The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

marcapra wrote:I had a similar experience with Edison needle cuts, but Edison 78s for less than a dollar and you turned it down? That's sheer lunacy! Or sheer ignorance I guess. I also turned down two Edison needle cuts. I turned them down over the phone too. I didn't realize they were mint! My friend said he would take $200 for Haydn's String Quartet op.33 no. 3 "The Bird" on two 12" Edison needle-cuts. I replied in my ignorance, "well maybe if they were on DDs I'd go for it, but I guess I'll pass". Then, at the APS show I saw that they were E+! They were put in the silent auction, where they sold for $575! So my biggest regret as a record collector is that my friend offered to give me the Bird, and I turned it down!

You'll never guess in a million years where they are now.

George, you mean you got The Bird? Wow! Nice Crickets album you got too, O.P. I read that Ed Sullivan hated Buddy Holly because he asked them to not sing Maybe Baby! because the lyrics were too suggestive! But on screen live, Buddy decided to sing it anyway, as Ed cut the amp. of his guitar. I guess he couldn't cut the vocal mike. So Ed never invited the Crickets back to his show after that. Boy have times changed since the innocent, sweet 50s!

Here are the lyrics which were too much for Sullivan:

Maybe Baby
Buddy Holly

Maybe baby, I'll have you
Maybe baby, you'll be true
Maybe baby, I'll have you for me (all for me)
It's funny honey, you don't care
You never listen, to my prayer
Maybe baby, you will love me some day (someday)
Well, you are the one that makes me glad
And you are the one that makes me sad
When some day, you'll want me
Well, I'll be there, wait and see
Maybe baby, I'll have you
Maybe baby, you'll be true
Maybe baby, I'll have you for me (all for me)
Da-da-ta-da-da-da da-da-da
Da-da-ta-da-da-da da-da-da
Da-da-ta-da-da-da da-da-da
Ahh-ahh-ahh

Yup, Peter F flipped me the Bird awhile ago. Don't worry, though... there's no shortage, only a price. Maybe donniej needs to press some new ones...

To "If I knew then what I know now" should be added "If I had the money then that I have now".

I would then have bought all the unused HMV102D's at £5 each which I saw in an Army Surplus shop in 1966, and the big brass horned Columbia gramophone with "Rastus" dancing doll which I saw in an antique shop in 1971 for £50. These are just a few of the "ones that got away". I knew even then that they were worth buying, but there was no spare money for such things.

I also would have skipped several machines that I thought I needed to have and that are now taking up space in my basement. I also would have purchased a few that I didn't understand were a much better deal than others I bought. My kryptonite are auctions, because I get caught up in the excitement and I don't have time to think it over. But in the end, painful memories are the best teacher.

Andreas

alang wrote:I also would have skipped several machines that I thought I needed to have and that are now taking up space in my basement. I also would have purchased a few that I didn't understand were a much better deal than others I bought. My kryptonite are auctions, because I get caught up in the excitement and I don't have time to think it over. But in the end, painful memories are the best teacher.

Andreas

Same here. I think I am finally getting to the point that I know what I want and will stick to it as far as machines go... and that's a Vic VI in an Eduardo cabinet with Eduardo horn and record cabinet.

As to the rest, I am into early changers. My first love was always the records, so that is where I plan to overspend from here on out. It's only taken me 50 years of collecting to figure all this out and focus.

I seem to think along the lines of: "If only I knew now, what I'll know 5 years from now."

Fran

I'd have made getting an EMG a priority much earlier in life.

Orchorsol wrote:I'd have made getting an EMG a priority much earlier in life.

It's financially crippling, worth it though

One British machine I think everyone wants is an EMG. I know a guy who either has one, or has a replica EMG with a homemade paper mâché horn. When I saw it about 15 years ago, I didn't know what I was looking at. I think Rex Harrison has one in the 1964 movie My Fair Lady?