The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

flashpanblue wrote:Hi Tino,
If you were 15 years old in 1889 doesn't that make you 126 years old now!!

I think he meant 1989.

marcapra wrote:

-Nick Hoffmann (the 13 year old collector )

I didn't think it was even possible for there to be a 13 year old collector!

I started collecting when I was twelve. It was like the Dark Ages back then, there was little information to be had. In fact, my only source to begin with was articles by Jim Walsh in Hobbies Magazine. Then I found two books "From Tinfoil to Stereo" and "The Fabulous Phonograph". Worse, I grew up in the South, a poor place to find phonographs, compared to Michigan or the Northeast. As an adult, my first trip to the Union swapmeet was a real eye-opener. Finally, the Internet has kicked this hobby into high gear. It is a fantastic time for youngsters to start collecting the more common machines and records.

VintageTechnologies wrote:

marcapra wrote:

-Nick Hoffmann (the 13 year old collector )

I didn't think it was even possible for there to be a 13 year old collector!

I started collecting when I was twelve. It was like the Dark Ages back then, there was little information to be had. In fact, my only source to begin with was articles by Jim Walsh in Hobbies Magazine. Then I found two books "From Tinfoil to Stereo" and "The Fabulous Phonograph". Worse, I grew up in the South, a poor place to find phonographs, compared to Michigan or the Northeast. As an adult, my first trip to the Union swapmeet was a real eye-opener. Finally, the Internet has kicked this hobby into high gear. It is a fantastic time for youngsters to start collecting the more common machines and records.

I've been collecting since I was 8 but I'm now 13 soon to be 14. I will be going to Union this year by the way.

flashpanblue wrote:Hi Tino,
If you were 15 years old in 1889 doesn't that make you 126 years old now!!

damn typo's but hey! they happen!!

ps that makes me 140 according to the typo

tino

In answer to the questions:

1.Prices seem to be less than they were, but when I began collecting in 1969, prices on some phonographs were quite nice. However, I had a limited income as a high school student. I remember buying acoustic records for between 20 and 50 cents each. One antique shop had an Amberola 30 for $69.95 (interesting amount).

2. I am 62 and glad that young collectors are interested in the hobby. I occasionally send free records to young collectors to give them a start in the hobby. I have a VV-2-35 that I might sell also. The posts of several young collectors recently have been great!

Don Montgomery

What were the questions again?



1. I haven't been collecting all that long, so can't really speak to the lower prices compared with the past. I did however go
to Stanton's last year with a seasoned veteran and he was quite surprised by the value of cylinder machines. That was at an auction
mind you, but the disc machines still seemed to fetch 'retail value'.

2. I'm ONLY 42 years old and am happy to see that makes me one of the 'younger' collectors.
Yeah, yeah, I know... I'm not 'Grumpy-boy' young, but possibly young enough to take some free machines off you older dudes.