The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Valecnik wrote:I have multiple machines purchased over the last 7 or 8 years that I probably would not be able to sell for the purchase price. I' ve always been willing to pay "top buck" for something really nice. Even if I do not get all my money back I've still had the pleasure of owning, playing with them for a period of time.

Ronnie, I think you should try to sell it to Bruce.

I have always gotten good prices when buying, some from members off this board. I have been to the shows at NC, FLA, and Union. Dealers prices and auction prices are two different animals. The only reason I asked to start with is I had some members asking me if I would sell it. I don't want to give someone an inflated price.

Valecnik wrote:I have multiple machines purchased over the last 7 or 8 years that I probably would not be able to sell for the purchase price. I' ve always been willing to pay "top buck" for something really nice. Even if I do not get all my money back I've still had the pleasure of owning, playing with them for a period of time.

That should be the essence of collecting. It was driven home to me some years back when first visiting the wonderfully knowledgeable Aaron Cramer, who had a truly fantastic collection of phonographs and related items. After giving me a lengthy tour, our discussion turned to the business end of things as I was primarily a music box dealer at the time and trying to learn the relative value of phonographs. He said simply: "Raphael, everything you see here I paid through the nose for". And he was proud of that. A truly wise man, RIP.

Raphael