Antique Phonographs not a high demand

[Edisonfan]

Thank You for the comments. This really helps!

[Victrolacollector]

Here locally in NW Indiana, we have a few antique shops, not very much comes up in antique wind-up phonographs. However, there is one that I wish that I bought, it sold within 2 weeks, a nice Oak or Walnut Brunswick Floor Model for $300.00; It had the Ultona Arm, the books, manuals and original sales receipt. Mint machine, in fact I met the owner who had just delivered it and said he did not have the room anymore due to downsizing, but was going to make room for his Edison cylinder machine.

Another one that sold quick was a Amberola 75.


There is a Empire Talking Machine sitting and has never sold, one shop has a floor model Edison, a few Edison standards and a Columbia Grafonola table model, these machines have sat in the shop for maybe 2 years now.

[FloridaClay]

It does now seem to be a buyer's market for many collectibles; phonographs, music boxes, other mechanical music item, clocks, etc. The single exception seems to be antique autos. Major collector group organizations have been seeing their membership fall for about 25 years. Of course even in a buyer's market there are exceptions for high-end rare items in good condition. There it is still a seller's market.

Clay

[Victrolacollector]

I'm sure many of us have heard of "hoarding", especially with the TV show and news spots. There has been a push to criminalize hoarders in some jurisdictions etc. These advocates of anti-hoarding seem to try and push for a "streamline" society, just have a few things, maybe a ipad and a car and alot of space in your dwelling, they often correlate hoarding with psychological and psychiatric issues. In fact, many have have confused hoarding with collecting....so where am I going with this.

I think many people today are too afraid to begin collecting, its looked down on many as a issue or stereotype.

I had one guy tell me just have one or two machines and thats it. Why have so many machines (I was at 11 machines then)?

What do our forum members think about this? Do you think that the psychological community has had a impact on collecting?

This is just one of these types of articles. I think its bogus...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fu ... -collector

I will say many agree that those that are engaged in hobbies at a young age are less likely to be depressed or become involved in crime. So maybe our young people today need more than a IPAD and new shoes...they need a Victrola.

[Valecnik]

This isn't just happening with phonographs. I am also into old Model A Fords. Our club membership is doing better than other clubs that have seen their memberships fall. I have been trying to spark some interest in phonographs with younger people. More than once, I have listed a "Free Victrola" on Craigslist. But, the recipient has to be under 18 years old. The last one I gave away went to a 14 year old boy. He came with his Dad from over an hour away. His eyes lit up when he saw it. He actually knew quite a bit about phonographs. I will be posting another "Free Victrola" soon. This time the person has to be under 18 and work on it with me. It needs a new mainspring an I will show them how to put one in and go over how the whole thing works. It is just my small contribution to keep this hobby going. Hopefully others can do the same. Another thing to consider is taking phonographs to display at a library. I have also done this and actually got some good leads from doing it.

I think your "Free Victrola" idea is a great one Ken, giving at least a few kids the opportunity to own something he otherwise would not, thus never really getting into the hobby. By the way, my son is looking for a free one and he's only 10 years old so he should qualify. Specifically he's looking for a late model Idelia.

All joking aside that is a really good idea Ken!

[SteveM]

I think it might be useful to view it in terms of furniture, because isn't that what upright machines essentially became, thanks to the fashion of the times?

This WSJ article spells it out. People just don't have the room. Houses are smaller, people are more transient. They don't want big, brown anchors.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-mar ... 1404256129

Plus, in my own estimation, big heavy brown stuff sitting around the home indicates a responsibility and indebtedness to somebody else for the time down the road when you're gonna have to move it.

Divorce rates are not going anywhere, and people like to give the impression that they are independent, even if they actually aren't. Owning anything that can't be moved by one person these days tends to freak people out a little.

[Victrolacollector]

I think it might be useful to view it in terms of furniture, because isn't that what upright machines essentially became, thanks to the fashion of the times?

This WSJ article spells it out. People just don't have the room. Houses are smaller, people are more transient. They don't want big, brown anchors.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-mar ... 1404256129

Plus, in my own estimation, big heavy brown stuff sitting around the home indicates a responsibility and indebtedness to somebody else for the time down the road when you're gonna have to move it.

