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Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:41 pm
by gramophoneshane
Hell no! How could I when I dont believe in such a thing?
What I know is just a speck on a map.

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:53 pm
by gramophone78
I think anyone that thinks of themself as an "expert" is just a fool and as Shane wrote needs their ego stoked all the time. I find it offensive when a so called person claims they are. In my opinion, nobody knows everything and we "ALL" make mistakes. As a very long time collector I must say that one of the most troubling things I see with these "experts" is there forgetting that the information or findings mainly come from another past collectors work. How soon their hard work is forgotten. At least in these experts minds. I also find it very strange how some experts seem to always slag past experts on their work. I see this in many different hobbies.
I guess some as I said like to see their name in constant lights..... :lol:. Maybe, it makes up for the lack of being able to afford or build a nice collection......who knows???.
As for what others think about my collection........I think that has already been covered by others on this thread.

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:20 am
by Lucius1958
Unless you're planning to open a museum, I think you should collect pretty much to please yourself.

My tiny collection satisfies me well enough: nothing particularly rare, but a nice variety. I would like to find a couple more machines - say, a DD, or something suitable for early electric recordings; but fiscal caution and limited space tend to restrain me.....

Bill

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:10 am
by ColoradoPhonograf
Interesting topic Jerry,

I've been collecting for 20 years and I have to stay on a budget. But with that said, you also need to be creative in your thought process and possibilities. Sometimes you come across a nice machine you like but don't have the cash available. Consider selling two common machines out of your collection to fund the acquisition of a much more interesting machine without much further cash coming out of your pocket. Many of my best acquisitions have been through three way trades. Get to know fellow collectors personally and find out where their interests are also, it works out nicely when everyone comes out happy.

Always collect original quality machines, no matter if they are common or rare....if it comes down to selling, you have a hard time selling a refinished or cobbled up machine.

Make goals for yourself. About 3 months before the annual Union show I make a decision as to what one machine I would like to add to the collection. I put out feelers with fellow collectors and start the search process.

Great books are available, I believe you must have an overview of what you enjoy, and have a guide to where you want to go with your own collecting. Buy good reference books and your collection will fall into place without a bunch of junk in the garage or regrets of impulse purchases.

ColoradoPhonograf

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:32 am
by De Soto Frank
I am learning too, by following this thread... keep the suggestions coming !

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:49 pm
by TinfoilPhono
I follow just a few basic rules, some which I've developed along the way during 50 years of collecting phonographs, some learned from other collectors. But the most important are simple:

1. Collect for yourself, not for others. I buy what appeals to me; if other people like them, fine. It they don't, it doesn't matter. It's never been a factor in my buying decisions.

2. Set a theme. Random assortments are accumulations rather than collections. A theme doesn't have to be carved in stone, nor ridiculously limiting. It's always fun to throw a few curiosities into the mix, if they appeal to you. It's also something which typically evolves over time. I didn't start out with any special goal in mind, it simply grew as my tastes evolved. My theme is very broad -- I call it simply 'early and odd technology.' It may be broad but it does help me keep focused.

3. Collections should be fluid. I've never sold anything without reluctance, since I never buy anything unless it really appeals to me. But in order to keep my collection active, I am obliged to make sacrifices both to make space and working capital. My collection is very different now than 20 years ago, but that's a good thing. It keeps life interesting. And it allows me to continue hunting.

4. Seek out quality. Perhaps this should be my number one; it's advice I got many years ago from Ray Phillips, one of the oldest phonograph collectors still around. "To the maximum extent possible, always buy the best you can afford." One really special machine is better than 10 common ones. This is especially true if, as most of us do, you hope to at least be able to get your money back out of it someday (or your heirs, as the case may be). True rarities tend to hold their value better than common items. I'd much rather see a small but well-selected collection -- like Ray Phillips had, for that matter -- than hundreds of Standards and Homes.

5. See #1.

On all points, your mileage may differ. If you strongly disagree with my philosophy, that's fine. I don't profess to be a guru. This is just what works for me.

