Hi! I'm new here. Looking for Victrola VE-XVII Value advice?

[elkabong]

Hi all;
I guess I'm the new kid on the block today. My name is Rudy. I'm in Canada. My interest in gramophones seems to go up & down. At the moment I'm "UP"... Over the years, I've owned only a few. I'm definitely no expert & don't own any at the moment. But I've come across one that is really beautiful. It's a Victrola VE-XVII. Electric; not crank style. It seems to be in all original working condition. ( As far as I can tell anyways?...). The cabinet looks to be a beautiful 'burled' or 'flamed' Walnut. Very attractive!
The owner is playing the "Make me an offer" game with me & I really have no idea of it's actual value. The only thing that he's said about it is " If this was in New York or L.A., you'd be paying $10,000.00 for it!"
Frankly, I don't know if it's worth $500.00 or $5,000.00...or is he serious at $10,000.00??? I really don't know & don't want to look stupid by submitting a really low offer...
I searched the net a bit, but can't really find any info on this particular model.
I'll try to upload a few pics of it here.
Any info / advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers;
Rudy

[nipper]

I would not pay more then $1000 for an original unmolested 17 machine in American walnut.
That is what I will pay In Hawaii LA or New York .
Now The Price comes down to how bad do you want this machine
Many collectors I know don't like VEs and will not pay as much unless is dirt cheep , but that is preference , I myself like the VEs over the VVs machines and will pay fair money for it .

Good Luck

Nipper

[elkabong]

I would not pay more then $1000 for an original unmolested 17 machine in American walnut.
That is what I will pay In Hawaii LA or New York .
Now The Price comes down to how bad do you want this machine
Many collectors I know don't like VEs and will not pay as much unless is dirt cheep , but that is preference , I myself like the VEs over the VVs machines and will pay fair money for it .

Good Luck

Nipper

Hi Nipper;
Thanks for this bit of info. Again , not knowing what this machine is 'really' worth; I feel that the dealer is 'fishing' by giving me that "It's worth 10K!" schpiel. Around $1,000.00 or so I think I could live with though. If nothing else, it's a beautiful piece of furniture. The casework is stunning!
Not that it matters to me personally, but why is it that the "Real Collectors" are not usually interested in a great looking machine like this? Is it because of the fact that it is electric?

[Skihawx]

That is a very nice machine! There was an American Walnunt XVII on ebay
that just sold for $3,500. And it was refinished so that lowers its value in my
book. The guy had started out with a much higher price and kept lowering it.
I paid about 3k for a very nice American Walnut machine several
years ago when prices were high . Real collectors like electric machines. The
"older" collector crowd shunned electic machines. Just like those before them
shunned Pooley flat tops and used them for parts for horn machines. It should certainly
be worth in the 2 to 3k range. If it were Circassian that would be different.

[bbphonoguy]

This is only my personal opinion, but I wouldn't pay even $500 for it, mainly because of the seller's attitude. As soon as someone gives me the "If it was in (blank) I'd be able to sell it for (blank)" line, I just say "then you'd better put it on ebay and get that much for it". I think he's dreaming it he thinks he's gonna get $10,000 for it anywhere. The fact is, if he really thinks it's worth that, I doubt you'll be able to get it away from him at a reasonable price. If you really want it, then offer what you think is fair, and be willing to wait and make the same offer in a few months. As far as one selling on ebay for $3500, all that means is that someone wanted it that badly. A couple of years ago, one sold on ebay (albeit in mahogany) for $750, so I don't go by ebay prices as a good guide, since they can be all over the place.

[schweg]

http://www.intertique.com/Internal_horn0.html

The one on this website has been for sale for a while now so apparently the price is higher than collectors have been willing to pay. I saw it at a phono show over two yrs ago at this price and I guess it went home with the seller- who is still trying to sell it.

[schweg]

While I was submitting my first post, bbphonoguy was writing his, so I wanted to respond to that. I think this is a really neat machine and who cares about the sellers attitude. That is all part of the negotiations game he is playing so to be put off by that and walk away is only hurting you if you really like the machine. I'd not be at all afraid to make a low offer, and as bbphonoguy said, be prepared to walk away and make the seller wait. I personally like the negotiating game and don't have any problem dealing with someone who is not my "buddy" although sellers usually know enough to be nice to you...if he disrespects you, it's likely that he treats everyone that way so the machine will still be sitting there for a while. If you really like the machine, and I would if I were close to it, let the negotiations game begin!!

Steve

[bbphonoguy]

Hi Schweg, I agree that I'd be only hurting myself, but I wouldn't want the machine that badly anyway. To me, half the fun of getting a machine is getting it cheap, and if I paid what this seller thinks it's worth, then I'd REALLY be hurting myself!

[elkabong]

Gentlemen;
Thanks all of you for your comments.
bbphonoguy; believe me,I feel the same way you do about this dealer. I don't appreciate his way of doing business. I feel that if you have a shop & something's 'for sale', then it should have a posted price. On the other side of that coin, I guess you could say it's his perogative to do whatever he wants with it. No matter how 'annoying' his attitude is; [to me anyways...].
I'm also finding it interesting to see the wide variation of opinion here. Refreshing!
I may go visit the shop today to see what I can 'stir up'...
I'm curious to hear from you experts & collectors as to what my opening offer should be ?
Cheers!

[elkabong]

bbphonoguy;
What would you consider 'cheap' to be for a machine like this? I'm thinking that maybe that # should be my opening offer???