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Iva wrote:actually he said he had others in his collection. It was my idea that he may be willing to sell something else, but he said he isn't ready to get rid of them yet.

I still plan to go see him and see his collection...and make an offer on it. I really dont plan to go over 500.00. I have been reading up and bookmarking links and again thanks for heading me in some kind of negotiating way.

I over all don't feel this is a bad machine for what it is and if I can get it for 500.00 I believe I may purchase it.

If I can get machines without horns for around 350.00. and still have to pay to send it to me...

I don't see how getting a horn and the attachment along with 10 cylinders and someone to hand show me how to use it right...is such a bad deal at $500.00. I don't want to just walk away sight unseen.

Isn't anyone one my side on this? $500.00?

Iva, we're on your side. That's why we don't want to see you make a mistake. From the pictures, the quality of the restoration this guy did looks mediocre at best and he wants way too much for it. And if it doesn't look like a good job from a distance in a photo, it will look even worse in person up close. I'd rather have an all original machine without a horn for 350 than a botched restoration for 500 that was "tuned". As for having someone show you how to operate it, they aren't hard to figure out and there is plenty of information online.

It can be frustrating being a novice collector and continually running into overpriced machines. We were all in your shoes once. But, most of us were patient and that patience eventually pays off. We know you are in a rural area. But, in addition to looking at ebay and craigslist, start looking into estate auctions, particularly those held at older homesteads. Edison sold thousands of cylinder phonos all across the country and many of them have survived. At least half of the phonos that I have found in the "wild" have come from estates in rural areas.

Iva,
Don't you just love threads such as this?? Truth of the matter is...you will get as many different opinions as there are people that will be willing to give them. You were already brave enough to state that your intentions with your purchase is not necessarily financially/economically/profit-driven motivated. You are looking to acquire something that you can not only enjoy yourself, but can also hand down to your children in time. All too often, in this competitive hobby that we share, what is in the heart becomes replaced with greed, and quantity, and dollar signs.
As many of the Forum members have mentioned, continue to educate yourself. For years when I first started collecting, I could barely afford the gasoline that it took to travel to a flea market or an auction. Most of what I bought was a slice of cherry pie or a cup of coffee. But the most important thing that I came away with was the priceless education that cost me only the price of traveling to that market or that auction. Along the way, you will cross paths with those that you can trust, and those that crawl closest to the ground. What may be a treasure to you, can possibly be culled aside, or ridiculed by someone else. You never know...maybe this phonograph fever that is churning inside you now is just the stepping stone to catapult you into another collecting direction. As long as it does not consume you to the point of greed and dishonesty like it has so many others, you should survive just fine. Which now brings me to the Edison home that you have been so seriously considering here. The seller is either inexperienced, or dishonest...period. As long as you proceed with this in mind, I wish you the best of luck. Lastly...if you ever venture away from that beautiful state that you live in and head eastward into the midwest, let me know. I would be willing to let you look over a good selection of quality Edison cylinder machines and possibly let you have one to take home with you.

I do appreciate what your all saying..but I'm not sure if you are being completely open minded or are folks getting more stuck on the idea that this guy is trying to pull something over on me.


so lets say I jumped into the bid for the player in ebay ..and got it for 350.00 which is about what they are going for if not more.
I have to pay 22.00 for shipping. I didn't get to see it hands on...may not even be getting the machine that is shown in the picture. I could be damaged in shipping.
Or it could arrive on with no problems. cost 372.00

So now I have it..and I may have to ship it to get it fixed, and that much be, lets see $44.00.
to send it there and to have it sent back.
so now I'm at 416.00. Depends on what the cost to "fix" it I'm guessing 100.00.

Now I'm at 516.00

But wait...I still need a horn. that can cost anywhere from 70.00 for a absolutely junked out one to 400.00 on up for a good one.

Lets just get the junked out one. I'm at 576.00 now....and I still have to refinish the case.

The one I'm looking at...the pictures are terrible, however the The machine sounds legit...I just don't think he knows what he's talking about.
It looks to be a very clean Model B player with the 2 or 4 min player added to it. It has a good horn.It has an H reproducer and I was going to talk to him about getting a 2 min C one if he had one.

I will walk away if I can't get it low enough. It's not that I have my heart set on buying it. But something tells me to give it a look. I may be surprised..and it may lead into something more.

I've been watching the ebay prices and so far none are worth the expense of buying one sight unseen. and most are going for more then what most of you would say you'll pay for one.

Somewhere something isn't adding up.

If your saying his refinish job has "ruined" the player...that just seems odd. I can refinish it.
The motor and player should be just fine I would think.

so now we're down to 250.00? yikes....this guy is going to break down in tears.

Thanks so much in helping me get this figured out.

Iva, I think only you can make the decision on whether you will buy this machine or pass on it. That being said, I think most of the collectors on this forum are just giving their opinion on how they would view this machine if it were offered to them. Each of us makes our own decisions as to what is or what is not acceptable when it comes to machine condition, refinishing, original or repro parts, etc. Most of us are also limited by the amount of funds we have to spend as well. I know that I have purchased machines in the past that I now I wish I had passed on but, I figure it was a learning experience and hopefully I'll make a better choice next time. You asked for opinions. You got them. Take them or leave them as you will. Only you know what will make YOU happy. Happy collecting, Jan.

and I want to thank EVERY ONE for their inputs on this and helping me understand so much more on these.

I'm still not sure if I will buy it or not. I do want to go see it and make and offer. I wouldn't of known what to offer without all your help so again THANKS ! :) If I get it I will post pics.

You should definitely take a look at this post before deciding anything: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 14&t=15789

Andreas

welp..the player is gone. It sat online for 5 months...and when I ask about it...it's gone.

See how it goes...I should of kept my mouth shut.

Iva, I send a PM (personal message). Did you see it? Jerry

Iva wrote:welp..the player is gone. It sat online for 5 months...and when I ask about it...it's gone.

See how it goes...I should of kept my mouth shut.

Don't worry about it - there will be another that you'll probably be happier with!

Jerry B. wrote:Iva, I send a PM (personal message). Did you see it? Jerry

Hello Jerry...not seeing anything in my PM from ya...It must not of gotten through. try again?

He may of just taken it down because he is heading out of town. My mind was just bummed before I thought about that.