Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

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Curt A
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Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

Post by Curt A »

"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
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De Soto Frank
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Re: Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

Post by De Soto Frank »

Well, it sure needs some love, but with the exception of the crank and the horn bracket, it looks like all the important bits are there...

Definitely a project...

:monkey:
De Soto Frank

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Curt A
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Re: Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

Post by Curt A »

It looks like its been stored for the past 70 years in a flooded basement...
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

gramophone78
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Re: Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

Post by gramophone78 »

Curt A wrote:It looks like its been stored for the past 70 years in a flooded basement...
It was found in a "vintage ghost town"..... :lol: :lol.

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Bruce
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Re: Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

Post by Bruce »

What a great looking project for those with a strong disposition and patients.

I hope that the buyer is a forum member and shows us a restoration in progress.

Unfortunately I bet at the current price the buyer is going to part what is left.

Bruce

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Curt A
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Re: Looking for a Busy Bee in great condition?

Post by Curt A »

Yes, it is certainly restorable... I have tackled similar projects in the past. However, it will take a lot of time, money and ability to fabricate the wood pieces that are damaged along with finding the missing parts, replacing the decal, the crank and the broken horn support.

The turntable looks strange to me, like it might be a replacement or something cobbled up? After looking again, the turntable appears to have another turntable placed on top of the original, probably because of the lug for Busy Bee records. The bottom of the case has a convenient motor access, as well.

So, after spending hours of restoration time and a fair amount of money for replacement parts, if you can find them, you end up with a mediocre machine that cost more to restore than to buy a good example... just sayin'...
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

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