Any reports about Stanton's auction

[Uncle Vanya]

These things happen. One year a nice little Victor Monarch that I purchased disappeared. My "helper" who was supposedly looking out for my pole of stuff had gone out to the car to have a smoke and a little sulk, you see...

This year I bought an exceptionally clean. RCA Victor 630-TS (1946-47, with channel 1) television receiver for the ridiculously low price of $40.00 late in the Friday sale. I stored it at the bottom of a pile of consoles, awaiting Saturday pick up. On Saturday morning it was gone. The folks who attend this sale are generally a pretty fine lot of folks, but there are occasional unfortunate exceptions.

[marcapra]

Yes, that's true. If possible, I would advise moving small items like horns or small phonographs out to your car as soon as possible. If you win a floor model, take the crank and reproducer off so they don't get pilfered. Also things like knobs and other small parts can get stolen. In my case, right after I won the two horns, there was a flurry of cylinder record sales being auctioned that I was bidding on, and I forgot about the horns until after the auction.

[PHONOMIKE]

I won and lost two horns at the auction. I forgot to pack them in my car, and when I returned to the building two hours later, the horns were gone!

Marc

If Steve Stanton does not already know about the horns let him know. If someone picked them up by mistake they may contact Stanton or if they were there when his crew was cleaning up he may have them. This happened to me one year and I did not contacted Stanton's thinking my item was gone. To my surprise months later the next phonograph auction I attended he had my item waiting for me.

Best Regards, Larry

I agree, let Steve know. They may have been moved and stored after the auction. If not, I still think he should know. I'm not sure but there may be a few cameras that can be viewed.

Mike

[Uncle Vanya]

Did anyone go to the auction, any treasures or reports?
Thanks

Well, treasures.

How a bout pleasant surprises?

I picked up a nice little Amberola 75 for a modest price indeed. It was nice to finde the macine filled with records.

it was nicer still to find a really clean copy of LUNF and several operatic titles, including a couple of really good Otto Goritz performances.

[marcapra]

As soon as I realized I had left the horns, I called Mr. Stanton and left a message. Then I went to the auction building where Chris, the other auctioneer, was still there. He showed me his trailer where they put left over items, but my horns were not there. I could be wrong, but I think they walked. People ask me why don't they have security watching the doors, but as Steve Stanton says at the beginning of the auction, once you win an item, the item is your responsibility.

[Raphael]

We all have to remember that this is a super auction, run by real pros who have a sincere appreciation for antique phonos. The blame is not to be in any way directed towards Steve Stanton, who tries (and succeeds) in keeping costs down. What other major auction of this nature has a buyer's premium of only 10%? (I've been participating in auctions with 25% premiums of late). And I assume it's about the same for sellers. In this way, Stanton can put together two major phonograph auctions each year that attract buyers world-wide.

Sure, he can provide guard service, video surveillance, require immediate payment/letters of guarantee, etc., but then you'd have an impersonal and much more expensive venue. And maybe not get a pre-Thanksgiving turkey dinner, either!

Raphael

[Uncle Vanya]

We all have to remember that this is a super auction, run by real pros who have a sincere appreciation for antique phonos. The blame is not to be in any way directed towards Steve Stanton, who tries (and succeeds) in keeping costs down. What other major auction of this nature has a buyer's premium of only 10%? (I've been participating in auctions with 25% premiums of late). And I assume it's about the same for sellers. In this way, Stanton can put together two major phonograph auctions each year that attract buyers world-wide.

Sure, he can provide guard service, video surveillance, require immediate payment/letters of guarantee, etc., but then you'd have an impersonal and much more expensive venue. And maybe not get a pre-Thanksgiving turkey dinner, either!

Raphael

I agree with you in every particular. The small losses that some of us have suffered are, after all, to an extent of our own doing. We all remember that at the beginning of each sale Mr. Stanton does warn us to look out for our purchases. I cannot imagine how expensive and intrusive would be the security arrangements which might be put in place to protect us from what is, after all, generally our own carelessness in the confusion and excitement of a big sale.

[Raphael]

I'd like to add that in past auctions, I've just piled my stuff in one corner awaiting my trucker to haul it away at the end. I've never lost so much as a screw, and the one time something went missing (a reproducer) Steve Stanton offered to cancel the listing and credit my account. Just then, Paul Baker opened the phonograph and found the reproducer sitting inside (duh!).

In my opinion, Steve is one of the greatest fellows around, a real "yes" person, and an important asset to the phonograph & music box world.

Raphael

[JerryVan]

I'll add my praises of Steve as well. I've been to other auctions where you had only so long to preview the items, then they were roped off and if you wanted a second look: too bad. Also been to auctions where sold items are carted off to a separate room. You couldn't take your item and put it away if you wanted to till later. Steve runs a friendly and open auction. Too bad a few idiots have to take advantage of that.

On a personal note. I have been going to Stanton auctions for maybe 25 years but would not ever be classified as a "major bidder". Therefore, I was shocked and very moved at a certain kindness that Steve extended to me as a consolation for my dad's passing in 2010. I will not forget it.

[gemering]

Uncle Vanya,

A restored 10-50 for $100????
Did you mean $1000?
Why wasn't I in the room?????

Gene