Antique Phonographs not a high demand

[phonojim]

A hammer to get the fuel pump started is a necessity for sure!

Jim
Former owner of '62 Sprite, '76 Midget and '74 (chrome bumpers)MGB.

[BwanaJoe]

A hammer to get the fuel pump started is a necessity for sure!

Jim
Former owner of '62 Sprite, '76 Midget and '74 (chrome bumpers)MGB.

Ahhh, another masocist. Duct tape, wire, a cap and a rotor for long trips. I don't bother bringing the hammer, I use the tire iron!

'72 TR6.

Formerly '71 and '72 TR6. '84 308GTS, '95 M3, '00 MCopue. And my young son wants '68 Spitfire. Yes, I'm not well.

[ambrola]

I think this has been explained before? Rare and top quality machines will always hold their value where the lower end machines will always be in the low budget range. That is why I have to sell my blue chip machines. I can't afford to keep them.

[Edisonfan]

WOW! It seems I got a real discussion, going on here.

So it would seem most people do not want the large floor models, but will go after the smaller machines. The more rare the machine, the more likely it will sell.


Also, I had no idea, the Antique Car Market was in the same boat?


Thank you for all of the comments, and suggestions to everyone on here.

Paul

[Marco Gilardetti]

Dear Paul, I listened to your video and I think that, in the context, what you say is correct.

I wouldn't say that there's not a high demand for gramophones in absolute terms because external horn machines and coloured portables and quality cylinder phonographs are always contended with mercyless bidding wars (from which "normal" people can expect to be always outbid - see this recent thread for a reference).

But you talk about floor stand models if I got you correctly, and it's agreeable to say that these don't have a very wide market except for top-of-the-line models, like the HMV 163 just to mention one. The same is also true for floor-stand tube radios. Most collectors live in small apartments and, after you buy 2-3 perhaps 5 floor standing machines you literally don't know where to put a next one. That's a fact, and that's what limits the market.

I'm a bit puzzled instead by your comments about having had problems selling a tabletop machine on eBay. Nothing goes unnoticed on eBay, and if the price is right it will inevitably sell. But I didn't see your ad so I can't really say what went eventually wrong in that case.

[CarlosV]

So it would seem most people do not want the large floor models, but will go after the smaller machines. The more rare the machine, the more likely it will sell.

It is not so much the rarity, but the the combination of brand name, size, condition and that obscure thing called desirability. Victor machines are more marketable than Columbia, for instance. Edison Gems are not rare, but they became somehow "desirable" some years ago. Many rare machines from obscure brands do not sell at all.

[Edisonfan]

That's because I sold it, in my Parents booth, in an antique mall, and not on eBay, Marco.


Thank You Carlos!

[epigramophone]

A hammer to get the fuel pump started is a necessity for sure!

Jim
Former owner of '62 Sprite, '76 Midget and '74 (chrome bumpers)MGB.

Ahhh, another masocist. Duct tape, wire, a cap and a rotor for long trips. I don't bother bringing the hammer, I use the tire iron!

'72 TR6.

Formerly '71 and '72 TR6. '84 308GTS, '95 M3, '00 MCopue. And my young son wants '68 Spitfire. Yes, I'm not well.

A mobile phone for ANY trips, and a spare reconditioned SU fuel pump on the shelf just in case.

Currently running a 1947 Morris 8 and a 1970 Rover 3.5 Litre Coupe.

Formerly over many years a 1937 Vauxhall 14, 1952 Daimler Consort, 1953 Riley RME, 1955 MG Magnette, 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire, Rover P4 60, 100 and 110......plus one or two horrors which are too painful to recall.

Reminding myself that this is a talking machine forum, I should point out that as I get older I find myself doing less with the cars and more with my gramophone collection, but I still like to have a foot in both camps.

Roger.

[Uncle Vanya]

This isn't just happening with phonographs. I am also into old Model A Fords. Our club membership is doing better than other clubs that have seen their memberships fall. I have been trying to spark some interest in phonographs with younger people. More than once, I have listed a "Free Victrola" on Craigslist. But, the recipient has to be under 18 years old. The last one I gave away went to a 14 year old boy. He came with his Dad from over an hour away. His eyes lit up when he saw it. He actually knew quite a bit about phonographs. I will be posting another "Free Victrola" soon. This time the person has to be under 18 and work on it with me. It needs a new mainspring an I will show them how to put one in and go over how the whole thing works. It is just my small contribution to keep this hobby going. Hopefully others can do the same. Another thing to consider is taking phonographs to display at a library. I have also done this and actually got some good leads from doing it.

Great idea. I too have a Model A, 1930 Roadster. Exciting motoring 50/50 percent chance you will make it back home..

Bill K

I drove a Model T in daily service for many years, and it always got me home. Of course, I never stunted on the regular maintenance. A "Collector Car" which is driven only occasionally can tend to be a bit cranky, even if it has a self-starter.

[Victrolaphile]

Are any antiques really in high demand these days? I think the majority of collectors are seeking things they remember from their childhood; some tangible object that helps revive memories of an idealized time in life.

In the case of antique phonographs, or any antique for that matter, there are very few people who actually remember them from their childhood. Anyone collecting these days must actually have an interest in the time/music/technology for what it is, not because it has any special memories attached to it. That alone will limit the mainstream collectors market to a select few who are more interested in the item/history, than in memories/emotional attachment.