Hi! I'm new here. Looking for Victrola VE-XVII Value advice?

[FloridaClay]

In answer to a question in this thread, Baumbach's value guide range in "Look for the Dog" is for the most common variety of each model in good original condition; certainly not exotics like a Vernis Martin. For a VV-XVII that would be mahogany. By good original condition, he means an instrumetn well cared for, that is complete, that has its albums if albums were originally supplied, with its original finish, and which works well. Its all laid out in some detail in the book. The XVII originally had eleven 10" albums and five 12" albums (each 10 page albums).

What I don't know is how badly the current financial climate may have effected values. (That might make an interesting seperate topic if anybody has a good feel for it.) The edition of the book showing the value range I mentioned was published in 2005.

Clay

[phonojim]

Basically, any price guide over three minutes old can be trashed in this market. Things are worth what a particular seller and buyer agree on.

Jim

[Jerry B.]

I don't think my Baumbach's copy has the price guide but I suspected it was based on the most common finish. The machine in question in this post is quite a bit more unusual than a mahogany one. That's the reason for such interest in this thread.

[FloridaClay]

Jerry B, yes, certainly. An average range for the most common type within a model can be useful, but only as a beginning reference point. My interest in finding out more picks up when I see an unusual type of a particular model going for what the most common type within that model might bring.

Baumbach's price references are rather subtle, by the way. You will find them (at least in the newer 2005 edition) in the form of a marker printed on a thermometer-like scale printed in the right-hand border of the page about a particular model.

Regards,

Clay

P.S. Just watched from my balcony to see the Space Shuttle go up. Looks like a successful launch so far.

[Jerry B.]

Elkabong, did this machine ever sell? Did you buy it? Jerry Blais

[gramophone78]

Jerry.......you may have missed that another member Altona1 bought it and showed to us all. He also just showed us the Victrola XX that he found a few weeks ago.

[Jerry B.]

Thanks, I saw the XX and the comment about a prior walnut purchase but I didn't connect it with this thread. Jerry

[VintageTechnologies]

Nice looking machine, but not worth $10K! The seller sounds like the type of crackpot that would sit on a machine for 10 years looking for a sucker. I have encountered those kind and usually don't get anywhere with them. It would be worth $1,000 to me and maybe $2000 to you at most. Make an offer and be ready to walk. I would let him and the machine rot before paying more. There are more machines out there.

[1923VictorFan]

What an interesting thread!
The machine is beautiful despite the Scotch-Taped note on the door. LOL When I go into a shop I expect to see the items marked with a price. I'm the same way when I go grocery shopping. No price on the shelf? I keep walking. If this guy really wants to sell he will tag it, even if only to generate questions from interested shoppers.
How are the other items in his store priced? By looking at how he prices the other items in his shop you may get a sense for how reasonably price the Victor will be.

[brianu]

... if you read the thread, you might have noticed that this machine apparently ended up selling after all, and to someone other than the person who started this thread. whether a price is posted or not, it never hurts to make an offer, only to delay doing so for days if not weeks or months.