Hello all, new to the forum and new addiction

[RiderK]

Thank you all for the warm welcome! I think my fiance is now seeing a trend in my obsessiveness for certain antiques. I’m now looking at a golden oak Brunswick 120. The top of the lid has about a ⅜” thick layer of wood that is starting to warp and lift off of the lid but could easily be glued and clamped and it’s also completely missing the veneer on the surface of the same piece. Other than that the furniture looks quite good. Motor is smooth and quiet winding up and winding itself down. It’s also missing the entire ultona tone arm and reproducer. I’m thinking of offering a $100 or $150 and see if she bites. She’s asking $250 as it sits now. Wishing I would have taken pictures. Another one I saw was a Brunswick Seville (looks like a Seville from my research) that is missing the lift out wooden grill on the face of the horn. Biggest issue with that one is when you wind it up past ¾ of a turn you can feel it give and let loose of the spring pressure. I’m not sure if that’s a broken spring or possibly (hopefully) the ratcheting mechanism not catching. I’m not sure as I’ve never seen that motor specifically. The guy is asking $250 for that one as well but I’m sitting on the fence of $100 on that one. I’d love to walk away with both for $250 or less. Still pondering how my wonderful finance will look at me when I tell her I need a few more to work on. Thankfully she’s an absolute angel and desires to decorate the house with as many antiques as possible. She’s actually part of the reason I got the Victrola to start with. She told me that she wanted an antique wooden floor model radio, mainly because she loves the nostalgic atmosphere that the old recoded music gives. I told her that a tuner/radio doesn’t give that old recording sound. Hence me surprising her with a Victrola that actually creates the sound she was looking for. I’m just not sure what she’ll think of three gramophones in one week.

Anyway thanks for reading my rambling. What do you guys think of my new prospects and prices?

[RiderK]

Thought I’d try to load up a quick video before we leave for the evening.

IMG_1879.mov

(61.07 MiB) Downloaded 51 times

[JerryVan]

Seems like you have a nice phonograph, an idyllic home and location, and a wonderful fiance! I'll pass along a great bit of advice given to me when I had similar prospects, "Don't screw this up!"

Seriously though, welcome to the hobby!

[RiderK]

Seems like you have a nice phonograph, an idyllic home and location, and a wonderful fiance! I'll pass along a great bit of advice given to me when I had similar prospects, "Don't screw this up!"

Seriously though, welcome to the hobby!

Hahaha, I appreciate the sentiment and you are correct. I’m very blessed and fortunate to have the woman I have. Truly one of the kindest and most genuine people on this planet. Don’t let me make you think I live in a lap of luxury or anything haha. It’s nice little 1000 sq ft 2 bed 2 bath cabin in the country but it’s not expensive. My yearly taxes are just over $200. I drive an hour to get to work every day but yes I’m very fortunate to have my simple blue collar life. Anyway, enough about me. Again thanks again to everyone for the warm welcomes. Anybody have any opinions on the Brunswick’s I mentioned. I know it would be easier to have an option if I at least had pictures.

Oh, and yeah……….I’ll do my best not to screw this one up hahaha

[JerryVan]

As to the Brunswicks you're considering, it depends on whether or not your wanting a project. Personally, the prices, plus the missing/damaged parts would be a "no sale". I usually look for good cabinets, with nice original finish. Mechanical problems, or missing parts that won't be hard to find, don't bother me. Keep in mind however, that parts aren't free, (generally speaking), and when added to the purchase price, can take you too far past the machine's value.

BTW, a nice cabin, in the setting you described, is the lap of luxury.

