The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am glad to hear the news too!
Now, how do we retrieve our items or have them restored in a reasonable amount of time?
I am at the nine month mark and waiting.
Others seem to be waiting much longer for their items to be completed.
Peter, did your friend reach Mr. Wall on the telephone or see him in person?
Based on the six unanswered emails I've sent over the last two months, I'm guessing your friend did not correspond by email.
I've had no luck reaching Mr. Wall on the telephone either.
Since the voice mailbox is full, it is not possible to leave a message.
I'll keep trying.
At this point, I'd just like my brass sound box back so I can send it to Walt Sommers or someone else who's qualified.

Gene

Update:
After reading (in this thread) that someone spoke to Peter Wall three weeks ago, I've sent several additional emails and made a few more phone calls with no response on his part. It's now been almost four months since he sent an email stating that my reproducer would be done soon. Although I don't particularly like it, I'm not complaining about the ten months of waiting time, just the non-response.
I am now sending a registered letter simply asking for my brass reproducer back. As stated in my emails, I will pay for any work completed, plus the postage.
If I do not get a response to my letter within a month, I will contact the postal authorities to find out how to proceed with a claim of mail fraud (using the US postal service to defraud.)
If the multiple TMF members who are in the same situation would like to join in, please pm your contact information.

Gene

I logged in just now to see if there was a recent Peter Wall thread, and there is!
He's had my HMV 5b reproducer for about 14 months now. The last time I spoke to him, a few months ago, he said he'd get back to me in a week.

SteveM wrote:I logged in just now to see if there was a recent Peter Wall thread, and there is!
He's had my HMV 5b reproducer for about 14 months now. The last time I spoke to him, a few months ago, he said he'd get back to me in a week.

He may have relatives in Luxembourg, the contractor I hired to make a veranda in my backyard was one and a half year late (but completed the work now). As I mentioned in another posting, this hobby requires patience ...

Just a thought, seems so many people also have other jobs and caught up in life. Sometimes it gets in the way of our hobbies. I am not defending or attacking anyone, but sometimes it is that way.

I am afraid if we scream too loud, then what is next? The states may start regulating phonograph repair services requiring a license to work. Indiana repealed their requirements for a licensed radio and tv repairer.

I can see it now.... "Licensed Phonograph and Musicbox Technician", it would be sad as so many of us have been doing this for years.

I hope all the best.....

I am still thinking that there must be something badly wrong that we just don't know about as all this is so inconsistent with Peter's past performance. Does somebody know a friend of his who might have info?

Clay

I do not think anyone I've corresponded with is immune to the fact that life often gets in the way of our hobbies and that repair projects sometimes present unexpected difficulties and challenges that require much more time than expected or promised.
All I am asking for is an acknowledgement of one of my dozen emails and phone calls over the past four months.
I do not want to have to illicit help from a postal inspector or through other legal channels. That's why I am willing to wait an additional month after my letter is sent before moving forward.
I am neither angry, nor am I overly upset. I do however, want my $275 brass Orthophonic sound box back in tact or apart, after I pay for any repair time, parts, a box, bubble wrap, and postage.
A simple (and free) email stating, "I am behind on my repairs due to _____) would have sufficed.
If there is a better, more rational, or more efficient way to go about this (short of flying from NJ to San Francisico to attempt to speak in person), I'm all ears.
To all of the members who have had great results in the past and will continue to use Peter Wall, I sincerely wish you the best outcome.

Gene

I've since bought another HMV 5B as I gig with my machines (which Peter and I discussed at length several times) and these reproducers are more than a hobby, they are part of my livelihood. I'm thinking this one will be a write off, but it would be nice to have it back. Most importantly, of course, I hope Peter is ok. I know he was in pretty bad shape last summer ... unable to walk, etc. and his computer was down.

At one time, I had considered sending one of my Ortho soundboxes to Peter due to the rave reviews of his work. But his track record as a businessman leaves a lot to be desired. This recent string of lengthy delays and non responses is not the first time this has happened.

Bottom line: I won't be sending my soundbox to him.

He is local to me, and I've been to his place a couple of times in the company of another local collector (who is a longtime friend of his).

He is of good character, but has some personal issues that can get in the way of his reliability. I've checked up on him through the other collector, in reaction to this thread. The other collector mentioned that he also has a reproducer in Peter's "pending" pile, for way too long now, but with no remedy.

I'm going to approach the other collector and see if we can set up a visit. If we're successful in doing so, I'll bring with me a list of members' outstanding items, and attempt to recover them for each of you. So please send me a PM with the following info:

- your name
- your shipping address
- list of item(s) you had sent and would like returned
- approximate date each item was sent for repairs
- promised completion date, if stated
- amount of money sent, if any
- photo or serial number(s) or other unique descriptors to help in identification of your item(s)
- any other information that may help in the recovery

If things are found disassembled, I'll do my best to collect all components. I know what to look for but diaphragms and needle bars (etc) are somewhat interchangeable, obviously.

If I'm successful in the mission, we will discuss arrangements on how to get your items back to you at that time.

I'm dubious on the chances of us pulling this off. I know him well enough to be able to say he has not any intention of cheating anyone, nor has he resold your stuff (like others have infamously done in the past). This is highly probably an extreme case of procrastination enhanced by strong personal demons. And as such, he likely believes he's going to get to your stuff really soon, and thus doesn't need to return it.

Let me know if you're interested in having us try.