The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I got so much grief about drilling out records to fit on a Standard Model X I am now wondering if I might be better off turning down the spindle to the "normal" size. Has anyone ever done that? I am not sure if that is a solid brass spindle or if it is hollow? By doing this, it leaves regular 78 rpm records unmolested and increases the market for Standard records since this machine won't play them any more.

Dave D

I wouldn't do that- once you make a major modification like that the machine will never be original again - it will always be "A Standard that someone f*cked up in 2013" Get some Standard discs for it, and play your other records on something else.

Dave, why not just appreaciate the Standard for what it is, play your Standard records on it, and play the regular 78s on something else designed to play them? That way the Standard and the records will be preserved for those to come who will appreciate them in unmolested form.

Clay

Based on your initial record thread "adding records so I can get more money when I sell it". I would just list it for what it is. Not as what you make it. The fact is and as you stated....these models do not command a huge dollar. Nor will adding records change things in that respect. However, modifying the machine will certainly make it worth even less.

I agree with what's been said about not modifying the original turntable. I would rather use the originality of the bigger spindle as a selling point and a chance to tell the story of the Standard Talking Machine Co and the concept of scheme machines and selling through incompatibility. Everyone will immediately draw the connection to nowadays and will be amazed that this was already common 100 years ago. This makes the machine more interesting and people love to own something with a story. You can probably get a few Standard records for cheap to sell with the machine if you want. Or you can get a regular Columbia style turntable for cheap and modify it to allow for regular records.

From my experiance, most people who would buy a small machine like this will not use it to listen to 100s of records. It is more for decoration and as conversation object, so they will love the story.

Good luck
Andreas

Standard records turn up on eBay with some regularity and having 2 or 3 to go with the machine would likely help the sale. I agree with Andreas. I've noticed that things on eBay (for example) often bring a much better price if there is a well-written amd interesting background story to go with it.

Clay

I also agree that modifying the machine will reduce it's value and also that you could pick up a few Standard discs on eBAY pretty inexpensivly. Offering it with a few of the correct "Standard" records might increase the sale value a bit.

Most people who would contemplate buying this machine would want to demonstrate it with proper large spindle records. Also, these machines are somewhat noisy by nature and have small motors. Your potential purchaser is not likely to be someone seeking to optimize his/her listening experience imho.

I agree that the whole story of saving coupons to earn this machine is a great selling point and I promise not to modify the turntable. I will see if I can find some Standard records and just leave everything unmolested. I hope to have it all cleaned up and running by April.

Some people have lots of money to spend on their phonos, but I am not one of them. I just wanted to sell a surplus machine to raise a little cash for Union in June. Buying another turntable cuts into the profit, which of course, is going against the motivation for selling. Leaving things as they are and telling a good story is the best (and easiest) way to go.

Dave D

My Standard A has a halfway turned-down spindle: the lower portion fits a Standard record and the upper fits a 'regular' 78. One simply leaves a Standard record on the turntable & puts a normal 78 on top ! An extra thick rubber turntable mat would probably work, too.

Dave,

You might post a listing in the Yankee Trader section at a price you are happy with and see where it goes. Nothing lost if it doesn't sell for what you need to get. I have not been in this hobby long, and don't pretend to know all that much, but I usually list there before going to eBay. Sometimes there are takers, sometimes not. Worth trying. My 2 cents.

Matt