The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A friend sent the results of the Bill Shawver action in Walla Walla, WA that was held on 11/10. In my opinion the sale prices seemed high but I was not at the auction and did not preview the items. Some of the prices are:
Victor School model with oak horn - $2200
Triumph with wood cygnet - $3500 (one Triumph was housed in an Idealia case. Don't know if it was this one.)
Vic V with metal horn - $1200
Col AH - $800
Vic IV with metal horn - $1100
Fireside with metal horn - $800
Regina Hexaphone - $13,500
Replica Bergmann tin foil made by Ptacek - $15,500
Replica Brady tin foil made by Ptacek - $3500
Replica Kreusi tin foil made by Stehlik - $1700
Vic III with metal horn - $1000
Vic E with metal horn - $650
Vic 1 with metal horn - $750
Col BGT with mahogany wood horn - $2000
Vic M with oak horn - $1700
Edison A-150 DD - $200
Several pink Lamberts sold for $250 to $275 each
Vogues sold for $25 to $50 each
Record cabinet sold for $200 to $1000 each




Jerry Blais

According to the live auctioneer website, one of the tin foil reproductions (Bergmann replica made by Ptacek)went for $15,500. Is that reasonable for a high end replica?

TAP, I posted more sale prices including the three replica tin foil machines. I examined the Bergmann tin foil when I visited with Bill and the craftsmanship and attention to detail was beyond amazing. I don't feel educated enough on tin foil prices to comment on the sale price but I suspect it was a good value. Perhaps someone that has experience with tinfoils and replica examples with share their expertise. Jerry

Also, I should have mentioned that the actual sale prices I posted did not reflect the additional 10% buyers premium and 16% for on line bidders. Jerry

The Bergmann repro sold for a little bit more than I had estimated, but it's a testament to the incredible skill of the late Bill Ptacek that it went so high. His Bergmann replicas are magnificent, and I don't think we'll ever see anyone going to the incredible effort to make such a machine again.

His Brady replica, however, sold for a real bargain price. That surprised me, I figured it would go for at least $6K. It's not as elaborate as a Bergmann but it's probably the most famous tinfoil phonograph in history, with pictures reproduced everywhere. Only two originals exist and unless someone makes a copy from Bill's copy, I seriously doubt there will ever be more. The originals are in the Ford Museum and the Thomas Edison National Historic Park, and are not available for close inspection and measuring anymore. Bill and I had unprecedented access to both of them 10 or more years ago but those days are gone, I'm sad to say.

TinfoilPhono wrote: I seriously doubt there will ever be more.

There will be more if demand exists. A replica has little or no collectors value as its number can be increased at will.