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:01 pm
by alang
ColoradoPhonograf wrote:...
Always collect original quality machines, no matter if they are common or rare....if it comes down to selling, you have a hard time selling a refinished or cobbled up machine.
...
ColoradoPhonograf
I've read and heard this now many times, but I think it really depends on the reasons why one collects. To me the real fun is to bring an old machine back to life, which may sometimes be simply replacing a spring or greasing a motor, but many times it means to completely refinish and restore something in very poor condition. There is absolutely no economic justification for the work hours and sometimes even the parts I put into a machine in the process, but that's not why I do it. My hobby is fixing old phonographs, the collecting is more an added benefit and I don't think much about the value of my objects. My restauration goal for all my machines is to look as being in good shape for their age and to be able to play records.
Because of this it would make no sense for me to look for high quality pristine condition machines. What would I do with them? I am not the type of collector who just wants to own something, that would get boring for me pretty quickly. I like all my machines because I completely took them apart and fixed them up to what they are today. That's also why I have all kinds of different machines, tinkering with different ones is more interesting over time. In the end I don't think I end up spending a lot less money than I would if I bought a good machine once in a while, but again that would be a lot less fun for me.
Don't get me wrong and please no offense, I admire these fabulous collections many of you have, I may even be jealous sometimes. :mrgreen: But I think that my collection only has to be interesting for me and to me it's all the various fixer uppers that are most interesting and challenging.
Andreas

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:10 pm
by larryh
Its very interesting how wide an varied this topic can be. I have loved victrolas for probably 70 years or more by now. The idea that sound was produced strictly mechanically just intrigued me from the start. At first I could purchase pretty nice machines or trade for them since at the time anything with an internal horn was pretty much of a white elephant to most dealers or even collectors. luckily I liked internal horn machines best. I picked up some here and there and had a mutual friend who to this day has an enormous rare horn machine collection. Fortunately for me they didn't care for cabinet machines. So at one point I got a lot of what today are very valuable cabinet machines they would cull out from collections. That could have been the start of a very nice and worthy collection today, if I had not also been adverse to having rooms full of phonographs just sitting around. So over time I sold off nearly everything, mostly at dirt cheap prices. I don't regret it. To me its always been about enjoying the sound and appreciating the cabinet in a setting that seems appropriate for the home. Rarely did I ever have more than one machine sitting in a room and usually only a few in the whole house. So when I see something reasonable that I might wish to enjoy trying out, I tend to sell of the previous machines. Over the years that is normally how It went. Never with a big collection, but always with a few favorites of the time. At the moment in retirement I have a nice Edison William an Mary Console in the living room, thats the only machine in the house other than a couple portables up in the attic. Next door luckily I have now my moms home where I can add a couple machines as well. I found the oak edison S.19 fits nicely in the corner of her dining room as its oak furniture as well. In the basement where I enjoy walking every morning I have a 25.00 chippendale I restored from a basket case and a fine old upright Brunswick that I restored years ago as well.

They mean as much to me as many of the finer more rare machines I owned only to part with. Its a collection that allows me to play an hear them at will and still fits into my idea of home setting. I have never had the impulse to want rooms or barns full of machines simply to own them. I don't say its not right. Its just not what I need to make me happy. Life to me is about varied interest and phonographs will always be a first love. But unlike my old friend who for 70 years has existed almost only to walk though rooms filled high with rare machines, I have a lighter more intimate realationship with the ones I do have. To me that is the satisfaction of a collection well used and appreciated.

And as the previous poster related, saving and restoring a machine that cost me little money is a very rewarding endeavor which adds greatly to my appreciation of the few I do keep.

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:12 pm
by beaumonde
gramophoneshane wrote:...I find collections that consist of nothing but Edisons &/or HMV/Victors deadly dull.
Good thing I have a couple of Columbias as well, then!

Re: So how do you build an interesting collection?

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:48 pm
by Amberola 1-A
beaumonde wrote:
gramophoneshane wrote:...I find collections that consist of nothing but Edisons &/or HMV/Victors deadly dull.
Good thing I have a couple of Columbias as well, then!
Same here. It does tend to break up the tedium that is commonly due to owning the aforementioned machines.........