The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

JerryVan wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 10:15 am

If we could buy all that we wanted, with no spending limits, what fun would that be?

Interesting observation. I bet that I had more fun years ago with my little boat than the super-rich do with their 400' megayachts. Thus, the old saying: "Money can't buy happiness".

Raphael

In my opinion, there are two kinds of collectors. One class collects at the stroke of a checkbook. The other, more humble, like me, has achieved a beautiful collection through patience and over many years. To the young collectors I want to say that throughout their lives they will be surprised by the pieces that they will have acquired and that at the moment may seem impossible. And also, I believe, that a good collection does not depend on the number of pieces, but on their importance.
As to the question, what will happen to our collection once we are no longer there? My wife once told me: What is important are the experiences you have had in the search, repair and study of these beautiful and important pieces of the beginnings of telecommunications.
Personally, I would like to acquire a COLUMBIA ROSENFIELD and also an EDISON MANHATTAN. Why not? But I am perfectly happy with the pieces I have.

Ferran

Another strategy is to buy "basket cases" and restore them ourselves, acquiring missing parts over time. Other collectors may even donate parts or sell them cheap -- that has been my experience recently. And much appreciated!

Recent phonograph auctions feature lots of quality machines selling for low dollars -- usually minus the horns. And of course there is shipping and buyer's premium.

ducretet wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:16 pm
Personally, I would like to acquire a COLUMBIA ROSENFIELD

Ferran

Ferran,

There's two sitting here, one with your name on it, haha.

Raphael

mjbarnes wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 3:22 pm Another strategy is to buy "basket cases" and restore them ourselves, acquiring missing parts over time. Other collectors may even donate parts or sell them cheap -- that has been my experience recently. And much appreciated!

Recent phonograph auctions feature lots of quality machines selling for low dollars -- usually minus the horns. And of course there is shipping and buyer's premium.

Heck, some the stuff I have I had to swap 'n switch parts but they are still common machines that weren't in working order when I got them, but now they do.(VV 8-4, Columbia Q, Edison B-19, Standard X, Edison Standard E) Can't wait to do that with something REALLY desirable But the issue is that I have to go to a auction or a show for that desirable but basket case machine...transportation is a GIANT issue for me. you don't drive? Too bad. Of all the phobias I had to get, it had to be Vehophobia.

Raphael wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 3:56 pm

ducretet wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:16 pm
Personally, I would like to acquire a COLUMBIA ROSENFIELD

Ferran

Ferran,

There's two sitting here, one with your name on it, haha.

Raphael

JerryVan wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 9:27 am

Lah Ca wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:53 am I would like a nice internal exponential-ish horn machine with a great reproducer sound box. It isn't that I can't afford such a machine. It is more that I don't have physical room for one. And curiously, I generally find the cabinets that these later machines live in less stylistically attractive than simpler earlier machines.

And having heard a fellow CAPS members' EMG machine, I wouldn't mind having one of those. But .... I am not likely to find one, nor am I likely to be able to afford one if I did find it, and I still wouldn't have space for it.

A Victor Orthophonic 8-12, or an 8-9, is a fairly compact machine. The 8-12 are fairly common, but finding one with a decent finish is a trick.

Thank you for the advice. I don't recall seeing either the 8-12 or the 8-9 in any listings here. There are other Orthophonic machines that pop up now and then in varying conditions at modest costs, sometimes even in almost NOS condition with records and free to boot.

My current understanding is that both HMV and Brunswick also made internal exponential-ish horn machines. Floor model HMV machines of any kind are very rare here. Brunswick Panatrope (Orthophonic by another name?) machines seem relatively common and are often in the sub-$200 CDN range with records and paraphernalia.

If I get rid of my piano, I might have room. I love the piano, but it has been sadly neglected since my wife retired. Never a true piano player, I used to use it for voice and theory-ish practice when I was home on my own.

My dream machine would be a Conn Double Bell Wonder!

Cheers, Bob S.

Zwebie wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2024 10:40 am My dream machine would be a Conn Double Bell Wonder!

Cheers, Bob S.

That looks even older than the Kalamazoo Duplex!

Probably an Edison wax cylinder phonograph from 1897 with both a recorder and a reproducer so that I can play my 2 minute cylinders and record my blanks.