Al Jolson's Phonograph

[brianu]

with all due respect, you can be here to learn and seek or extend help all you want, but your purpose seems pretty clear that you're just looking to sell something to make some money. and no one's faulting you for that, but at least acknowledge it for what it is. and few sellers really mention personal need or hardship issues when selling something for any reason other than to better their chances for a sale by exploiting a potential buyer's emotions or sentimentality. it's really just irrelevant. but regarding that, do what you will.

beyond that, again, regardless of the names and the story, you've got no documentation to verify the alleged provenance of this machine and trace it back to jolson. and even if it came from some family member of jolson (via an auction), however distant, that's a far cry from it coming from the man himself. so of course people are going to question its authenticity, and you should just expect that rather than get defensive and go on and on about how insulted you are.

[JerryVan]

Mr. Credenza,

That kind of "research" you've done borders on being just a little spooky. Do you also know what Mike had for lunch yesterday?

So the guy thinks he has Jolson's phonograph. He gets ridiculed for stating this. He can't prove it to some of your satisfactions. Neither can any of you prove he's wrong. He believes he is right, some believe he is wrong. Your claims are as unsupported as his. Let anyone who cares about Jolson enough to even consider this purchase figure it out to their own satisfaction.

[beaumonde]

Brian has clearly indicated the problems with this item. Obviously, Mike, you have no real provenance other than a long chain of word of mouth (he said, she said, he said, etc.), no documentation that will hold up to the scrutiny of knowledgeable collectors. I am speaking respectfully (I hope).

[Wolfe]

Interesting that Jolson never recorded for Victor, yet owned a Victrola..

Actually, Jolie DID record for Victor-his earliest records, in fact. I'm thinking of "That Lovin' Traumerei", for one,from 1912. Victor 17119-B. There are more, but titles escape me at the moment. However, that Victor portable is from the mid to late 1920s, long after Jolson had recorded for Victor & had passed through the Columbia & Brunswick studios as well.

One learns something new every day! I did not know that. I have never seen a Jolson Victor. Black 'Patents' label?

He had made several good selling records in the short time he was at Victor (at the end of the 'oughts.) Among them The Spaniard That Blighted My Life, That Haunting Melody and Ragging The Baby To Sleep.


It's not impossible that the owner of the phono was a different Al Jolson, from Anytown, U.S.A.

[1926CredenzaOwner]

Mr. Credenza,

That kind of "research" you've done borders on being just a little spooky. Do you also know what Mike had for lunch yesterday?

So the guy thinks he has Jolson's phonograph. He gets ridiculed for stating this. He can't prove it to some of your satisfactions. Neither can any of you prove he's wrong. He believes he is right, some believe he is wrong. Your claims are as unsupported as his. Let anyone who cares about Jolson enough to even consider this purchase figure it out to their own satisfaction.

Well... Mr.Van,
No, I can't tell you what Mike had for lunch yesterday, because that doesn't come up under a simple Google search. When you plaster your name all over the internet trying to sell a $200.00 item at $3,500... somebody's bound to do some simple research on you and find everything you've ever posted to check that person's credibility.
Buddy, once you put it on the internet... it's public information. Information, I might add, that took me all of five minutes to find.
In regards to your comments about proving it's not Al Jolson's gramophone... that's not my job. The burden of proof lies with the seller, of which he has none. Also, every single thing I said can be supported by fact or simple logic, so I don't know where you're coming up with these "unsupported claims" you speak of.

...and now the little Victor comes from an auction where it was consigned by an unknown family member of Jolson.

[Mike McKelvy]

So what did you find out about me on Google that is so bad? That I bought a shirt for $139.00? Sounds like a stalker type situation to me.

[brianu]

stalking? I think he did what anyone would have done who was curious about this find of yours... do some google searching for that model machine with reference to jolson ownership, etc. obviously that would bring up the posts you made here and on other boards. and you were selling it on ebay, why wouldn't a buyer - who's considering such an expensive, specialized purchase lacking in solid authentication - look at other things the seller (you) has bought and sold on ebay?

it's probably best to just let this nonsense go at this point. unless of course you're into such bickering, in which case carry on I guess. but no one here is likely to buy this phonograph of yours, at least for more than the standard price for the machine itself, a couple hundred bucks, and I'd imagine even the likelihood of that would only be diminishing as this thread continues growing in the way that it has been.

[Mike McKelvy]

brianu, your point is valid about doing research about what type of seller I am, but why even bring up that I bought a shirt for a certain amount of money????? What does THAT have to do with this subject????? Why does that have to be posted here????? Yes talk about my feedback or any bad things in my selling practices, if you think there are any, but bringing up my purchasing history is just plaid childish. Don't say I won't sell this. You or I don't know if I will sell this or not.

[Jerry B.]

Everyone please STOP!

[1926CredenzaOwner]

So what did you find out about me on Google that is so bad? That I bought a shirt for $139.00? Sounds like a stalker type situation to me.

You're right, Mike. I am a stalker, but I only stalk people who have owned Al Jolson's gramophones. Looks like you're stuck with me until you sell it. (At $3,500, you'll be stuck with me forever!)

Just to show you how easy it was to find all this stuff, type "Al Jolson's Phonograph" into a Google search bar. One better, type it in with your full name. (Here's a little tip for you Mike: Don't ever use your last name on an internet forum.)

brianu, your point is valid about doing research about what type of seller I am, but why even bring up that I bought a shirt for a certain amount of money????? What does THAT have to do with this subject????? Why does that have to be posted here????? Yes talk about my feedback or any bad things in my selling practices, if you think there are any, but bringing up my purchasing history is just plaid childish. Don't say I won't sell this. You or I don't know if I will sell this or not.

I posted that because you were complaining about being "bad off financially." Your recent purchase history on eBay indicates that you are not, therefore one can assume that you are using this tactic to garner a higher price for your item. Sellers do it all the time when they're trying to sell something, and it really has nothing to do at all with the item. Truthfully... I did think twice about posting the link to draw attention to that purchase, but generally, people who are "very bad off financially" do not spend $139.00 on a single shirt.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a gentleman in Florida who has Jolson's Brunswick "Cortez," and I'm sure he's missing me right about now.