re: Fair price for an original leather horn elbow???

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 1:51 pm
by Django
I saw one of these four elbows on ebay yesterday and I think that it looks authentic, (it inspired this topic). I bought it and then the guy posted three more, so I bought them too. The were not much more than the cost of a normal reproduction and they look more the part, even if not authentic. The edges are more finished looking than any reproductions that I have seen and they don't look as if they were all made by the same person. Fake or real, they will look good on my machines and they didn't break the bank. Any opinions on originality?

Re: Fair price for an original leather horn elbow???

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 4:13 pm
by Ripduf1
The ones I have seen at a couple of the recent phonograph auctions have gone for $300-$400. John

Re: Fair price for an original leather horn elbow???

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 12:29 pm
by Django
I received the four elbows that I bought on ebay. One is still quite supple and is not included in these pictures. The other three are very stiff and appear to be very old. The leather is compacted in the areas where the horn and throat would have applied pressure. The flattened one has the least compression from a horn. One even has what appears to be oxidation from a corroded horn in the seam. I am not an expert and have never actually seen an authentic leather elbow in the wild and I am sure that there were variations. If they are not originals, that is OK too because I only paid $39.50 each and they still look better than new reproductions. If they are not old, someone went to a great deal of work for little money.

Any opinions?