The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The veneer on that A-250 is absolutely amazing !

Thank you for sharing, George!

You're very welcome.

Circassian is funny wood. Sometimes it has outrageous grain patterns, but other times it's more sedate.

George P.

I did not mean yours were blurry. The ones I got off online were really blurry or grainy..

Did anyone get the Phonograph?

Kirk

The seller of the machine just sent me a message saying he lowered his asking price to $5500.

Rich Gordon

rgordon939 wrote:The seller of the machine just sent me a message saying he lowered his asking price to $5500.

Rich Gordon

My first instinct is to laugh after I scrape my jaw off the floor, but am I just ignorant of what this machine actually is and what it's worth?

Considering it probably needs the motor disassembled and serviced, new governor springs, and a reproducer overhaul at least, I'd think that the $2K range seems fair because it's Circassian and it looks really nice.

How far off am I? Just curious.

The cost of servicing the motor and reproducer are a minor bargaining point. When you buy a Circassian Victrola you are paying a premium for the cabinet. I agree, $5500 seems high but at $3500 there would be serious interest. I know of a high end collector that paid close to $10,000 for an empty VV-XX cabinet even though it was missing the Victor V type motor and gold hardware. It's a good example of the value of a desirable cabinet.

Jerry Blais

Circassian is funny wood. Sometimes it has outrageous grain patterns, but other times it's more sedate.

George P.

I agree with George!
This is a picture of mine, I love the monster face patterns, (and it's definitely not for sale).

Cheers, Bob S.

I haven't seen the actual listing, but if the seller wants 3500 for that L-door XVI in the photos, and it's complete, that seems like an exceptionally reasonable price... these used to sell easily for twice that, or more, didn't they? I recently sold an unrestored circassian Sonora with a bombe cabinet that had a few issues, but nothing too problematic or irreparable, for about 2500 - a couple of knowledgeable collectors told me that had I kept it and completed the restoration, it could have been sold for closer to 4k or so... oh well. These circassian finished machines, like other pretty rare phonographs in general, will likely continue to go for a premium.

The seller, John m Robert's isn't asking $3500 for it, he is asking $5500.

Rich Gordon

rgordon939 wrote:The seller, John m Robert's isn't asking $3500 for it, he is asking $5500.

Rich Gordon

Also the machine for sale is not a L door, but the later style XVI. In my opinion not as valuable as a L door.

Larry Crandell