A little treasure trove near Orlando

[FloridaClay]

Wanting to get out for a little drive yesterday, I drove over to a town south of Orlando to check out a thrift shop ad on Craigslist indicating that they had “20 or so” phonographs. What was there (and in one of their storage spaces) is amazing. They had bought out an abandoned storage space that had a couple dozen phonographs. Some of the stuff I noticed in a quick inventory included:

• A Diamond Disk C250 (or possibly a C19—I couldn’t get close to this one)
• A Diamond Disk A250
• A Columbia upright
• An oak Victor VV-IX (I bought this one)
• An empty case for an oak VV-IX
• Another Diamond Disk. Not sure of the model, as I was trying to read the plate from an awkward angle
• A VTLA L-door
• A VV-80
• A Grafonola Table Top
• A Diamond Disk S 19
• A late US Pathé oak table model with a universal reproducer
• A Victor II with horn

And there was a lot more, including a lot of loose parts. Conditions vary, with some of the finishes being the worse for being years in an unairconditioned storage space. Many of them would require work to restore, but several are obviously worth the bother. I would have bought more had my budget and available space in my home permitted. If you buy one make sure it has all its parts, as any missing ones may be there in a box.

They are at:

Hope for Humanity Thrift Store
42665 US Highway 27
Davenport, FL 22897

This particular location of the organization does not have a land line, but I was told the best number to call for more information is 516-426-4386.

Beware that this location drives many GPS systems, including mine, nuts. (Mine tried to take me to a spot a mile away!) However they are located about 1 mile South of I-4 on US 27, on the left side if you are driving South, in a little strip mall.

They are open Monday through Saturday 9 to 6.

Clay

[JohnM]

I'm really batting .1000 here! Last week I was in the Tampa area, now I read this and I'm in Everglades City! We won't be back that way until we're in Vero Beach in April!

I just called them and asked a few prices: A-250 $350; VTLA $1100; Vic II $1400

[Stephen_Madara]

the victor ii looks rough here is the listing.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/atq/2794632319.html

[FloridaClay]

Yes, the Victor II will definitely need some elbow grease to put right.

There are some opportunities there. They have a lot of machines—some in the shop and many more in a nearby storage space. Be forewarned, though, that these are in the “barn find” category. Most will require restoration—some just a little and some a lot. These are probably more for collectors who like to work on machines and take pleasure in bringing them back to life. The majority are not for somebody who is looking for pristine examples to bring home all ready for display. The VV-IX I bought only needed a little cleaning, but that was more the exception than the rule.

Here are my observations from my visit:

1. Most of the machines will require some degree of finish restoration. They were in a storage space in the Florida sun for about 15 years, which makes shellac unhappy. That is not nearly as much of a problem for the later Orthophonic era machines that have lacquer finishes though. Some things, like the Victor II, were likely in a attic somewhere for decades before the person who had the abandoned storage space, where these machines were found, acquired them.

2. As mentioned before, if you go buy something make sure that all its parts are there and that they are the right parts. For example, check to be sure you have the right reproducer, etc. I was in something of a hurry and when I got the VV-IX home I noticed that it had the wrong reproducer and needle cup. Careless of me not to notice that while I was at the shop. Had I been more observant, though, it is likely that the correct parts were there. The abandoned storage space they acquired where the machines were also had a variety of loose parts in it. The thrift shop has them in their offsite storage area. The folks at the thrift shop aren't sophisticated enough about antique phonographs to necessarily know what goes with what. If something is missing, or not the right bit, you may well be able to find what you need in some of the parts boxes they have.

And don't be afraid to negotiate!

Clay

[NEFaurora]

That 516 area code in Long Island, New York, Specifically Nassau county near where I used to live for 34 years..

I now live in Florida in Melbourne...

I would'nt mind taking a drive there myself..

Tony K.

[FloridaClay]

Went back over today and picked up a Diamond Disk A250. It is a little bit rough, but I think will eventually clean up OK, and it runs. Reserving judgment for now as to whether it will have to be refinished. And believe it or not, I managed to get it into the back seat of my Sonata, with, oh, maybe a half inch to spare all way round. Of course whether I will ever be able to get it out is another question.

They have already sold the Victor II, the VTLA, and one of the two Credenzas they had. Looks like a lot of the other stuff mentioned earlier is still there. For some reason, there are quite a few VV-IXs, some oak and some mahogany.

Clay

[antique1973]

If the VTLA was in good shape, $1100 is good deal based on the recent $1800 sale on Ebay.

[FloridaClay]

The Victor II and the VTLA did go for $1,100 each.

Clay