Apollo player-piano/phonograph

[JohnM]

The lady selling this Apollo player-piano/phonograph and I have been conversing by email. I am attempting to get her to understand that it isn't one-of-a-kind and that it was made after 1917, not in 1912. Although I have told her that I've seen probably ten of these things for sale over the past 40 years, she has asked me if I know where any more are and I don't. No one I know has one in their collection. There was one for sale on Indy Craigslist for months for less than half what this lady is asking, but it isn't listed anymore (of course). Anyone have any input on existing examples of these?

Here's the link to her listing;

http://tucson.craigslist.org/atq/2230868430.html

[gramophoneshane]

Does she have the internet?
Unless someone broke into her house & took px, there's a few others out there. I know there's at least one over here because a friend of mine knew someone who had one, but that was over 25 yrs ago, and my friend is deceased.
It's an Apollophone Style WP apparently. This site lists the catalogue as circa 1915, but I didn't see a date (unless I missed it). The "WP" appears on page 21.

http://www.antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/apollo/

[gramophone78]

John,
There was one on CL in Chicago for a long time in perfect shape. The seller of that one ended up putting it on Ebay and I don't think it sold either. He was asking 5000.00 on CL. 18 years ago I had the chance to buy the model in the Art's & Craft's case for 2000.00 in perfect shape. I passed because it was in Mexico and it is still just a big piano.

[JohnM]

Thanks fellows. Wouldn't these have to be post-1916/1917 due to conflicts with the Victor patents?

[Valecnik]

John,

I would guess it's from the 20s as you say.

I think you have a real challenge. She's asking $15,000. In reality could it be worth much more than $2,000? And if that player mechanism needs a rebuild.... ugh.

Some people can sit on things for many years offereing something at an incredibly high amount and wondering why no one is buying.

One time on a Union trip one of my cohorts who's into cars forced us to stop and buy some old Buick parts. The seller had a pretty plain jane Brunswick phono that we was very proud of.

He showed it and said something like, "Yep I wouldn't sell that for $5,000!" I did not say anything but thought to myself, "You are right there. You WOULDN'T sell that for $5,000

[gramophone78]

Yes, 2000.00 was a good price with you are willing to spend the $$$ to have it shipped out of Mexico. Then you would have to decide if you are wanting a piano in the house. I think the Apollo company out of Chicago started making these after WW1 and into the 20's. I have seen a catalog for these and there were several models. I think that some of these also used a strange size roll and that can be a problem.

[JohnM]

She referenced a webpage she had set up to sell the piano and quotes from an "appraisor" who apparently just cut-and-pasted a mush-mosh of stuff about Melville Clark and Apollo history from the Internet without ever once referencing the phono-piano. There is also no reference on the page to the 1912 date on which she is obsessing, so I'm not sure how far in left field that is! She also emailed me back and just said "your wrong". I can see that she values historical accuracy as much as she values spelling and grammar!

[OrthoFan]

She referenced a webpage she had set up to sell the piano and quotes from an "appraisor" who apparently just cut-and-pasted a mush-mosh of stuff about Melville Clark and Apollo history from the Internet without ever once referencing the phono-piano. There is also no reference on the page to the 1912 date on which she is obsessing, so I'm not sure how far in left field that is! She also emailed me back and just said "your wrong". I can see that she values historical accuracy as much as she values spelling and grammar!

Sounds like you'd be beating a dead horse to try to convince her otherwise.

This model, BTW, was referred to as the "Apollo-Phone" (also appears as "Apollophone") and there's quite a bit online, in terms of advertisement copies from archived newspapers. The earliest date I've spotted, so far, is 1918, which is probably about right.

SEE:

http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q= ... &scoring=a

http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q= ... &scoring=a

http://books.google.com/books?id=BXhdc- ... 22&f=false

[gramophone78]

There is lots of info on these and the company. John, I'm sure I don't need to tell you this....Sellers like this you walk away from. There is no point in discussing it anymore with her. All you can do now is wait for her medication to wear off and she may then contact you. Total waste of time.IMHO.

[OrthoFan]

As a final word--on my part, anyway--here's the patent information:

Combined Piano and Phonograph

Patent number: 1406441
Filing date: May 16, 1919
Issue date: Feb 14, 1922


http://www.google.com/patents/about?id= ... phonograph