Collecting~ Is it a passion that retains it's "worth"?

[ambrola]

I think most of us buy for the enjoyment and not the resale. But there has always been that part of me that says sell these to get that one. I am like Garrett and try to compensate my collecting habit by restoring and selling. I noticed in my 20 years of collecting, common machines like a Home or Standard have stayed about the same price. Victors with wood horns and such go up. How many times has someone walked in your house and not even noticed all the machines? Then you get that one that is interested?

[need4art]

I have read the reply's to this question with interest and believe that there is simply no correct "answer" to it. As someone that has been involved in the field of art restoration for the past 40 years I have always been driven to collect and restore and don't really understand why. I believe that for some they grew up with a collector in the family, for others I was an item, or object that they were attracted to. Luckily I am married to someone who is attracted to and loves to collect as well. We have whaling artifacts (that's a whole other story), teapots, art (of course!), vintage books, Lincoln and Sherlock Homes (that's for you George) memorabilia, Civil War artifacts, antique single shot rifles, vintage cars (they are mostly going away) and now the phonographs and cylinder players.

As to this stuff's worth-many people bowl, play golf, go out and party and drink and dance, belong to symphony and support theater and when they get done is there any physical worth to what they have done? nope... they just enjoy it.

This is a hobby that you can become part of and enjoy for very little investment if that is what you would like to do. It really doesn't make any difference if you play your 78's on a Victor XI or on a Victor XVI in American Walnut-the limiting factor is the reproducer and the records themselves. And when we have people over the "wow" factor is the same no matter what machine I play them on-they just cannot believe the sound that comes out. If I decide to by a Victor V with oak horn or Edison C-2 and its a lot of money that is my choice and that would make the hobby expensive-but that does not mean that the hobby itself is...I just made it that way.

I enjoy this and never spend much time thinking about what its monetary value is. If I am looking at an expensive machine I just think about "can I afford it and still go to Pakistan on a Rotary project to help build a school for orphans" Lately the Rotary service projects have been taking the lead-but its hard to explain why.

My thoughts
Abe

[Brad]

I have a slightly different take on the long term value. First off, I tend to the emotional side of collecting. I am attracted to the age, and the stories the machines could tell if they could talk. (How ironic that they are called talking machines )

From my perspective, we are nearing the end of the height of the collecting demand widow. Us baby boomers are in our wealth accumulation phase of life and we are enjoying the fruits of our labors. Now that the American economy and world relevance is on the way out and the real growth of an affluent middle class is in Asia, wealth and demand will shift there. I can foresee that in about 20 years as the rising Asian middle class enter into their wealth accumulation phase, there will be a hugh demand for antiques and items of all types. Even if the percentage of the population that were interested in phonographs were small it would translate to a healthy demand. I think that there will be international dealers/exporters willing to pay top Yuan for even the most common machines. Collections, regardless of content will be in demand. Furthermore, I think that machines that were "in the raw" will command higher prices than those that have been restored, especially compared to machines that are not 100% original in content and/or finish. I don't see this future market as one for collectors, but as individual accent/conversation pieces.

Mine is somewhat a pessimistic view of our future, but I see three positives in the meantime: 1 - Machines will continue to be available at a lower cost, 2 - Those of us who collect for the emotional kick will be able to enjoy our collections, and, 3 - When we get to the point where we can't take them with us, there will be a lucrative market to benefit our heirs.

[celticguitar666]

as with any hobby you get back what you put into it. I was a vice pres., President of a British car clubs a was member for long while and saw the complexion of the membership change from people who were original owners to newbies both had passion but it was different. I had 3 at one time but now have one and the only reason I have it because I have had since 20,000 miles new. I went through a watch phase and still have a few of those but not very entertaining. My First wind up was as a child an early edison cylinder that my mother took away and put in the basement as it annoyed her and it went to the dump after some time in the basement. my next was a poor condition Columbia floor model that fell apart as was sent to dump as well sadly I was about 25
Now I have Victrola VViXa that is great original condition with a rebuilt soundbox that sounds wondrful that I bought 25 years ago that sat for 20 of those and a Edison Amberola 30 I just bought that I am reconditioning that plays well too I have a pretty good collection of records besides my vinyl( biggest chunk 3000+) small by seriuos collectors standards but I am getting more serious as time goes on and only buying the better stuff. it has early per 1910 up It is an entertaining hobby my brother is into also and more intense about than I am so we keep each enthused by sharing our finds. My next adventure I hope will be a Edison DD player to round things out for acoustic records I have two more modern but still 1970's TT's for playing the later electrics
Well it's enthuism will wax and wain with time and other aspects of life butting in. I won't retire on it but my younger wife might cash in when I die and my 10 yo son likes them too. I t is good fun and the internet helps with info meeting people, etc. I think this is much better than a club
Dwight