The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

1. condition (I prefer complete unrestored machines in totally original condition, exceptions are made for the rarest items)
2. sound quality (I look for machines that represented the very best in their day and that includes sound reproduction)
3. rarity (common machines do not hold that much appeal as they are difficult to sell if you have to and if they're readily available to see elsewhere, why bother to clutter your house with them?)
4. oldest (nothing really after 1940, most are pre-1930 but pre-1914 doesn't offer much to play electrically recorded records on!)
5. cabinet style (it has to appeal, of course, but most machines do anyway, It doesn't have to fit any particular decor ie. Art Nouveau, let's put it that way!)

Glad to see so many who value the sound their machines produce. I have never personally had an interest in owning machines just for the sake of having them. To me they are producers of sound and a representative of the time. So to me sound quality has always trumped an interesting cabinet. Unfortunately before the days of it being common to have restoration supplies available as they are now I eliminating a number of machines which otherwise were very fine, but would not play as they should have. Having a pleasing cabinet to look at also adds to the pleasure for me. I know that many are great fans of horn machines, but somehow I never good get them to "fit" into the surroundings I had to offer and looked out of place, so a quality looking piece of furniture has always been my favorite.

Cool survey! Of course I have to add a category to the 4 you listed. (I rarely do things the easy way)
#1 - Condition.
#2 - Oldest.
#3 - Cabinet Style.
#4 - Sound Quality.
#5 - Rarity.

I grew-up in a household filled with antiques and "look but don't even think of touching it" items filled most every room of the house except the kitchen. Now as an adult I still love the look and feel of antiques BUT...I own nothing that cannot also be used.

For me it's:

Oldest
Rarest / Condition
Cabinet
Music Quality

I had to put condition next to rarest.

1. Usefulness
2. Price
3. Condition
4. Format
5. Style (tabletop/coinop/floor-model/etc.)
6. Model
7. Rarity

larryh wrote:Glad to see so many who value the sound their machines produce. I have never personally had an interest in owning machines just for the sake of having them. To me they are producers of sound and a representative of the time. So to me sound quality has always trumped an interesting cabinet. Unfortunately before the days of it being common to have restoration supplies available as they are now I eliminating a number of machines which otherwise were very fine, but would not play as they should have. Having a pleasing cabinet to look at also adds to the pleasure for me. I know that many are great fans of horn machines, but somehow I never good get them to "fit" into the surroundings I had to offer and looked out of place, so a quality looking piece of furniture has always been my favorite.

Just to clarify on sound quality, of course I like my machine to have a reproducer that works properly
as it should for any particular model. For example, If I had to chose between two machines of nearly
equal value such as an Orthophonic Credenza and a special finish VV-XVI with Exhibition reproducer, I would choose the XVI.
An Orthophonic has superior sound quality when compared to mica reproducers, but being that I like the
earlier cabinet styles I am willing to sacrifice on overall sound quality. This is not to say I wouldn't love to
have a Credenza, its just that my limited floor space cannot permit it at this time.

larryh wrote:Glad to see so many who value the sound their machines produce. I have never personally had an interest in owning machines just for the sake of having them. To me they are producers of sound and a representative of the time. So to me sound quality has always trumped an interesting cabinet. Unfortunately before the days of it being common to have restoration supplies available as they are now I eliminating a number of machines which otherwise were very fine, but would not play as they should have. Having a pleasing cabinet to look at also adds to the pleasure for me. I know that many are great fans of horn machines, but somehow I never good get them to "fit" into the surroundings I had to offer and looked out of place, so a quality looking piece of furniture has always been my favorite.

I agree. Those who only collect machines just for the sake of having them shouldn't have them. My cheap portable isn't going to be the star of any collection, but it works very well, and does what it was intended for: play records. I don't need 25 different machines to play a stack of big-band 78's that I inherited.

Now, if I see a nice-looking Gem in an antique store with a few (good) cylinders for $150, that's an offer I can't refuse