Report from auction in Breinigsville, PA

[alang]

I think it was missing many parts, that's why people were reluctant to bid on it. Also, I think some may have been saving cash for the trademark, the lever wind Berliner and other items still to come.

Andreas

[rizbone]

I think a lot of folks were burned out from Wayne, or had already filled every available spot in their car/truck. I know I have been to two big phonograph auctions in the last few weeks, and spare cash is in short supply. He did pass on a couple of machines, but may have circled back to get them later in the auction. Some items like the modernola were missing all interior parts. There was no reproducer listed for the Amberola 1B (both likely matches in the display case were listed for the 1A) etc. The horn was incorrect for the wizard which might explain the price. There were a lot of good buys there, and I might have gone higher on some items, but I don't think I'll be kicking myself for missing out on a bargain.

[Curt A]

From the pic, I would have bought the Wizard with no hesitation...

[mrcvs]

I was at that auction. BTW, lot 40 sold for $750, not $800 (I won it).

My observations: The seller did NOT include a horn with most lots (mine did come with a cygnet horn), so the values require an initial outlay for the horn. Quality was often fair to poor for individual units, and I was disappointed in the quality, as a whole. I think most units were at the low end of fair. I held out for a few units as I could not afford to blow a lot of money on more common units, like a Gem, and did like the Home model, somewhat earlier, although common, it DID come with a horn. I did like lot 46, as it was an early Home Phonograph, serial number H1015, but some condition issues, and I bid $800 and watched it sell for $850. Should have gone a bit more, but how much more? Don't think it was a bargain, given condition, but certainly fair. Am sort of regretting not going higher. Had to leave for work after this, and obviously missed out on lots containing 30 or 40 cylinders for $25. Would definitely have bid on these, although some condition issues, but not significant mold, the few I checked. Anyone know what individual horns tended to bring?

[schallplatte]

I was also at the PA auction and concur that the condition of many machines was below average, and some were rather poor. Condition and rarity dictate price, and as a result the prices for many of the machines was appropriate. Despite the large list of machines, many of them were is worse condition than I had hoped or were incomplete. Many of the larger cabinet machines were in poor condition explaining their low selling price. The few rare and highly collectible machines in good condition fetched good selling prices.

The selection of Victor machines was limited. The Victor V and VI sold at price levels appropriate for their condition which was rather poor.

There was an excellent selection of early cylinder records. Some of the nicest Columbia Grand and Edison Concert cylinders that I've seen. Some of these were pristine. There were also many pristine early brown wax cylinders. All these sold very well and fetched good prices.

There were a large number of 2 and 4 minute cylinders, esp Edison Gold Moulded and Blue Amberol cylinders. These were sold in large groups and sold inexpensively.

[schallplatte]

Anyone know what individual horns tended to bring?

There was a wide price range for horns. The Edison wood cygnet horns sold for greater than $1000 each, despite some of these showing evidence of repair, but a couple of these were in really nice condition. There were many metal horns. The Edison metal cygnet horns on average sold for a few hundred dollars each. Some of the larger morning glory horns fetched good prices. There were many large brass and metal horns that sold in range of $30-$70 depending on condition.

[ChuckA]

I was at that auction. BTW, lot 40 sold for $750, not $800 (I won it).
My observations: The seller did NOT include a horn with most lots (mine did come with a cygnet horn), so the values require an initial outlay for the horn. Quality was often fair to poor for individual units, and I was disappointed in the quality, as a whole. I think most units were at the low end of fair. I held out for a few units as I could not afford to blow a lot of money on more common units, like a Gem, and did like the Home model, somewhat earlier, although common, it DID come with a horn. I did like lot 46, as it was an early Home Phonograph, serial number H1015, but some condition issues, and I bid $800 and watched it sell for $850. Should have gone a bit more, but how much more? Don't think it was a bargain, given condition, but certainly fair. Am sort of regretting not going higher. Had to leave for work after this, and obviously missed out on lots containing 30 or 40 cylinders for $25. Would definitely have bid on these, although some condition issues, but not significant mold, the few I checked. Anyone know what individual horns tended to bring?

I didn't watch all the horns being sold, but the wood cygnet horns brought from $1100 (the best one IMO) to $900, a nickel MG in very good condition went for around $375, wood grain No. 11 cygnet in fair-good condition $400. I probably should have went in on the early Home, although I have an early one also. The price I thought was good even if it had gone up to $1000.

As was stated before most of the machines had something wrong with them, missing, broken parts or just from sitting in a shed for 50+ years. I bought the two Columbia Grand machines, the AG was in extremely good condition, probably because it wasn't from the same consignor as the main group. The HG was a different story, I knew going in that the trunnion assembly was going to need to be repaired/replaced, but when I got it home and apart I found that both winding ratchet gears were bad and will need to be replaced.

Chuck

[fran604g]

I'm curious about the condition of #26. COLUMBIA BC - 20TH CENTURY, SN 498, SOME STENCILING LOSS. $650.

A BC sold for $650? Was there something very wrong with it?

Best,
Fran

[ChuckA]

I'm curious about the condition of #26. COLUMBIA BC - 20TH CENTURY, SN 498, SOME STENCILING LOSS. $650.

A BC sold for $650? Was there something very wrong with it?

Best,
Fran

The shoe was missing on the reproducer, and looked like a couple other small reproducer pieces were missing.


Chuck

[fran604g]

I'm curious about the condition of #26. COLUMBIA BC - 20TH CENTURY, SN 498, SOME STENCILING LOSS. $650.

A BC sold for $650? Was there something very wrong with it?

Best,
Fran

The shoe was missing on the reproducer, and looked like a couple other small reproducer pieces were missing.


Chuck

Ah, thanks! I had a conversation with George P. about it yesterday, and his reply was that probably the reproducer was most likely missing parts, he hit the nail right on the head!

Fran