Victor I and Berliner finds at local auction

[thatonejohn]

So, I picked up the following items at a local auction yesterday... The Vic I had a berliner record sitting on it, and the box with the brass? exhibition reproducer was also on it. Also picked up a couple boxes with 7" records in them, my count is a grand total of 38 berliners, 9 columbias, 7 zonophone, and 14? victors (a couple are "Improved"). Cylinders include an Edison Grand Opera Gold Moulded, a Royal Purple Amberol, and 4 busy-bees. Also got a couple boxes of 78s, edisons, Pathés, and other miscellaneous records that will take me a while to go through due to the variety of labels.

Question for the forum, if I were to play the 7" records on my Vic I, what should I be using for a needle, how often should it be replaced, and any record care things I should be worried about before playing them? Also, is the brass exhibition reproducer and the wooden record cabinet anything special?

[winsleydale]

Regarding the needles, I would refrain from using steel on the really old records - just me. I would use fiber if I was gonna play them on period equipment. Of course, old records are commonly well-worn and worn records and fiber needles don't get along well. If you must use steel, obviously go with the rule of thumb, wherein the needle is changed after every song.

[Phonolair]

Congratulations on your haul, it looks like you had a good day.

Your biggest find (my opinion) is the 7" record box. Other than the leather handle missing it looks to be in good condition. These are hard to find and very desirable among collector. Even if your not a record collector they display well with a early machine. Not to take away from your other items but the record box is the star of the show in this case.

Best Regards, Larry

[De Soto Frank]

Very nice haul !

Was this just a regular estate sale, or a special phonograph auction ?


Frank

[FloridaClay]

A nice haul indeed. I'd give the records a gentle wash. I use a soft terry cloth and warm water with some Joy dish detergent in it, not soaking them but giving a wash with the rag and prompt rinse and dry. By all means, with valuable old-timers such as you picked up use a new needle for each one played.

Clay

[gramophone78]

Steel needles are fine (one per play). I would not use a Victor 1 to play them on. If you have a Victrola or a good turntable with stylus....I would go that route.

The record box was offered by Johnson and is the plain base model. There is also an egg & dart carved base model.
As mentioned, the leather strap handle is lost (reproductions are available).

The gold plated Exhibition is for a later Victrola.

Great to see such a nice large grouping of 7" records. Hopefully, they will remain together.


Congrats!!!.

[phonogfp]

Congratulations! Why don't these auctions happen near me?

There's a red Vitaphone disc (#252 George Watson, Life in the Alps) among the 7-inchers. Rare indeed.

George P.

[Zwebie]

John,

In my opinion your best bet would not be to play the records, but to sell the records on Ebay.

7" Berliners bring between $40 and $400 each depending on title and condition.
7" Columbias bring between $10 and $50 each depending on title and condition.
7" Victors bring between $10 to $100 each depending on title and condition.
7" Zonophones bring between $20 to $120 each depending on title and condition.
And a 7" Ultra Rare Vitaphone Record, well the sky's the limit!

Also the 7" wooden record box should bring between $1000 to $2000.

The Victor Gold Exhibition Reproducers are fairly common, around $50-75.

With the sale of these items you'd have tons of "fun money" to pursue more phonographs!

OR: You could just hang on to everything and pursue a Berliner Trademark to complete the group.

Cheers, Bob S.

[thatonejohn]

Thanks all for the valuable insight, I had no idea about the Vitaphone record rarity, or the box's value. The auction was to settle the estate of a local music professor, and everything he had was nice. He also had a busy-bee Q cylinder phonograph, a fairly plain, but nice, Brunswick upright, and a cameraphone, but they all went for decent prices, so I didn't get those as my budget wouldn't allow it.

Are there any pictures of the box's handle? or, where are the reproductions available at?

Thanks again,

John

[tinovanderzwan]

John,

In my opinion your best bet would not be to play the records, but to sell the records on Ebay.

7" Berliners bring between $40 and $400 each depending on title and condition.
7" Columbias bring between $10 and $50 each depending on title and condition.
7" Victors bring between $10 to $100 each depending on title and condition.
7" Zonophones bring between $20 to $120 each depending on title and condition.
And a 7" Ultra Rare Vitaphone Record, well the sky's the limit!

Also the 7" wooden record box should bring between $1000 to $2000.

The Victor Gold Exhibition Reproducers are fairly common, around $50-75.

With the sale of these items you'd have tons of "fun money" to pursue more phonographs!

OR: You could just hang on to everything and pursue a Berliner Trademark to complete the group.

Cheers, Bob S.

i would hang on to it i had a whamo! like this 20 years back at a flea market a guy was selling 45's he had a table full of them and i was searching for red vinylite rca's there where about 80 7'' records among the 45's berliners both euro and american, victors, g&t's and zonophone
i still have them all i never did find any red vinylites among this batch dough


tino