Class M on Ebay Revisited

[Andersun]

I saw the threads in here relating to the Ebay sale of a Class M. I am the one who the phono-gods were looking down upon on Saturday! The auction was a "Buy it Now" auction with no tricks or behind the scene deals! I know it's very hard to believe but it's true and here is my story:

On Saturday morning I was with my Fiancee eating breakfast at our local diner. I just happened to look at Ebay on my iPhone and the second listing down was a Edison Class M. I scrolled down to see the auction was "buy it now" for $4,500! I immediately started to panic because I thought it might (or had to be) be a scam! I figured that if I bought it thru Paypal, they would take care of me if it was a scam. I also saw on the listing that it could be returned. So I was covered in case it was not an actual Class M but a picture of one! So I bought the machine in the diner on my iPhone! I then raced home to have a look on my computer to see the listing better and it all looked legitimate. I then spoke to the seller on the phone and new it was legitimate. I drove all day Sunday (10 hours) to get the machine and another 10 hours back yesterday. I am beat down from the trip but it was well worth it.

Attached are pictures of it. It will need a lot of work especially with the cabinet. It looks like it is 95% complete. Shaver knob is missing and the shaver lever is bent. The governor is loose because it must of got hit and the mounting screw broke out a piece of the wood base that it screws into. Both drawers are missing. The left side of the cabinet is only half there. The upper half is broken away and gone. The carriage rod is very rusty. Someone nailed the cabinet together at one time. It also has a "Sold for use only in the United States and Canada" plate on the back side of the upper carriage which is interesting.

It has some other components on the carriage and loose and that I can't figure out yet. There is a mounting hole on both the front and rear of the case which something must have attached to. Also the machine has part of the original cabinet that it bolted too attached to the bottom. In the front there is a square rod which if you place a square key, you can turn to release the machine and base from what ever cabinet it was in. It also came with the original speaking tube with is not very good condition but is very displayable.

Anyone who has any guesses to as what was connected to the carriage feel free to comment. If anyone has any questions or wants any detailed pictures of any of it, just ask.

Thanks!
Steve Andersen

[Andersun]

Class M Pics Continued.

[Andersun]

More pics

[Andersun]

More pics

[TinfoilPhono]

Congratulations on an amazing find! That proves there are still treasures to be found, which gives everyone hope.

Looks like I may need to get a smart phone after all, and keep it set to eBay.......

[phonogfp]

Great machine, Steve, and a great story. Now I can congratulate you in public! Who says all the good deals are gone?

This later cabinet is usually seen in oak, so the mahogany is a nice touch. I've never seen a lift lever as large as the one on your carriage, either.

Again - congratulations!

George P.

[Andersun]

George,
It is dirty oak, not mahogany! The lift lever is lower down underneath. The thing you describe might be for something else.

[USlakeside]

Awesome. Deals are to be had with sharp eyes and no hesitation. The same exact thing happened to me with a Victor V a few years back on ebay for $75. The great thing about phonographs, unlike precious metals, clocks, art and so on, is that some people just can't see them as valuable and therefore we can swoop in and get great deals. Its also nice to see a machine like this end up with a collector who possibly wouldn't be able to drop the 20k they usually go for on one. (not assuming anything, but its good that some of these machines end up in different kinds of hands and its not always about top collectors with big budgets). And now it will be loved and fixed up so down the road one day, someone else will enjoy it instead of it slipping away into oblivion.

[Starkton]

This machine has just been waiting for you! Congratulations!

[OrthoSean]

Congrats, as I've always said, good things do come to those who wait or maybe in this case don't hesitate to BUY IT NOW!

Sean