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The 2-65 is the best, in my opinion. Beautiful sound and very well built. It's the last Victor built portable before they contracted them out.

http://www.victor-victrola.com/2-65.htm

Here's a 2-65 for sale on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AL-JOLSONS-VICT ... 2a1b7365bb

Man, too bad they are only asking 15x the value for the opening bid

Plus, I mean...it's Al Jolson. Even if it is authentic, and his, there is no documentation (and documentation is everything) plus, it's Al Jolson. Not Elvis, not someone who's fame has carried on generation through generation. It's "cool" but I mean, if it wasn't for 78 RPM phonographs, and surviving copies of the Jazz Singer, he likely would have faded into history completely. I mean, you can get any of his recording for under $5. He's not famous enough to pay 15 times the value of the machine itself. If they started it at $350.00, it might sell, but not $3,500.

If you want to part with some serious money - plus serious shipping charges from the UK, the HMV 101 and 102 are the best of the best. I bought a red HMV 102 from over the river for %425.00 plus $75.00 shipping. What a phonograph!

That is stunning!

Check out this beautiful green HMV currently on EBay! The colored ones are so sweet! 120879295533

Guest wrote:Here's a 2-65 for sale on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AL-JOLSONS-VICT ... 2a1b7365bb

Yep, there was an extensive (and rather acrimonious) thread on that one....

SignatureSeriesOwner wrote:Man, too bad they are only asking 15x the value for the opening bid

Plus, I mean...it's Al Jolson. Even if it is authentic, and his, there is no documentation (and documentation is everything) plus, it's Al Jolson. Not Elvis, not someone who's fame has carried on generation through generation. It's "cool" but I mean, if it wasn't for 78 RPM phonographs, and surviving copies of the Jazz Singer, he likely would have faded into history completely. I mean, you can get any of his recording for under $5. He's not famous enough to pay 15 times the value of the machine itself. If they started it at $350.00, it might sell, but not $3,500.

I'll gladly buy any of his Victor sides for a fin a pop! 'd pay that much for really clean copies of most of his electric Brunswick sides, save perhaps for "Rainbow 'Round my Shoulder" and "Sonny Boy" , both of which sold a bit too well.

Now as for his Decca sides, well, I wouldn't give a nickel for all of them in a pile. They sold entirely too well, and the orchestrations are far too much in the Billy May manner for my taste.