It Pays to Invest in Reference Books!

[barnettrp21122]

I noticed this Ebay listing a few days ago. Someone paid $125.00 for an "Automatic Stopper" offered with a pretty good box. Trouble is, it's missing the all-important part that would be fastened to the carriage below the reproducer. I learned this because I had on my shelf the Fabrizio-Paul book "Antique Phonograph Accessories and Contraptions," pages 90-91,which had detailed pictures and a full description of how it works. I'm glad I've put out the money for good reference books. They pay for themselves in making better buying decisions and avoiding annoying mistakes!

Bob

[Starkton]

I'm glad I've put out the money for good reference books. They pay for themselves in making better buying decisions and avoiding annoying mistakes!

Just hark at that!

[schweg]

Bob, I absolutely agree with what you said. Many times I go running to the references to find out what Tim and George think of an item since there are so many machines, horns, cabinets, all the rest, illustrated in their books. Not to mention the Victor and Columbia references in Baumbach and Hazelcorn's books, plus a few others I know I'm forgetting to mention.

Plus, one of the above authors (at least one I can identify) is always willing to go and dig thru his references to supply a scan or an educated opinion on something. Plus, he even has a sense of humor... How can ya beat that?!?

Steve

[gramophone78]

Steve wrote: Plus, one of the above authors (at least one I can identify) is always willing to go and dig thru his references to supply a scan or an educated opinion on something. Plus, he even has a sense of humor... How can ya beat that?!?

Now that is something I know only too well...... . George, the check is in the mail...... .

[Henry]

I would love to invest in the recently deceased Brian Rust's discography (http://www.mainspringpress.com/book_rust.html), as well as others (Sutton, et al.), but this would put a large dent in my budget. Maybe I could convince my local library to invest in a few of these titles (doubtful, considering the marginal interest to the general public).

[phonogfp]

Barnett, you're a man after my own heart! Believe it or not, I've used our books as references for eBay merchandise too, because sometimes I'll forget what something is supposed to look like... Some of those books were written over a decade ago - - I had a full head of hair!

But seriously, over the years I've invested in every book, brochure, or catalog of antique phonographs I could find. If I hadn't, I'd have missed out on several outstanding items over the years. It does little good to be the first on the scene if you don't know what you're looking at. Allen Koenigsberg put it best: "The more you know, the luckier you get."

Bob, I absolutely agree with what you said. Many times I go running to the references to find out what Tim and George think of an item since there are so many machines, horns, cabinets, all the rest, illustrated in their books. Not to mention the Victor and Columbia references in Baumbach and Hazelcorn's books, plus a few others I know I'm forgetting to mention.

Plus, one of the above authors (at least one I can identify) is always willing to go and dig thru his references to supply a scan or an educated opinion on something. Plus, he even has a sense of humor... How can ya beat that?!?

Well, I could be much better looking...

George P.