Question for Those Who Have Been In The Hobby 20+ Years...

[Larry Hawes]

My first three machines came to me in summer of 1959. On their way to local garbage "burn". Put them in father-in-law equipment room in the family bowling alley in Tekoa, WA. Then found Harry Barrell (sp) in Spokane who provided me with Tom Pollard and Al Neuget in VA. All parts found then the puzzle of how to make them work. This was a challenge. First sound finally heard and I was hooked. Off to the barn hopping and junk shops. First day hunting I met John Davis who was getting an advanced degree at Eastern Washington College (Cheney WA about 50 mikes from Tekoa).
We became fast and lifetime friends and his death left me sad but had many happy times and finds with John.

Still collecting to this day. Mostly European machines, cylinders and discs.

Larry Hawes

[larryh]

Value is always what someone is willing to pay. I see plenty of overpriced things on ebay and some sell, so someone just wanted it.

My interest in victrolas was well established by 1950 or so. I had by then been exposed to my great grand fathers Aeolian that was played any time my grandmother and I were in her basement. Shortly after that when I was in my early teens farm auctions and antique shops were a hunting ground for phonographs. At the auctions often a phonograph of the cabinet style would sell for fifty cents or a few dollars. My first edison console was found by an collector I became friends with in the late 50s. He spotted it at a shop loaded with what I now know were electrical recordings for 12.00. And that seemed high then. Not too long after that a friend sold me his parents Credenza in perfect shape for 40.00.. I purchased my other side of the families Victor 1 for about 50.00 around that time. Then I was traded for a player piano I owned several art case Edisons and the Sonora Grand American Walnut upright. I shudder to think what those now sell for. My interest besides the cabinet was always to hear the best sound from then I could get, so most of those quickly were sold off to some lucky buyer at barely more than I paid for them. its one reason I quit buying Edisons in the early 60s. Much later around 2005 or so I picked up a small but perfect London Upright. That got me started to be interested in Edison sound again. I tired alot of available diaphragms but I knew that they were not producing the kind of sound Edison was known for. Its how I got to trying to design a diaphragm for them that as closely as possible sounded like the original when they were new. That ended up at what Steven Medved named the True Tone diaphragm. After that I have tired to encourage others to produce the best possible sound when working at replacement diaphragms. Several people have done a lot toward that end and still do.

I forgot to mention that the only person that was said to be able to fix and edison, (which was recommended to me by the Victor company at the time), was Leonard Ferguson. That truned out to be a disaster. He must have been senile or desperate at that time as parts were not available. His rebuild of my Edison reproducer returned with a couple pieces of thick string in place of the gaskets. Needless to say that didn't work out at all. I had a copy of Tin Foil To Stereo and a subscription to Allen Koenigsberg"s antique monthly. I had a visit with him in Brooklyn NY in the 80s I believe. It was around the time of the birthday of the phonograph and he received a call from the BBC about them while we were there. A good friends dad who was the real collector showed me the simply ways to clean springs and repair broken ones, but in those days replacement parts were mostly out of the question. I think the internet has give collectors the chance to restore phonographs far eaiser than in the Good Ole Days.

[Jerry B.]

I've enjoyed this thread and I've reflected on the influence of my mentor collector friends. I learned from them and my collection reflects their influences.

From John Davis... Duplicate machines do not make a collection more interesting. So, for the most part, I avoid duplicates. But I am a sucker for the big Amberolas. Each one is different but I still justify the duplicates because they provide good record storage. OK, there's also a couple of Victor VI machines. But what a great machine to display a variety of unusual horns.

From Wayne Yoder... Wayne was a pure collector that enjoyed multiple collections. It was a pure and total treat to visit the Yoder collection. Wayne was a farmer so there were John Deer collectables from toys to pedal tractors to an out building full of real tractors. Wayne was a Ford man. One separate garage was full of Fords from a Model T to his honeymoon 1951 2-door hardtop to a 1966 Mustang GT convertible. But wait, there were Ford signs, tools, and other collectables. He enjoyed toys, model airplanes, BB guns, and more. Over time Wayne sold me some really good talking machines. At first I wondered why and then I realized he took my money and bought some other collectable. For quite a few years I was focussed totally on phonographs and it was not unusual to spend a day antiquing without a purchase. So I branched out a bit. My primary collection continues to be talking machines but I enjoy bicycles, a yo yo collection, Oregon sports items, vintage Donald Duck, and even a collection of slightly naughty items. (Wayne had a naughty collection.). I occasionally buy something that I really like but is not part of any collection. I call those things "basement worthy" items. Thank you Wayne.

