SOLD: Nice Original Columbia KOLSTER Model 901 Viva-Tonal Phonograph - Inquire

Website · Post by **FellowCollector** » Fri Oct 07, 2022 7:12 pm

***Click on any picture to view in correct orientation***

Hi Everyone,
I have for sale a really NICE condition completely original 1927 Columbia Kolster model 901 phonograph.
This model was among the finest of the early electric disc phonographs and cost a whopping $475 when new. Relatively few were sold and precious few have survived especially in this condition.

The only detraction is one small button knob missing on the left side record drawer. Each record drawer still has its original separators.

I have no real idea what a fair and honest price would be for a Columbia Kolster model 901 in this condition since I've never seen one sell that was in this
condition. I do know that this is a very scarce and desirable phonograph and it's in unusually nice original condition.

If you're interested in purchasing this lovely original phonograph send me a PM or eMail message with interest. I'm not interested in making this a bidding contest so the first person to make a fair and honest offer will be the new owner. This will need to be picked up in eastern NY state.

Details for pick up can be discussed through PM's or eMail and by phone as desired. Payment would be by PayPal Friends or cash in person at pick up which would need to be in a reasonable timeframe. The last time I plugged this phonograph in it fired up and played. I was amazed at how loud it was. It will likely need some fine tuning to sound even better but for a completely original Columbia Kolster 901 I was impressed.

Thanks,
Doug

Post by **edisonclassm** » Sat Oct 08, 2022 2:32 pm

So Doug,
Please tell us what you consider a fair price to be. I can tell you I purchased a nice clean model 900 from a forum member a couple of years ago that was advertised here for $300. I also bought a model 920 from Chuck Azzalina for $200. Donley's had an auction a couple of years ago where I purchased one of the rarest, a model 961 for $175. I also purchase a model 940 from a guy off eBay for $150. You at least have some references now as to what these things go for.

Post by **gramophone-georg** » Sat Oct 08, 2022 2:47 pm

edisonclassm wrote: Sat Oct 08, 2022 2:32 pm So Doug,
Please tell us what you consider a fair price to be. I can tell you I purchased a nice clean model 900 from a forum member a couple of years ago that was advertised here for $300. I also bought a model 920 from Chuck Azzalina for $200. Donley's had an auction a couple of years ago where I purchased one of the rarest, a model 961 for $175. I also purchase a model 940 from a guy off eBay for $150. You at least have some references now as to what these things go for.

Well, that depends. Were all of those plug and play at that price? All of us that are into these electrically amplified machines that cannot do our own work are familiar with the heaps of money required to bring them up to snuff by a competent repair person.

Website · Post by **FellowCollector** » Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:55 am

[quote=gramophone-georg post_id=320541 time=1665254873 user_id=21931
Well, that depends. Were all of those plug and play at that price? All of us that are into these electrically amplified machines that cannot do our own work are familiar with the heaps of money required to bring them up to snuff by a competent repair person.
[/quote]

Thank you George. I completely agree.

edisonclassm wrote: Sat Oct 08, 2022 2:32 pm So Doug,
Please tell us what you consider a fair price to be. I can tell you I purchased a nice clean model 900 from a forum member a couple of years ago that was advertised here for $300. I also bought a model 920 from Chuck Azzalina for $200. Donley's had an auction a couple of years ago where I purchased one of the rarest, a model 961 for $175. I also purchase a model 940 from a guy off eBay for $150. You at least have some references now as to what these things go for.

Sold at $900 to a buyer who made an honest and reasonable offer. He was thrilled to buy it at that price.

Doug

gunnarthefeisty · Post by **gunnarthefeisty** » Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:14 pm

Are you absolutely sure the finish was original? Looks a bit light to me.

Post by **Inigo** » Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:52 pm

If I only had this machine....! What a beauty!

Website · Post by **FellowCollector** » Tue Oct 11, 2022 7:21 pm

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:14 pm Are you absolutely sure the finish was original? Looks a bit light to me.

The finish is original.

