Is it me or what?

[Victrolacollector]

Is it me or is it true? It seems that antique phonographs are selling for less this year and even the records are selling for low prices. I am seeing less emphasis on 5000 series BA's and 52000 series DD's. In 2007-2010 I was paying as much as $50-60 U.S. dollars for a somewhat hot title. Today, be lucky to get $10.00.

[De Soto Frank]

I think part of it is the economy... folks had / felt they had "more disposable money" in 2007-2010...

Just my observation from antique car and other collectibles pricing...

[Henry]

In my neck of the woods, Lionel prices seem to be lower at the Train Shows I attend.

[ambrola]

The right records will still bring the big dollars.

[PHONOMIKE]

Is it me or is it true? It seems that antique phonographs are selling for less this year and even the records are selling for low prices. I am seeing less emphasis on 5000 series BA's and 52000 series DD's. In 2007-2010 I was paying as much as $50-60 U.S. dollars for a somewhat hot title. Today, be lucky to get $10.00.

A couple people I spoke with this year told me that the number of people attending the shows has remained steady but the number of people spending money has fallen off and sales are down the last few years. I would think that might have an effect on prices.

[welshfield]

Now...for those of us who are collectors, aren't low prices good, not bad? It seems as if many posts on this site brag about the low prices one paid for some particular machine or batch of records, so why not be happy about this?
John

[De Soto Frank]

I'm not sure what is "low", and what is "fair"...

That seems to be all over the map, depending on the commentator and how far back their experience goes...

If I found a Victrola XI in functional, presentable condition ( ready to put in your house, after some moderate cleaning / polishing ) for $300 or less, I'd think that was fairly reasonable...


I get the impression that some folks who've been at this for a while would think that "high" for such a common machine...



Generally, a soft market is "good for the buyer, bad for the seller"... I guess it depends...


I have yet to sell a machine ( or any other collectible, to my wife's dismay )... so I'm not in the hobby to make money, but by the same token, I don't want to be terribly "over-invested" in any given machine...

The other week, I brought home an early Credenza, a two-door. It was missing the taper arm, soundbox, and serial plate, the front bum feet shed their font laminations (have the pieces), grille cloth is irreparably torn , and I think one of the springs is broken. The cabinet & finish will clean-up decently, I don't anticipate refinishing. I bought a correct, nice arm on e-bay for $105 after S&H, the trip to fetch it took about a ½ tank of gas ($30), I'll probably spend another $150 on a soundbox, and who knows how much for grille cloth, then my time to fix the spring and make it look nice. I paid $350 for the machine, so I'm almost up to $600 invested... which is probably the max this machine would bring if I sold it, given that it would no longer have the original grille fabric and no folders.

Your mileage may vary... ?

[Uncle Vanya]

I'm not sure what is "low", and what is "fair"...

That seems to be all over the map, depending on the commentator and how far back their experience goes...

If I found a Victrola XI in functional, presentable condition ( ready to put in your house, after some moderate cleaning / polishing ) for $300 or less, I'd think that was fairly reasonable...


I get the impression that some folks who've been at this for a while would think that "high" for such a common machine...

Golly, you should have gone to Union! There was a lovely walnut VV-100 complete with its original crate, packing, paperwork and accessories, which machine looked as if it had spent most of its life in said crate, offered for $300 for the lot with no takers and little interest. Then there was a Brooks Automatic in a mahogany (mahogany?!) cabinet with a reasonably good original finish, one open joint on the lid ( easily repairable) and a perfectly working mechanism which was also offered for $300, again with no takers and little interest. Then there was the Schoolhouse Victorola VV-XXV, a dusty original, with a decent original finish, nice smooth oak horn, and good cabinet, save for the missing bottom inch of each foot which could have been had for just over $2000, and the complete, untouched "attic condition" Victor VI which could be had for just over $4000. Actual selling prices for the real rarities seem to be quite as high as ever, but anything that can be easily found is running pretty darned soft.

[De Soto Frank]

I would have gladly schlepped that Brooks home for $300...


My observation has been that the external horn disc machines seem to consistently, easily pull four figures.


It's a shame the internal horn machines are not similarly valued.


Frankly, I feel priced-out of owning a Victor V or VI... they fetch more than I've paid for most of my CARS !

(Heck - a few years ago, I picked-up a running, driving, turn-key '28 Ford Coupe for $6,000 and that has actually almost paid for itself as transportation ! ).

[Uncle Vanya]

(Heck - a few years ago, I picked-up a running, driving, turn-key '28 Ford Coupe for $6,000 and that has actually almost paid for itself as transportation ! ).

Wow! $6,000.00? For an A?

That's what I'oysters a bargaior a Dodge Bovine SECAM.



Dratted autocorrect!

"That's what I'd esteem a bargaind for a Dodge Brothers sedan
!