The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Very nice display! We like it and the way the one shelf is slanted. Thanks for sharing it. Also, we are amused at your Nipper/phonograph Icon!!! Russie and Lori

Wow! Words fail me when I see people with these types of collections. I love it!

It does beg a question, however, that perhaps you (or another like collector of many phonographs and ephemera) might consider answering?

How does one insure for collections like these? I know many insurance companies often won't issue special riders for antique collections unless they are properly appraised beforehand.

I'm curious how many of you have gone about this...

1) Who do you rely on to provide a fair (and certified) appraisal?
2) How do you handle those items which cannot be accurately appraised?
3) Do some of you just take your chances and forego the rider altogether and hope for the best?

I'd really appreciate any feedback for those of you (and you know who you are ) who have rather extensive collections of phonographs, antique fans, vintage bicycles, radios, and even butt-ugly ashtray collections brought home from road trips as souvenirs for your loved ones...

Collectibles insurance is really a specialized field. My regular insurer (USAA) referred me to American Collectors Insurance, Inc.

http://www.americancollectors.com

Their premiums are quite reasonable.

Clay

I have had my home insured through Nationwide and State Farm and in both cases once I showed them how almost every machine (Worth collecting) has a relative accepted value and pricing guides available, they just increased my contents coverage. The agent said with many antiques like furniture it is hard to cover because the prices are all over the place. We simply keep a SD card with photos of everything on it at my mom's house. Of course now I can simply keep it in the "Cloud" in case it is ever needed for retrieval.

I used to have a separate Fine Arts Rider on my policy, but - like Moo - my company (Erie Insurance) eventually just increased my coverage with a list of what's in the collection (way out of date at the moment!). As for appraisals, a collector friend and I simply sign off on each others' lists/values. So far, no problem.

George P.

Great display and very organised. I like how the records are all tidy and puts mine to shame. Can you suggest where I may get some decent quality sleeves from?

Star, bags unlimited sell several styles and quality levels. I buy the green ones just because the color looks better than the yellow.


George, here' the back. Being in advertising I love the ads

Here is a picture of my newly repainted office. My wife covered up a dreary grey color with a nice sand color. It really makes the wood stand out!

Nice touch in repeating the forum with the image of your office! Moo, your phono-den is very appealing.

James.

In my place they have taken over the living room, dining room, as part of the master bedroom. Maybe my own office is next.

Clay