Post by **edisonclassm** » Wed Oct 12, 2022 5:25 pm

Post by gunnarthefeisty » Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:14 pm

Are you absolutely sure the finish was original? Looks a bit light to me.

Gunnar you might be quite right in your assessment. If you look carefully at the photos, you'll see that it looks like the original finish has been stripped off. The telltale signs are around the front speaker doors and the inside of the phonograph compartment where it looks like it has the original finish. I have four electric Viva Tonals and they have a much darker finish. Mine have their original finish. The description for this phonograph is somewhat misleading as it stated that when the last time, he turned it on (who knows when that was) it was playing. He doesn't state if it is playing now and if so, how well it plays. One is led to believe by the description that it is in plug and play condition. Usually, these phonographs require full electronic restoration which adds hundreds of dollars to the cost not including the logistics of having to pick it up to take delivery of it which adds several more hundred dollars to the cost. I was initially interested in this piece but I'm glad I backed away from it as it would have been a terrific disappointment once I saw it. Besides, the owner was evasive and unwilling to put a price on it, fishing for offers. Attached are photos of mine showing the stark difference in finishes.

Website · Post by **FellowCollector** » Wed Oct 12, 2022 6:55 pm

edisonclassm wrote: Wed Oct 12, 2022 5:25 pm
I was initially interested in this piece but I'm glad I backed away from it as it would have been a terrific disappointment once I saw it. Besides, the owner was evasive and unwilling to put a price on it, fishing for offers. Attached are photos of mine showing the stark difference in finishes.

After contacting me several times about selling my Kolster 901 through text messages (I have since blocked him), edisonclassm asked me to call him to discuss it.

I did not call him presuming that if he truly was interested he could make a reasonable offer as I had asked and THEN we could discuss any further details.

I decided to instead list it here on the Forum. He then posted several "great deal" low ball prices (please see above comments from him) at which he bought SIMILAR machines in an effort to degrade the value of my completely original and nice playing Kolster 901 so that others looking on would presume my 901 was only worth his low ball prices.

Well, it didn't work did it, edisonclassm.... You only proved by your providing those prices that you were only willing to offer a low ball price which is exactly what I suspected all along.

I was absolutely delighted that you were unable to buy this and the NEW buyer was very pleased to offer and pay the reasonable price of $900 for it.

I'm sorry to have to write this since I pride myself on being an honest person but when edisonclassm posts public derogatory statements about me I am inclined to defend myself publicly.

And the finish IS original as is all of the rest of the Columbia Kolster 901 that I sold. It came out of a large well to do home where it sat since it was new.

David (Administrator) please DELETE this thread.

Thank you.

Doug

Post by **edisonclassm** » Wed Oct 12, 2022 8:34 pm

In an attempt to get the record straight, I reviewed my texts to you since you first mentioned on the forum that you were going to be selling the 901. Since September 18th I texted exactly 4 times inquiring about this phonograph. Not once did you request that I make an offer on it. When I asked for a price, you were silent and evasive. Then you listed it on the forum still not putting a price on it but indicating you would entertain offers for it claiming you were unaware of the present value. When in response, I disclosed what machines I had and what I had paid for them you texted me with a terse text castigating me for having disclosed what I had paid and accusing me of degrading your machine on this public forum. My intentions were not to degrade your machine but to offer up a reference as to what some of these had sold for in the past since you stated that you were unaware of what they were worth. These so called "Low ball" prices were paid by me in the public arena. One right here on the forum and the others at public auctions competing against dozens of collectors. You blocked my phone in childish retaliation only when I first responded to the listing here with the prices I had paid for mine. Inquiries about prices are made here on the forum all of the time with other forum members chiming in with their opinions. (Good or bad) Never once can I remember a response like yours. As far as your claims in the description that this machine was untouched, perhaps some of us here at the forum can get a collection together to buy you a new pair of glasses! The pictures showing yours versus mine pretty much disclose the truth of the matter. Maybe that is why you want this thread deleted. I appeal to David to keep the thread up for educational purposes.