Rant: Harpeth Antique Mall - Franklin, Tennessee

[JohnM]

We were passing trough Nashville on I-65 today coming home from Dothan and prompted by a billboard, we stopped at the Harpeth Antique Mall near Franklin, Tennessee. Entering the mall, we immediately espied a number of cylinder and disc phonographs and music boxes, all exorbitantly priced at two or three times retail and either in only fair condition or poorly 'restored'. We looked around the mall for a while and I spotted a box of Duo-Art piano rolls on top of a display case with some really good titles -- 'You're The Cream In My Coffee', etc. -- lots of good late 20's dance tunes. I opened up a box to check condition of the roll and as I was doing so, the husband proprietor walked by and I saw him take a long look at us as he headed for the desk. Within moments, the lady proprietor walked by and said in the most arrogant tone, "We prefer that you don't open the boxes because you could damage the rolls." I said, "Ma'am, I have been collecting and rebuilding these instruments longer than you've been in the antiques business". She just kept walking right past us, so we turned on our heels and marched straight out. As I passed her husband I said right to him, "We would prefer that your phonographs were priced realistically". Excuse me all, but screw these crooks who instead of pricing things realistically and actually having some turn-over in their stock, price things at rip-off prices and wait like spiders for the unwitting to fall into their web -- and then act arrogant to boot! We are very easy-going people, but I will never darken the door of that outhouse again. I can think of ten different ways that she could have handled the situation where I would have taken no umbrage. Jerks!

Ever been there, Sharon?

[3victrolas]

No, but I've seen the sign for it, & based on your review I won't bother. Last year, I shopped in a place located next to the Stoveworks restaurant in Franklin. Same deal. The minute I walked into the place I knew I'd have to be a millionaire to afford anything. There seem to be a number of antique places in Franklin & no wonder. It's the only place in middle TN besides Hendersonville where the people have any money. It's also been my experience that their money goes to their heads too. Guess the rest of us are just dirt.

Can't say that I blame you for walking out. Prices too high + you can't look over the item = no sale. Next time you come through middle TN check out the shops in Goodlettsville. They're right off of I-65. I've seen various Victors, a Columbia or two, & a Cheney to look over, & they don't mind you looking over the merchandise. Oh, & I've seen piano rolls too. It's been awhile, but one of the shops named Rarebird Antiques has or had an Edison Standard w/ the 2/4 gears. People north of Nashville have a whole different attitude vs. the people in Franklin. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Also, if you travel I-40 east, check out the shops in Crossville, TN. Each time I stop there they always have a phonograph or two, mountains of stereoviews, & this time one booth had a big stack of 51,000 series DDs in nice condition for $2 ea. They were not dirty, no brown grooves, not warped, & no lam cracks. Of course I raided the stack , but maybe they'll put out more.

Well, better luck at the next place you stop.

P.S. Have you ever stopped at those antique places just over the KY state line on I-65 north? I'd like to, but I'm always in a hurry to get to Bowling Green, KY or traveling to the Union show & don't get the time. Why is it that places that are only 30 min. away or so are impossible to stop at?

[JohnM]

I'm sorry to say we cruised right past the places over the Kentucky line today. We've been on the road since July 1 and we were really anxious to get home. I mean, we haven't had a home cooked meal since last June! Also, when we are hauling our photo studio/trailer behind us, we are 46' long, so it is difficult to just blithely go wherever we want!

We didn't make the side trip to Chattanooga to check out the Craigslist Pathé Actuelle, either.

In almost 4.5 months on the road, all I bought phonograph-wise was the Magnola, a couple of hundred 78rpm records, and a Silvertone needle tin. We did come home with a Gustav Stickley 'Chalet' desk, a 32"x24" framed oil painting of the Indiana dunes, and a nice gouache landscape of Brown County, Indiana, both by listed artists.