Divorce rates are not going anywhere, and people like to give the impression that they are independent, even if they actually aren't. Owning anything that can't be moved by one person these days tends to freak people out a little.

I could not agree more! These are the realities, like you mentioned people want to give the impression that they are independent and be able to move their possessions themselves if the time comes..this might include situations like divorce, evictions and foreclosure. Today we have so many younger people living with families that having these items can be prohibitive. I think that prior to our recent times, there was more stability, so people would have a home for life, and buy things to place there. Another thing, today we have more issues with "noise pollution", talking machines are loud and may be offensive for those living in some apartments.

What will the hot sellers be? Probably small cylinder machines and tabletop phonographs that can be easily moved.

The days of the upright, lowboy and Credenza might be limited.

[dutchman]

This isn't just happening with phonographs. I am also into old Model A Fords. Our club membership is doing better than other clubs that have seen their memberships fall. I have been trying to spark some interest in phonographs with younger people. More than once, I have listed a "Free Victrola" on Craigslist. But, the recipient has to be under 18 years old. The last one I gave away went to a 14 year old boy. He came with his Dad from over an hour away. His eyes lit up when he saw it. He actually knew quite a bit about phonographs. I will be posting another "Free Victrola" soon. This time the person has to be under 18 and work on it with me. It needs a new mainspring an I will show them how to put one in and go over how the whole thing works. It is just my small contribution to keep this hobby going. Hopefully others can do the same. Another thing to consider is taking phonographs to display at a library. I have also done this and actually got some good leads from doing it.

Great idea. I too have a Model A, 1930 Roadster. Exciting motoring 50/50 percent chance you will make it back home..

Bill K

[BwanaJoe]

I think it might be useful to view it in terms of furniture, because isn't that what upright machines essentially became, thanks to the fashion of the times?

This WSJ article spells it out. People just don't have the room. Houses are smaller, people are more transient. They don't want big, brown anchors.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-mar ... 1404256129

For a different perspective (including a similiar article in the Wash Post) this doesn't seem to be a trend here. The houses being built are remaining the same size or actually getting bigger. However, we have more room here than most of the places you see in these articles. Most of these articles are from densely populated areas that are extremely expensive. While I don't doubt there is a minimalist trend out there I think most of what we are seeing is a response to a moribund economy and urban crowding. People are over leveraged and are now being forced to rethink how they live with in many areas. And if those old phonographs, cars, furniture, knick knacks were bought merely for "show" to impress the neighhbors then they are dumped. If the people in question didn't grow up with a sense of family then those heirlooms mean nothing (we Yanks seem to have lost our sense of family bonds and continuation). Also, like any other hobby, those non essentials go first in a financial crisis. Or, at least, the hobby you care the least about.

As, far as furniture is concerned, wood made a comeback after the ugly stuff of the 60s and 70s (anyone else's parents have nasty orange chairs or formica tables?) burst on the market. Everything seems to be cyclical.

Like any hobby there are ups and downs in the market. Considering how strong sales are reported to be for the upper end stuff I dont think the phonograph hobby is dying. However, it is a limited market. Phonographs, cars, Hummels, china, doesn't really matter. So, for the common stuff we end up with a price correction. But the dire predictions in these articles that the sky is falling for anything not sourced from a crappy Wal-Mart or Ikea (which I've never actually seen) and that people are dumping every kind of collectable is to sell papers. I personally am still waiting for the prices of those Model A roadsters to hit rock bottom like the "experts" were predicting 15 years ago because the old guys were all dying off.

Your mileage may vary and just my 2 cents. Persoanlly though, I'm not returning to my early 20s by dumping my wood furniture, living off milk crates and moving into a tiny apartment with annoying neighbors above me! I'll keep my big house.

[BwanaJoe]

Great idea. I too have a Model A, 1930 Roadster. Exciting motoring 50/50 percent chance you will make it back home..

Bill K

Hmm, sounds a lot driving a British car. We always seem to lose one or two every rally!