The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Victor I w/ after market flowered horn should sell in the range of 800-1100.

Amberola wrote:I just really don't have a clue to their value.

Thanks Doug. You are the only one that give me an answer and not a smart remark. I am out of here!

Hailey wrote:Victor I w/ after market flowered horn should sell in the range of 800-1100.

Thank you.

Hailey wrote:Victor I w/ after market flowered horn should sell in the range of 800-1100.

I have to concur on that price. If the machine is in excellent condition, it might go a little higher, but to be honest, I've seen really nice Vic Is go for under 1k, and really couldn't tell you why. I think a good part of price range is entirely luck. Also, I really haven't noticed if there is any correlation between how much particular versions of the Vic 1 may go for. There was a decent amount of changes over the produciton run, and I can't really say that one version feteches more or less than others (I personally own an early Vic 1, so I've somewhat kept an eye on prices...but I'm pretty sure I spent more assembling the component parts to complete the machine than the machine is actually worth...but it was my first external horn machine, and I pretty much treated it as the surcharge for doing a "layaway").

Most collectors are well aware of the value of machines. But, as collectors, we all want to spend pennies on the dollar for what we find. Can you find Victor I's outside (lower or higher) the price range that I mentioned?? Well, of course you can. General auction prices now are as low as I have seen in a number of years. Phono collections which have been auctioned recently that have had outside horn Victors I-III have sold very softly, on the general part.
Honestly Ronnie, I hope you get it sold for more than you expect.

Thanks Doug. I don't have but 600.00 in it, but don't want to give it away. Its the only Victor 1 I have ever owned, and I honestly like it. But I have a chance to get a Hexaphone for a good price and will have to sell some machines to be able to afford it. I don't have pockets full of money like some members here, and have to sell and trade to get machines. I think I should keep the less expensive machines and sell the wood horn Victors.

Hailey wrote: Honestly Ronnie, I hope you get it sold for more than you expect.

Me too. Since there is no set value on any machine, the only way to know for sure is to auction the machine yourself or through someone else.

When was the last time anyone saw a early Vic.1 sell with a aftermarket horn exactly like this one...??. I can't remember when.

As Vince pointed out....there was a late Vic.1 that sold with a repro wood horn for a price no one could have imagined. Even the sellers Son (also a big dealer) was shocked.

As most of us know, there are so many variables involved regarding "worth".....no one can say for sure.

We all know that if a seller on Ebay wants to attract attention, they start the bidding with no reserve and a low starting amount. Sellers that start the bidding high or have high reserves tend to shy away a lot of potential bidders.

Every one except Doug gave you "smart remarks"......really...???.... .

"I'm out of here"......thanks for dropping in.... .

I have multiple machines purchased over the last 7 or 8 years that I probably would not be able to sell for the purchase price. I' ve always been willing to pay "top buck" for something really nice. Even if I do not get all my money back I've still had the pleasure of owning, playing with them for a period of time.

Valecnik wrote:I have multiple machines purchased over the last 7 or 8 years that I probably would not be able to sell for the purchase price. I' ve always been willing to pay "top buck" for something really nice. Even if I do not get all my money back I've still had the pleasure of owning, playing with them for a period of time.

I agree. The machines I purchased particularly in the late 90's through about year 2001 (perhaps the peak period for phonograph and record prices?) I know I could never recoup the money I spent on them if I needed to sell them today. One in particular is a top wind Columbia AJ (first version of this model) that I purchased for $1600. I really wanted it and that was that. After I got home with it and actually tried playing it I found that it could barely play through a 7 inch record. Oh well. All that said, it was (and still is) in nice original condition and looking back now I'm still happy that I purchased it. I'd be willing to bet that all of us have paid top dollar at some point to get an item we really wanted - especially at an auction where one can easily get caught up in a bidding frenzy.

Doug