The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Maybe it's a trick of the camera, but something looks a little "off" about the finish--on the crank side, the panel between the crank and the lid doesn't match right, at least to my eye. Has the cabinet been refinished? If so, I'm not sure it was a great job; I'd give it a careful look before plunking down money for it.

On the other hand, having the original key for the lid lock is a plus; those at least did go for a bit of money just by themselves.

Wow. Some people are really cheap. A very nice C-200 in oak for $350, which also includes three dozen records, another reproducer, and a nice needle tin... Sure, the reproducer should probably be rebuilt, but $350 is already a great price.

Garret wrote:Wow. Some people are really cheap. A very nice C-200 in oak for $350, which also includes three dozen records, another reproducer, and a nice needle tin... Sure, the reproducer should probably be rebuilt, but $350 is already a great price.

Well, but that's just it--some of us are wondering if, in the current market, it is a great price. Things have come down a lot. Looking at eBay, hardly the most economical source, I see two or three C-250/C-19 machines "buy it now" going begging for that money or less. Admittedly, they're mahogany and in need of some cleanup, but any of those is a double spring machine with the larger horn, which all things being equal will sound better. And I'll go out on a limb here: the current fixation on oak is not for me. It' great for Mission style, but for "period" style cabinets I think it usually just doesn't look right. I prefer the warm glow of mahogany. Personal opinion!

Back to value of the machine under discussion, I'd say a lot depends on the records. If they're operatic issues in good shape, they can be worth enough that the machine itself might become just a bonus. Ditto if they're late electrically recorded discs. If they're turkey trots and Henry Burr religious tunes, they are like the old joke about a house for sale with a swimming pool in the back yard: take off 10% for the pool.

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the views on the machine. Well I am not a short time flipper, This would be for me to enjoy if I want to. I have not seen the machine just online, I made a offer for 250 and a drive of 2 ½ hours. I will see how it goes from here.
drh I love mahogany, most of my clocks are in mahogany. although may favorite is rose wood.

Well they accepted my offer of $250. I am just waiting for pickup arrangements. It's like Christmas, cannot wait to started on the cleaning and restoration.

Garret wrote:Wow. Some people are really cheap. A very nice C-200 in oak for $350, which also includes three dozen records, another reproducer, and a nice needle tin... Sure, the reproducer should probably be rebuilt, but $350 is already a great price.

Garret, it's not a matter of "cheap", you should always try to get the best price on things that may need additional repairs, etc. If the stylus is bad on the reproducer, the diamond stylus is $100+ and if you can't install it yourself, you need to pay someone to do it for you...

Last year I bought a working 250 DD machine last year for $175. The market has dropped substantially for common machines...

Garret wrote:Wow. Some people are really cheap. A very nice C-200 in oak for $350, which also includes three dozen records, another reproducer, and a nice needle tin... Sure, the reproducer should probably be rebuilt, but $350 is already a great price.

Nice to be so free with other people's money...

While this is a vey nice example, with some neat perks, I would expect that at an auction, it would bring about $175.00 - $200.00.

Guy's thanks for all the input. For me cheaper is better but I think a little different when it comes to "this is the price I would like to pay because I might have to do repairs and restore this machine" as to "this is the price I will pay because I want to repair and restore this machine". Still waiting on the deal to become final.

Herderz wrote:Guy's thanks for all the input. For me cheaper is better but I think a little different when it comes to "this is the price I would like to pay because I might have to do repairs and restore this machine" as to "this is the price I will pay because I want to repair and restore this machine". Still waiting on the deal to become final.

"this is the price I will pay because I want to repair and restore this machine"

I totally get that. Done it many times! Best of luck to you.

JerryVan wrote:

Herderz wrote:Guy's thanks for all the input. For me cheaper is better but I think a little different when it comes to "this is the price I would like to pay because I might have to do repairs and restore this machine" as to "this is the price I will pay because I want to repair and restore this machine". Still waiting on the deal to become final.

"this is the price I will pay because I want to repair and restore this machine"

I totally get that. Done it many times! Best of luck to you.

Of course that's true... why else would you buy it???