A Bit Of Nostalgia - Dave Houser Phonograph List From 1961

[FellowCollector]

I was moving some stuff around in our home a few days ago and found some items I've not seen in many years. It was actually fun finding stuff I'd not seen in a very long time! Thought I would share this nostalgic look back at a list of phonographs that Dave Houser sent to prospective phonograph collectors. Can you imagine buying an Edison Opera for $75? Also note the interesting reference to an "Opera Comb". A 2/4 minute Opera? Perhaps a typo on Dave's part. Also note the 3 cent stamp! Anyway, I hope some of you will enjoy perusing the list as much as I did when I found it again after years of being tucked safely away.

Doug

[phonogal]

Oh my gosh I'll take em all I guess you just have to remember that wages were't much back then.

[gemering]

A fascinating look back.
Maybe instead of spending my time checking Craigslist and this Forum, I should start working on some mathematical equations using hyper-complex numbers, that will allow me to build a time machine.
I'd really like to buy that Victor MS!

[recordo]

I like the Amberola 30 available at the original price ex-factory!

[TinfoilPhono]

Those are actually very high prices for 1961! I didn't start collecting until 2 years later but I never paid anywhere near those prices for Standards, Homes, Amberolas, etc. One example -- my Victor III cost $8 -- from a dealer.

The most I (almost) paid for any phonograph in the 60s was $75 for a Columbia BS, but it had sold by the time my check reached the dealer. I was bummed.

[Brad]

An online inflation calculator reports that $75 in 1961 is about $586 today. A lot of money, but not a bad price.

The real bargain, though was the postage. A 3 cent first class stamp calculates out to 23 cents this year.

[Wolfe]

So where is this Dave Houser? Is he passed away or still selling phonographs or what?

[FloridaClay]

Another reminder of how I wish I had gotten started in the hobby years before I did.

Clay

[ChuckA]

So where is this Dave Houser? Is he passed away or still selling phonographs or what?

Dave passed away about 25-30 years ago. I met him around 1970 when I started collecting phonos, he was a character. He liked to say he
started collecting when Edison when out of business in the early 30's. Another story was how in his travels he would fill a box car with phonographs and send it home. His storage building was filled with phonos from ground to ceiling and it wasn't a low ceiling.


Chuck