Just Amazing

[SonnyPhono]

Now $134,000 would be a steal...

[brianu]

ok, same seller but now with a more modestly priced, yet seemingly excessively overpriced, machine...

http://cgi.ebay.com/MIGION-NIRONA-TYPE- ... 3efbc0328e

I've seen these on ebay and elsewhere before and they always seem to sell well, but I don't recall seeing any sell for more than $300 or $350 tops. and I can appreciate the premium that some sellers will charge for restoration and all that that they do... but this one is obviously completely original, in the sense that you're getting the dried cracked gaskets, corrosion and everything.

[JohnM]

ok, same seller but now with a more modestly priced, yet seemingly excessively overpriced, machine...

http://cgi.ebay.com/MIGION-NIRONA-TYPE- ... 3efbc0328e

I've seen these on ebay and elsewhere before and they always seem to sell well, but I don't recall seeing any sell for more than $300 or $350 tops. and I can appreciate the premium that some sellers will charge for restoration and all that that they do... but this one is obviously completely original, in the sense that you're getting the dried cracked gaskets, corrosion and everything.

How can you put a price on that kind of authenticity?

[gramophoneshane]

That's about the right price for one over here. Maybe he's hoping for an overseas buyer?

*edit..no, it's only listed for USA. it doesn't run well either

[SonnyPhono]

I don't know what this has to do with this thread, but I wanted to vent for a second. I just got home from a local auction and bid on three things. I only won one of them. It's an original nipper in good condition that I wanted because I don't have one.

But now I am regretting not bidding higher on the other items. One was a wondertone. It was a small phonograph that appeared to be mahogany but was painted tin. It was small like the one posted above and worked great. I let it go for $90 and now wished I had gone higher.

But I am regretting not bidding higher on the last of the three items I went to try to win. It was a Columbia Graphophone Type AW. I did a little research and found that they are not common at all and are hard to find with the correct reproducer. This one had everything correct on it and was in great shape. No problems with the cabinet, the bedplate looked nice, nickel parts were clean and decals were superb. I went to $850 and had to stop there. It was me and another gentleman bidding from the start and he left with it for $875. Should I be kicking myself or was it a good idea to stop there? I feel like I may have missed a great find.

[bbphonoguy]

First of all, this one's to Sonnyphono (great name by the way!), sorry about your regrets regarding the auction items. It's difficult sometimes to gauge how much one should spend at an auction, given the fact that emotions can sometimes run high while bidding, and we all probably fear spending too much, only to walk away wishing we'd spent more. The only thing I've found that helps me is to look ahead and figure whether I'll still be caring about whether or not I bought it after a couple of months have passed (believe it or not, I've gotten fairly good at this). Anyway, if my attitude is "I won't care that I spent the money, I'll be glad to have this item" then I'll get it. If my attitude is "I'll be dusting this thing wondering why on earth I wasted the dough on it", then I don't get it.

About the Mignon; what a charming machine! I'm afraid though, at this price, I would wind up dusting it and wondering why I wasted the dough on it. At a lesser price, I'd be thrilled to get it.

[barnettrp21122]

I don't know what this has to do with this thread, but I wanted to vent for a second. I just got home from a local auction and bid on three things. I only won one of them. It's an original nipper in good condition that I wanted because I don't have one.

But now I am regretting not bidding higher on the other items. One was a wondertone. It was a small phonograph that appeared to be mahogany but was painted tin. It was small like the one posted above and worked great. I let it go for $90 and now wished I had gone higher.

But I am regretting not bidding higher on the last of the three items I went to try to win. It was a Columbia Graphophone Type AW. I did a little research and found that they are not common at all and are hard to find with the correct reproducer. This one had everything correct on it and was in great shape. No problems with the cabinet, the bedplate looked nice, nickel parts were clean and decals were superb. I went to $850 and had to stop there. It was me and another gentleman bidding from the start and he left with it for $875. Should I be kicking myself or was it a good idea to stop there? I feel like I may have missed a great find.

I'm often the under-bidder, either at live auctions or Ebay. While you lose the item for whatever the next-advanced bid was, you never know how far the other bidder has determined to go to win something. The more informed you are of current auction prices the less likely you'll be second-guessing yourself afterwards. I also agree with bbphonoguy's thoughts on how you'll feel after the sale, win or lose.
Bob

[FellowCollector]

SonnyPhono, I'm sorry to hear that you lost out on that Columbia AW. In my opinion anything under 1200 would have been a steal for that one. That's a very hard one to find as you stated and the cabinet is simply gorgeous. The unusual reproducer also makes for a nice bonus. It'll likely be a long time before another one surfaces particularly for that price. But who knows how deep thst other guy's pockets were to get it? You went up to your comfort level for what you knew about it at that time and I would try to accept that. Best Wishes, Doug