Got my first Edison Standard phonograph today

[VintageTechnologies]

These stories are far too common and unfortunately I could tell several. Sometimes it is stupidity and others times people just don't care. I wonder how many antiques have been likewise destroyed over the past 20 years?

[skere26]

Here are some close ups of the mechanical damage:


Broken Reproducer: missing stylus spring, top pin broken.


Broken Arm: possibly rubber cement-able but not holding my breathe...


Motor: having never owned one, i have no idea if anything is broken under here.


Random gear found in box: Can anyone tell me where this goes? You can also see the lone piece of red foam that was used as packing material.

There's not enough glue in the world to fix the case.

Plus who knows what other parts fell out of the box.

[gramophone78]

Best advice any of us can give is.....just chalk it up as a learning experience. As VT wrote.....it has happened to all of us along the way. Now you just have a "box" of spare parts and ???. As another member mentioned.....best to be present at an auction if you are after something. Not only so you can take the item home yourself but, to inspect the item. Auctions generally don't provide an accurate description. bottom line....they are only there to sell and move on. They do not care after that is done. I know (unfortunately) that shippers like UPS DO NOT cover loss when an antique is involved. Not sure if they offer special insurance. However, as far as I know.....they do not.
Your CC company will probably not cancel the transaction either. The auction house made it clear about responsibility up front and are not in the shipping business. Ebay buying is just as risky. The difference is the seller is offering shipping and you have some control. Although, this can be another learning issue.
About all you can do is [Fifi] to the house and see if they will give you a part refund......don't hold your breath.

[Le0]

I've had lots of badly packed antiques damaged from Ebay and 50% of the sellers offered help.
just be clear and polite in your request and it might be fruitful.

that said, I would do my best to save what's left of the machine. if you still have all the wood chips a decent repair can be achieved.
the reproducer and carriage arm will be challenging but I would definitely not give up.

[martinola]

skere26,

I'm so sorry your first Standard ended up being a project machine. People that should know better about proper packaging, sadly often don't. I'll join in with Leo and urge you to channel your anger and effect a restoration of the machine. The case will glue back better than it would first appear. (Heck, send me all the pieces and I'll do it for you for nothing.)

Somebody like George Vollema of Great Lakes Antique Phonographs ( http://www.victroladoctor.com/ )would be a good choice to rebuild the model C reproducer as well as replace the carrier arm and halfnut. His prices are good and his work is excellent. The random gear you have in the photo is the feedscrew that is mounted parallel to the mandrel in the rear. Hopefully the bearings aren't broken or badly bent. On the positive side, this is a fairly common machine and getting replacement parts shouldn't be too hard.

I share your frustration and hope that you can work past it and revive this otherwise nice Model B Standard. Keep us posted.

Regards,
Martin

[soundgen]

Get your money back from your CC company !

[Chuck]

What a travesty!!

I echo what others have said here already.

If this happened to me here is what I'd be doing
now:

1) Immediately contact the credit card company
and explain the blatant, total irresponsibility
of this pack job, and demand all of my money back.

2) After having accomplished item #1, then I'd
be in contact with the auction house that was
responsible for this mess. I would explain
thoroughly to them, that whomever packed this
and shipped it this way is doing wrong, because
this pack job was done with the most complete
lack of care that I have ever seen!

3) Then I would kindly ask the auction house
for some form of reimbursement for the time
and trouble that this mess they made has caused
you already.

What this all boils down to is the fact that
there is a choice to be made now.

You can either accept things as they are and
chalk it up as a "learning experience", (and
in so doing you are allowing them to get away
with this total irresponsibility)....

or, you can demand that things be made right
with this by getting your money back and also
having them pay you something for the pain
and suffering.

I personally would not let them get away
with this. It's sad that stuff like this
goes on, but it does, and mainly because there
are people out there who know that they can
be completely irresponsible and get away with
it because so few people will demand better.

Best of luck with it, get your money back
and also put your machine back together.

George V. can help you with the parts that
cannot be repaired. (That carriage arm looks
like possibly it might be able to be brazed
back together)

Chuck

[cardenauction]

hi first off let me say i am sorry that this has happened it is always a shame when items are broken,,,,i received an email from u and of course after seeing the photos i would obviously offer u a full refund which i am offering you right now as well,,,,i had some extra inexperienced help packing items and i should have watched them alittle more closely,,but what isnt appreciated is running to this site to call my auction RUBBISH,,mistakes happen and we are one of the few that will make good on it,,so i have tried calling you multiple times today and responded to your email you sent ball is in your court now,,,the cylinders should have been individually packed,,but there was foam on both sided which u didnt picture, and there was packing that u didnt mention as well, and we try to pack everything inhouse to save customers money....we do not just cart everything to UPS and then customers are forced to pay hundreds to get there things,,,for everyones elses piece of mind nothing else has been reported broken as of typing this..we have a great reputation in the business and when things like this happen we ALWAYS make good on them....

thanks

[skere26]

Hey Gents,

After a nice long weekend getaway in Nashville, I just talked to Josh from Carden Auction House. He explained to me that he had to use some temp workers to help ship out some items and that the way mine was packed was not up to their packing standards. He offered me a full refund with no hassle. After talking to him I can say he's one of the good ones and I wouldn't hesitate using his services again.

If you read this, thanks for your help Josh!

[Le0]

Hey Gents,

After a nice long weekend getaway in Nashville, I just talked to Josh from Carden Auction House. He explained to me that he had to use some temp workers to help ship out some items and that the way mine was packed was not up to their packing standards. He offered me a full refund with no hassle. After talking to him I can say he's one of the good ones and I wouldn't hesitate using his services again.

If you read this, thanks for your help Josh!

that's good news... but please don't throw the machine away!