Silvertone Tru-Phonic Phonograph

[grbenny]

Hi.

I have a Silvertone Tru-Phonic Phonograph. It's a hand crank console model. I inherited it many years ago, and now need to sell it due to downsizing. The phonograph holds a lot of sentimental value, but I just can keep it. It was purchased new by my uncle.

If anyone can give me advice on how to determine the value, and where to sell it, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks a lot,
Gary Benny

[gramophone-georg]

That's really cool- I like it!

[grbenny]

That's really cool- I like it!

Thanks. I've loved that thing since I was a little kid and my Grandmother would let me crank it up. There are several records I'd play over and over! Still have the records too.

[Skihawx]

I don't think you are going to find it has much value in the collectors community.
Any chance there is some other family member that may like to own it?

[OrthoFan]

There have been quite a number of posts on this forum about Tru-Phonic phonographs -- https://www.google.com/search?as_q=Sear ... as_qdr=all&*


Tru-Phonic was the brand name Sears used for its later 1920s phonographs, and most models appear in catalogs dating from 1926 through about 1930. These competed with the more expensive "name brand" Orthophonic Victrolas, Columbia Viva-Tonal phonographs, Brunswick exponential horn type phonographs, etc., produced at the time, and were designed to play the recently introduced electrically recorded records with greater fidelity than the earlier Silvertone models Sears sold.


Looking over the Craigslist postings in your area, I see that the average asking price for vintage/antique phonographs is in the $200-$300 range -- https://portland.craigslist.org/search/ ... y=Victrola (Also see -- https://portland.craigslist.org/search/ ... phonograph )

This Brunswick Exponential Horn Panatrope is very close in design to the one you have -- https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/atq/6020603213.html (Frankly, I think that's a bargain price.)

On the other side of the spectrum, this one is a tad optimistic -- https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/atq/5999844868.html -- by about ten times.

I think if I were in your position, I'd start by asking around $250 or even $300 and see where it goes from there.

OrthoFan

[grbenny]

Thanks for those links. I had no idea what to expect to get. If I can find a home for it with someone who likes it, that's the main thing. 150 - 2500 is quite a range! I'd be happy to get a few hundred.

[larryh]

I see those sears Tru Tonics here in the country from time to time, they almost always have problems with pot metal swelling and making the rear pivot hard to move. If yours still moves easily your lucky. I think the reproducer is most likely pot metal as well. Good luck with it. I think a couple hundred would be a good price.

[grbenny]

The tone arm seems to work fine, except it's kind of loose seeming. It plays OK though.