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But here is where it gets crazy. Out of the blue, people stopped bidding on phonos and related items. There was just a couple of other collectors there and we tried to avoid bidding against each other and it was amazing what sold and the prices they went for. There was a small box of reproducers, all in great shape, that went for $30 for the whole box. I bought two from the winner, a type q in immaculate condition and a Model H with the matching original box. I gave him $10. (He wouldn't part with the shiny Model K though.) I picked up a nice cylinder cabinet made by the Pooley Co. and a nice wood suitcase phonograph that was sitting on top of it for $40. Picked up another record cabinet in great shape for $11. I also grabbed a near mint Edison A-100 and a VV-35 that doesn't appear to have ever been played.
Here is where things got a little out of hand though. A gentleman I was talking with drove from St. Louis to attend. So when he was interested in bidding on one of the dozens of record lots I stood clear of his way as, at this point, we were literally taking turns. He picked up a box of 30 Monarch records, one had a crack in it, for $30!! The very next box he bid on had the Diamond Disc sleeve for "Take Me Home Again Kathleen", (I think that was the title) but it had the wrong disc in it. Instead, there was a VERY fresh, near mint condition "Let Us Not Forget". He paid $25 for that lot! I picked up a box full of cylinders, all black wax, all with original boxes and lids, and all with mint slips. It gets better, by the end, I bought a couple horn cranes for a couple bucks each. I also paid a total of 4 dollars to pick up a VV-XI in oak, a Grafonola, a Sonora Model A, an Edison C-250, a Cheney No. 3, and a somewhat odd "Operaphone". They were all in very poor shape and couldn't be salvaged as they were in a barn for years and were beyond repair. So I grabbed the motors, tonearms, reproducers, hardware, and a boatload of other hidden "treasures" that I found inside the cabinets. There was a nice Columbia record duster from 1914, model "C" reproducer, a couple unused Edison oil jars, a really nice record repeater, two 78 attachments for DD machines, a couple nice catalogues from 1920, and two needles with the tips for playing Pathé records. I also grabbed the grills to all the machines all of which were near perfect with no missing or cracked pieces. (Including a William and Mary grille from an Edison Diamond Disc phonograph. On all of the things I just mentioned I payed about $25.
So I wrote this to spark other stories of crazy auctions people have attended. Whats the craziest auction you have attended? Outrageous bidding? Dirt cheap phonographs? Lets hear your stories!
Yea, there were several times when my heart nearly stopped too! It was like a roller coaster as I thought I would probably leave the auction with nothing due to the crazy bids. But then every one stopped bidding for some reason. Strange, but a lot of fun. A little off topic here, but has anyone ever seen a horn that appears to look exactly like a Gem horn, but about ⅓ the size? It had the same amount of panels, proportions and design but was only about 9 inches long or so and the bell was about 5 inches across. Was there a company that made these? Just thought I would ask.
