Gothic Columbia Grafonola on eBay

[alang]

Sorry for posting this here and not in the Yankee Trader section, but I thought this was such an unusual machine with such a high price tag (starting $7,500, BIN $11,000) that it would fit in the Machines section.
Currently on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GOTHIC-COLUMBIA ... 25726c2a62

Seller's description:
Here is a beautiful rare COLUMBIA GOTHIC POLYCHROMED GRAFONOLA , there is a date of 7-9-12 (1912) written in chalk under the turntable.
This phonograph is one of the rarest from my collection.
The machine runs smoothly and at constant speed. Automatic shut off works perfectly, shown in video.
The reproducer has been rebuilt.
There is a water spot on the lid from a plant (see photo)
The machine measures approximately 20 inches x 20 inches and 52 inches tall.
The electrical cord is a replacement for the original cord.

Here some pictures for later reference:

He also posted some YouTube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIUYbu2mK00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Hkb3jXksY

May not fit everyone's taste, but it sure looks great.
Andreas

[Lucius1958]

"There is a date of 7-9-12 (1912) written in chalk under the turntable...."

Rather odd: since that model wasn't introduced until 1919....

From what I see, the polychrome looks rather suspiciously bright - especially those legs...

[Starkton]

I would like to see the furniture this one fit in. Gothic tracery is imitated fairly well, but the corner figures are sculptured and painted so bad that Columbia should have omitted them.

[FloridaClay]

Whether one cares for the style or not, these have got to be extremely rare.

Clay

[Garret]

I don't think the paint is all original.

[d]

This is my machine. The paint is all original! The varnish on the machine was black, it was cleaned many years ago.