The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Chuck, I know about these "3rd party deals". They try to pit you against someone else real or imaginary to jack the price. When a seller pulls that crap with me, I'll tell them no thanks, and walk away. These machines are common, and you will find one in decent running condition at a good price.
Give it time.
Harvey Kravitz

Harvey,

Yeah, I know. Thanks for reminding me.
I've been sniffin' around all kinds of DD
machines ever since back around 1980, so
I've seen a few of them. I've also heard
nearly every imaginable story, [usually there's always a 3rd party stuck in there
as soon as the seller realizes I have even
the slightest interest]...

Latest thing is she says "the other party"
is "very interested" and will be driving
eastward through Iowa tomorrow, and will be
looking at this machine and willing to pay
the full $250.

I would not be a bit surprised if this machine
ends up coming to Union in somebody's trailer.

Can you say "make a quick $250?"

Because, by the time it hits Union, it'll
be jacked clear up over $500 for sure.

Did I just say that?....
Yep, it was me.

Chuck, I think you've got it right. I wouldn't be surprised to see a $650 Oak C-250 at Union on Friday! Seems like I've heard about those third parties when buying old cars too! Although sometimes they're real.

Yep. It's all about the money.

I also collect various types of vacuum
tubes. There's a dealer of those on ebay
who was swooping up all the good deals by
sniping them out from under everyone else.

One time I sent him a discrete little email
kindly asking him to keep his paws off of
one measly little auction for a couple of tubes I was after, at a reasonable price, not
his later jacked up 5x what it's worth price.

He was nice, and agreed to not bid them up.

I ended up winning that auction, and getting those tubes at a reasonable price. However, I know that had I not asked him to leave
his paws off of them, they would have ended
up in his jacked-up inventory.

He even had some folks working for him at
one point, and that's all they did all day
was bid, bid, bid, and swoop up all the
good deals.

Returning to the DD machine in question,
my senses tell me that there's a very good
possibility that there's a simliar thing
afoot here and now with this C-250 machine
in McFarland, Wisconsin.

$250 you say? Haha, well how about $650!
Heh, heh...I will be looking for it at Union.
How high do y'all reckon it will go?
Any other guesses?

Chuck

Well, I hope that it goes to a good home, more than anything. It stinks when this sort of thing happens, but I really do think that the machine is worth every penny she asked for it, and you can't fault her for not taking it in the shorts.


I would love to have two original Automatic reproducers for my Model A Home and Standard, but I have no illusion to getting them, because of people that pay top dollar for them.

Best,
Fran

I don't understand how this machine, an oak C-250 - even if not working, but in the cosmetic condition it appeared to be in, appearing otherwise complete and with nearly 70 discs - that wasn't worth $250 suddenly became a fair buy at just $25 less, and then leaped to value estimates of $500 to $650 under the assumption it was purchased by a dealer on the way to union who was just in it for the money. I mean, I understand, but it seems a bit silly.

Chuck, if the cabinet is in good shape, that machine full of records is worth more than $250 even if it does not work. Suppose you sold the 70 records for $3 apiece, that would be $210 right there. Machines must be mighty cheap in your neck of the woods. I'd probably break my arm whipping the wallet out so fast!

Brianu,

It is silly. I am just sort of goofing around. It just all gets rather
humorous after a while, that's all.

Laugh. It's funny!

Surprising how much talk and such little action on this classic machine, which seems very nice and comes with cool accessories, in oak! Plus records. wow.

I hope the third party has a great time with it at $250, or even profits by flipping it to someone who appreciates it, and that the ill-conceived $25 squeeze doesn't stick in the loser's throat for too long after this missed opportunity.

Peter,

In the most gentlemanly way possible, and with
all due respect to you, I will say this:

please take it somewhere else.