What is the cheapest diamond disc machine in the uk?

[12jslater]

So I have gramophones and phonographs but I would now like to start with a diamond disc machine but sweat would be the cheapest/ most popular in the uk? I have limited funds as I'm 15 but I buy all of my machines with the money I make at weekends cleaning a carpenters workshop so I want a reasonably priced machine.

[epigramophone]

The CLPGS Member's Auction last October included three Diamond Disc machines. The hammer prices were :

H19 in non-original cabinet £100
H19 Hepplewhite with 9 discs £100
B19 Chalet £250

A 5% Buyer's Premium must be added to the above prices, but the Hepplewhite was probably the bargain of the day.

The main problem with owning a DD machine in the UK is finding really good discs, as they did not sell in large numbers here. Some of my collector friends holiday in the USA and buy their discs there, where they are much easier to find.

[alang]

Diamon Disc machines were not too popular in Europe as far as I know, so your options may be limited compared to the US. But even here on limited budget the question is not what machine you should look for, but rather what machine will you find for a price you can afford. With most people being limited in space, common console machines tend to be the hardest to sell and command the lowest prices. The large uprights habe the largest horns and best sound quality, but they also command higher prices in general. DD table top machines are still quite heavy and unwieldy, but they often command relative higher prices, because they require less space. From a price perspective, consoles like the BC-34 often sell for well under $200, if they sell at all. Uprights and table tops usually sell above $300 if complete, nice examples easily double that.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your search
Andreas