[JohnM]

Thank you all for the warm welcome! I think my fiance is now seeing a trend in my obsessiveness for certain antiques. I’m now looking at a golden oak Brunswick 120. The top of the lid has about a ⅜” thick layer of wood that is starting to warp and lift off of the lid but could easily be glued and clamped and it’s also completely missing the veneer on the surface of the same piece. Other than that the furniture looks quite good. Motor is smooth and quiet winding up and winding itself down. It’s also missing the entire ultona tone arm and reproducer. I’m thinking of offering a $100 or $150 and see if she bites. She’s asking $250 as it sits now. Wishing I would have taken pictures. Another one I saw was a Brunswick Seville (looks like a Seville from my research) that is missing the lift out wooden grill on the face of the horn. Biggest issue with that one is when you wind it up past ¾ of a turn you can feel it give and let loose of the spring pressure. I’m not sure if that’s a broken spring or possibly (hopefully) the ratcheting mechanism not catching. I’m not sure as I’ve never seen that motor specifically. The guy is asking $250 for that one as well but I’m sitting on the fence of $100 on that one. I’d love to walk away with both for $250 or less. Still pondering how my wonderful finance will look at me when I tell her I need a few more to work on. Thankfully she’s an absolute angel and desires to decorate the house with as many antiques as possible. She’s actually part of the reason I got the Victrola to start with. She told me that she wanted an antique wooden floor model radio, mainly because she loves the nostalgic atmosphere that the old recoded music gives. I told her that a tuner/radio doesn’t give that old recording sound. Hence me surprising her with a Victrola that actually creates the sound she was looking for. I’m just not sure what she’ll think of three gramophones in one week.

Anyway thanks for reading my rambling. What do you guys think of my new prospects and prices?

*Grille, not “grill”. A grill is where food is prepared.
Almost all of my living family lives around Bloomington. We used to live in Madison.

[Steve]

Welcome - the phonograph addiction is more severe than you think!

I'd second that. Welcome to the forum. I've been kicking around here for the past 15 years and collecting now for about 33 years. It's seriously addictive. I'd seek help before it gets too bad.

Even though I'm given to saying my collecting days are over, I managed to buy 26 machines yesterday. This year's not even over yet so there's still time to buy a few more!

26 !!! ????

I mean, I have a small trickle of gramophone related items coming in regularly, but 26 machines in one day ?

Oh, please, please, please elaborate ! This actually sounds fascinating !!!

I had to do it. It was my duty! I should have bought the entire collection perhaps but there are 36 left! I only bought the machines that were harder to find elsewhere and / or of particular interest to me. The rest will become available through this forum over the next few months as I am hoping to get the best price for the seller and avoid the inevitable alternative "auction dump" option.

[electrolaman 64]

Welcome to antique phonograph collecting! We have a local Hoosier Antique Phonograph Club that you would be welcome to be part of. I will send you some info in an email.

Best regards,
Carlton Smith

[osero1ww]

Reminds me of the time I first posted over here in this wonderful forum. I only own a Decca 10, and have had it as my pet project for about 2-3 years now. The number of times I had it sitting in parts is too many to count. The gentlemen over here are very inclusive and as part of Generation Z (I'm prolly gonna be the one of the only of my kind) I have much more to get excited over digging through an antique shop than listening to whatever pop music the put on nowadays on the radio. I share your enthusiasm with restoring older technology, and I am happy to see yet another person join in on this wonderful hobby.

[poodling around]

I'd second that. Welcome to the forum. I've been kicking around here for the past 15 years and collecting now for about 33 years. It's seriously addictive. I'd seek help before it gets too bad.

Even though I'm given to saying my collecting days are over, I managed to buy 26 machines yesterday. This year's not even over yet so there's still time to buy a few more!

26 !!! ????

I mean, I have a small trickle of gramophone related items coming in regularly, but 26 machines in one day ?

Oh, please, please, please elaborate ! This actually sounds fascinating !!!

I had to do it. It was my duty! I should have bought the entire collection perhaps but there are 36 left! I only bought the machines that were harder to find elsewhere and / or of particular interest to me. The rest will become available through this forum over the next few months as I am hoping to get the best price for the seller and avoid the inevitable alternative "auction dump" option.

Very interesting, and once again you have restored my faith in humanity !

Thank you for elaborating - it is very good to know.