Is This Unusual?

[scullylathe]

Ebay really messed up pricing not only on antiques in general but pretty much all vintage items. All someone had to do was put "Rare, Rare, RARE!!" in their title line and people started bidding like complete idiots. What's worse, is people then followed final bid prices on eBay as gospel as to what a particular item is "really worth" and it's not - it's blown way out of proportion by the venue and it's nature, not reality. I'm glad to see antique phonos and accessories selling for more realistic prices now. Yes, some things are rare and will command a higher price, but thankfully the days of $700 - $900 for an Edison standard or other common as dirt machine are coming to an end. I also think the eBay frenzy was fueled by people who didn't know what they were bidding on and 'just having to have it regardless of price'. I've been collecting for nearly 40 years and an older collector who was helping me get started years ago told me that most machines you'll encounter will be fairly common and not to pay a big price for something unless you know for sure that it's rare. I think the trend has returned to people doing their homework first and knowing what they're looking at before getting taken at an antique shop or auction. Just my $.02

[browncow]

Interesting idea with the tanks. Wonder if they would be large enough for a 56" horn though.

Some are large enough for a full size tuba, so I think that a 56" horn would not present much trouble.

Reputable band repair shops in this area are getting about $60/hour for work, so $100 seems a bit on the high side to me unless the damage is severe.