Ira & Dottie Dueltgen... Ira had the first truly amazing collection I had ever seen. Plus he was willing to share his knowledge. He could fix anything and would show you how to do the repair so you could do it the next time. I learned from Ira the importance of doing any repair or refinish to the very best of your ability. To do any less is not acceptable. Many perfect Saturdays were spent at Ira's workbench in his basement. Dottie was such a positive person. If you're fortunate you meet a few persons in a lifetime that make you a better person. Dottie was that kind of influence. I am a better person for knowing her. Thank you Dottie and Ira.

To this day I buy things I like that make my collection more interesting to me and, hopefully, my guests. I try to be a condition collector. I like all aspects of our hobby. I like the hunt. I like the buying and the selling and enjoy participating at phono sales. I buy some things strictly for resale but I always buy things that I am proud to sell. I try to treat other collectors with courtesy and respect. I love a good phono road trip.

Jerry Blais

[Phototone]

I surely remember A. Nugent, Jr. Bought records from him mail order and sent gear to him for repair. This was circa.1959-63

[Hailey]

I echo what Jerry said regarding the enjoyment that I have received from this thread. In addition, I always enjoy hearing what makes a collector “tick”. My tastes changed dramatically several years ago. I value multiple like models of particular machines in my collection. However, they must be machines that are considered coveted by most collectors, and they must be totally original.
Pertaining to the question posed in the initial posting, I relied on mentors to educate me. The references that have been mentioned were also of paramount influence. I actually learned more from the “crooked” niche of the hobby, as lessons were learned to always trust your knowledge, and not necessarily your desire. I have disdain for “price guides”, as the prices listed were commonly misleading.

[wjw]

I surely remember A. Nugent, Jr. Bought records from him mail order and sent gear to him for repair. This was circa.1959-63

I wrote to RCA when I was 13 asking about parts for my new found Victrola. They wrote back referring me to A. Nugent Jr. Been awhile...1966!

-bill

[Victrolacollector]

This is a very interesting topic. I began collecting in 1987, when I was 13 turning 14 years old, the machine was a Magnola Talking Machine. I estimated that this was made in 1925, based on the opinion of my late Grandfather and a free estimate and info from Victrola Repair Service in 1993. I was wrong... with modern technology I was able to access TMW and estimate it to have been manufactured around 1917. I also found a patent date of 1916 on the flexi-file cotton record storage hangers.

Those were the dark ages, it blows my mind, back then all we had was a few books and “Compleat Talking Machine by Eric Reiss, that was about all you had for a resource. Who ever thought I could fast forward 25 or so years and acquire so much information and parts. I am also a group member of the phonograph group on Facebook, I never had ever thought that I would have had the opportunity to meet Eric Reiss through the Facebook group or even thank him for writing the book.

This whole technology thing is mind blowing. We have came a long way!

[Victrolacollector]

I surely remember A. Nugent, Jr. Bought records from him mail order and sent gear to him for repair. This was circa.1959-63

Is A. Nugent still around?

[Lucius1958]

Well, I started collecting in the early '70s. My folks gave in to my pestering, and got me an Amberola 30 for my 14th birthday; very soon, my late brother found a model A Home at a schoolmate's house, and they gave it to him to give to me. On my next birthday, we visited the shop where they'd got the Amberola, and there I bought a VV-IX - the first machine I paid for myself.

There wasn't any information readily available at the time, so I had to learn the hard way (like, NEVER disengage the governor when the machine is wound up!). I dated the machines mostly by the last patent date; although my dad offered the opinion that the VV-IX was from 1917, based on something about the finish.

It wasn't until the mid-late '80s that I started collecting again: I found the MAPS newsletter somehow, and got in contact with APSCO for restoration supplies. I finally went online around '03; but I didn't find the Forum until about 10 years ago. It's been quite an interesting time; and I've learned much more about talking machines since then.

By now, in my later years, I think the itch to collect has settled down some; although, if some rarity drops into my lap, I'm still willing to accept it.

-Bill