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Well, Fellow Collectors...despite my best efforts, after winning the first 3 auctions, I lost out on one auction to one other collector who wanted the horn. I won the Diamond A reproducer, the top works and motor, and the horn elbow. But, despite placing a relatively high amount on the horn, I was outbid on it. Given that the seller said she wouldn't break up the machine only if one buyer wins all of the auctions, I didn't take a chance and bid on the rest like the lid and door and find that she backed out on the cabinet on a technicality of the offer. Also, I wasn't sure how hard it would be to get a replacement horn. So, I decided to cut my losses and stop the effort. I am sorry that I wasn't able to pull this off...I thought 535 dollars was high enough for the horn....maybe I should have gone higher! C'est la Vie:-(

Sorry, young Todd, I couldn't get it done and I was looking forward to holding for you till you can afford it:-)

Anil aka Slaton

I'm so sorry that this didn't happen. I just can't believe there are people out there that care nothing about preserving our history. Thank you Slaton for trying. Jan.

Anil,

Yours was a very generous attempt to try to save this machine. So sad to see that in the end greed and downright stupidity won out in this case.

Anil,

I am a deeply religious man and believe that when you least expect it, you will be rewarded for attempting to do the right thing.
If nothing else, you've won the admiration and respect of the many collectors on this forum.
I hope you find an original tinfoil phonograph at a neighborhood garage sale next weekend!

-Gene

Anil,

I too am sad, disheartened, and a little angry, but I'm hoping that No. 304 can still be saved - - at least 95% of it.

I'm hoping the seller would provide you with everything but the horn, should you win the other parts. After all, your bidding certainly hasn't done him any harm. I'd encourage you to contact the seller about the parts that closed with no bids, and bid on those that remain. I'm guessing that the remaining parts should not be in high demand.

But here's the real question: Does someone have an original horn for an Amberola III that they would sell?

If so, please make it known!

Barring that, do any of us know a competent sheet metal worker that could replicate the horn?

The substitution of a horn, especially an original or even a good reproduction horn, shouldn't dictate the end of this machine.

George P.

George, based on your suggestion, I went back to the seller to see if she would still honor the original deal even if I missed one item...she said if I win the rest, she will honor. I agreed to buy the unsold lid and let's hope I don't get outbid on the last 2 items. One has a bid so not sure how high that bidder will go or if new bidders will come...we will know soon enough!

Bless you, Anil.

We'll get a horn for you by hook or by crook. Well, let's stick to the hook... There's already been a crook involved!

George P.

Anil,

You did a nobel thing! I applaud you for it!

My suggestion would be to have the seller contact the buyer of the horn. The horn buyer may just be trying to upgrade a flaked horn. If possible you may be able to get the lesser horn, (which you could get "Farmerized"), and still have a whole machine.

Good Luck, Bob S.

Zwebie wrote: My suggestion would be to have the seller contact the buyer of the horn. The horn buyer may just be trying to upgrade a flaked horn. If possible you may be able to get the lesser horn, (which you could get "Farmerized"), and still have a whole machine.

Good grief - why didn't I think of that? Bob, you're a genius!

And just to be sure everyone's on the same page, Anil has managed to purchase all the parts to Amberola III No.304 - except the horn. He managed to save the machine for posterity, and simultaneously create the most famous Amberola III in the world!

Congratulations to Anil, and to the readers of this forum who helped him save No.304. Despite my disappointment about the horn, I'm very happy that the machine has indeed been saved. Now if Bob's idea bears fruit, the machine will be complete again.

Good karma to you all - -

George P.

I applaud your effort to save the machine. It would seem you have (less the horn). The seller did very well on her sale and by causing such a stir. Have you thought about having her contact the winner of the horn to see if they would consider forgoing the sale??. If they are made aware you have all the rest.....who knows. I know my friend near there passed altogether when she would not sell as a whole.
Congrats again on trying to save a great machine.... .