I got my first phonograph in 1972 and it's a C-19 Edison. I can remember seeing outside horn Victor's in antique stores in those days for $65 but I couldn't tell you anymore what models they were. I did see a Victor VI for $75 and the only reason I remember it is because one of the metal capitals fell off and I had to find it back. It was on the floor under some stuff and when I pulled it off and sat it on the table it came loose. Ozzie complained about it saying if it was a nice oak one he could get $100 out of it but since it was mahogany... I don't remember the horn anymore as he had those hanging from the ceiling and said I could have my pick. And PILES of records in shops that messed with them. So, yes, $25 each for any kind of a record would have seemed to me like a fortune in those days. One dealer used to sell me diamond disk records by the foot and he would measure them. How were you supposed to know what you should be looking for anyway? I don't remember anything much for books. Knowledge was pretty hard won when I was a kid.marcapra wrote:Wow! that's a long time ago! $25 was worth about $142 in 2017 dollars, so I can see why you would sell off the long play records at $142 each adjusted for inflation. Sounds like a great buy back in '73 when it was probably harder to find antique phonographs without Ebay and Craigslist around.I remember buying one of these out of an estate in 1973 for $25 chocked with a complete set of LP's and white label 52000's.
Those long play machines are nice. I had one my Dad bought in 1977 and we got it from a dealer that had just got it from the guy that bought it new in 1927. I Dad gave $75 for it full of records. He had 15-20 good size boxes of records that came with it and wanted $45 for all of the records. I couldn't talk Dad into the records though as he thought we had spent enough money to get Mom to have a fit. That was a dumb move as almost all of the records I did get with it were electric and there was three long play records in there. I don't know what was in the other boxes though. I know where the machine is now, and it's still in really nice shape. The finish really crazes on them though and it's really thick which is probably the reason it gives so much trouble. They are attractive, but I think they take some getting used to. My Dad HATED the grille and made me put it in a room where he didn't have to look at it very often!
And congratulations on the find! I think you'll really enjoy the old girl. Too bad someone doesn't re-cast that center part of the grille in resin, they seem to be damaged often times. Replacing the grille cloth on those things is quite a challenge as well.