Parting out a complete Amberola III serial no. 304

[gramophone78]

Alex, you should have made him an offer. Guy's, the seller is not very far from me and a man here was willing to offer him very good money and no shipping necessary. The seller is NOT interested!!!. He already has a $1000 bid on the mech. Time to move on.... . A real shame. However, it happens all the time.

[kirtley2012]

Alex, you should have made him an offer. Guy's, the seller is not very far from me and a man here was willing to offer him very good money and no shipping necessary. The seller is NOT interested!!!. He already has a $1000 bid on the mech. Time to move on.... . A real shame. However, it happens all the time.

I would have but there is no way I can get that amount of money quickly!, and how would I have got it across the pond!, I would love a amberola III more than my right leg but I just cant afford one!

[Slaton]

The guy responded asking for an offer. I gave what I thought was a fair price given the missing parts and the large shipping charge I will need to incur......for transparency, I offered 2800 dollars...he said not enough...I bought my complete and original Amberola IIII for 3'500 dollars...maybe the price should be higher? If you all think it shoud be higher than 2800 dollars, let me know and I will go higher if needed to save this machine...I might need help from Jerry or Someone else to think through logistics

[gramophone78]

I hate to write this....However, I think your just spinning your wheels on this one.

[Slaton]

Gramophone78....based on the tonality of the seller replies...I sadly agree with you.....again, what a shame

[Valecnik]

I'm afraid I agree with Gram78, He seems to enjoy the toying with interested parties, implying he's on the verge of selling, then backing away. He's toying. He cares nothing about what he's selling.

[gemering]

We are witnessing Capitalism in its ugliest form.
In the end, the collectors on this forum know what's happening here is wrong.
Unfortunately we have no real control over what an individual does with their private proerty.
There will always be greedy individuals in this world.
Look no further than Wall Street and many of the CEOs of large corporations in this country that regularly treat workers as valuless, faceless factors of production, while compensating themselves to the tune of millions.
Yes, this is an incredibly sad situation!
The only recourse I see is to not buy from individuals like this.
I'd rather pile old phone books under a Victrola XX and then wait 25 years to find a missing leg,rather than buy a leg from someone like this individual who's parting out a perfectly good rare machine.
My 2 cents
Gene

[phonogfp]

I'm pleased to report that a member of this forum("Slayton"), after contacting the seller about buying the entire machine (and making a very generous offer) but getting the expected results, has decided to bid ON EVERY PART OF THIS AMBEROLA III so that it can survive intact. Slayton already has an Amberola III. He isn't sure what he will do with a second one, but he told me he cannot stand by and see such a nice machine stripped down and in all likelihood have the unsold wooden parts of it destroyed. He told me he may donate the complete machine to a museum; time and luck will tell. I've known this man for many years, and believe me - he's not doing this for himself. This guy is all about preservation - and he's willing to put his money where his heart is.

Now he needs our help. Unless one of us is thinking along the same lines - in which case, please send "Slaton" a PM - please don't bid on any parts from Amberola III No.304. Please encourage your friends not to bid on them. Bidding up the prices on this machine's parts will only benefit the seller, and I think we can all agree that he doesn't really deserve that. Early on, I considered bidding on the metal horn section (mine's rather ratty), but when I saw what the seller was doing, I quickly changed my mind. Unfortunately, someone else has already bid on it. If they're a member of this forum, I hope they'll consider retracting their bid for the good of Amberola III No.304.

Slayton realizes that he's taking a risk. He may wind up with, as Jerry pointed out, a "parts machine." In addition, the seller may be averse to shipping the cabinet frame - or getting it properly crated. Is there someone who lives nearby the seller who would be willing to pick it up for Slayton and store it until he can make proper arrangements?

This is as noble a collecting endeavor as I've seen in many years. I've told Slayton that I will help in any way I can. I hope others will feel the same.

Good luck, Slayton!

Best to all,

George P.

[Valecnik]

There are a couple pieces of "the remains" that normally I would have consider bidding on too but did not and will not.

I too tried to make an offer for the whole machine, (even though I have two of these already).

I'm happy that someone is willing to take this on. At least one other member is thinking along the same lines, bidding on all parts. I'm sure that person will read this and coordinate.

This machine needs to remain intact.

[OrthoSean]

Well, for what it's worth, if this III ever makes it's way to upstate NY, Slaton may have a buyer, I've always wanted one of these and still kick myself for letting one go several years ago at a local auction for $200. Frankly, I didn't know what it was and the grill was missing! This is long before the days of the interwebs....

Sean