The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Norman,
I personally, do not think of your cylinders as "reproductions". Rather, they are currently produced originals with period music. There were never any original period cylinders made like yours, so yours are unique... I like the idea of being able to play your cylinders without the concern for breaking 100+ year old period recordings. As far as the music goes, apparently there are some "collectors/investors" who are control freaks and don't like the idea that anyone can play certain titles without spending big bucks. I think that in the future, your cylinders will be equally desirable, if not more so, than period records. If someone took newly made, or for that matter old wax blanks, copied period music on them and passed them as originals for big bucks, then that is a "reproduction". Just my 2 cents...
Curt

Did you notice the pricing methods of gottabemine1? He first offered # 5360 Hallelujah by the Golden Gate Orchestra for $75. The cylinder didn't sell. He then listed it for $9.99, but shortly afterwards increased the minimum bid to $49.99 with $299 buy-it-now option. Does he implement a strange system to squeeze out maximum prices or is he already panicking due to the cylinder reproduction "threat"?

I don't want to "judge" a man that I've never met personally, but my previous experiences with people panicking and raging for matters that most (if not all) other people perceived as an enrichment and a joy tells me that this kind of persons are unstable under many other aspects, too.

At least, his "starting bid" craze doesn't take me by surprise.

Thank you for your thoughts, Curt. I would have more gone for the counterfeit, if someone sold new copies as originals. In general, to me the word "reproduction" is not a negative term at all but simply indicates the origin of an item. Your theory of a control freak syndrome is quite plausible and I can clearly imagine someone having a grudge on others who brazenly by-passed themselves to the privilege of enjoying highly sought-after titles on their machines for fraction of what deep pocket buyers once paid for. But the preservation of the originals is quite high on my priority list, for which these new cylinders should be a considerable help.

..

I just took a look at that Hallelujah BA. Indeed, that one used to be $9.99 ... Changing the terms over and over is likely going to alienate potential bidders than attracting them. Not only higher beings work in mysterious ways.

WDC wrote:Thank you for your thoughts, Curt. I would have more gone for the counterfeit, if someone sold new copies as originals. In general, to me the word "reproduction" is not a negative term at all but simply indicates the origin of an item. Your theory of a control freak syndrome is quite plausible and I can clearly imagine someone having a grudge on others who brazenly by-passed themselves to the privilege of enjoying highly sought-after titles on their machines for fraction of what deep pocket buyers once paid for. But the preservation of the originals is quite high on my priority list, for which these new cylinders should be a considerable help.

..

I just took a look at that Hallelujah BA. Indeed, that one used to be $9.99 ... Changing the terms over and over is likely going to alienate potential bidders than attracting them. Not only higher beings work in mysterious ways.

Norman, you are right... "counterfeit" is the correct term...

I agree with the others responding on this one! The behavior of the person listing the original cylinders is just plain stupid. As others have stated, it is easy to tell the reproduced cylinders from the originals. The quantities of new cylinders produced is so tiny that it does not affect the value of the originals. I am glad that there are those out there who will make new cylinders. As for the eBay seller, some people are legends in their own mind! Enough said on that one!