The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Recently I've read comments that suggested show prices are about the same as antique shop prices. Here are a few of the things I've sold at Union in the last four or five years:

Edison Home, 2&4, with original #10 Cygnet (repro crane) - $800

Mahogany disk record cabinet - $155

Vic IV with large mahogany Victor horn, good original finish - $2000

Victrola XVI, mahogany - $250 ( in fairness this was pre-sold and delivered to Union. I won't haul a big more common item unless it's
pre-sold)

Oak cylinder record cabinet with all the pegs - $600

Small table Symphony disk machine with a half dozen records - $175

Edison long green Model A Home & repro 14" horn - $350

Col Q & repro cone horn - $300

Large eleven panel Columbia nickel horn with screw in small end - $375

Edison Triumph A, excellent original finish & decal - $650

Comments? Thanks, Jerry Blais

These are very fair prices IMHO. I cannot compare to antique store prices, because I have not yet found any antique store or mall with any phonograph that was worth asking for the price. Unfortunately Union is too far away from me, but I'm looking forward to Wayne on Sunday.
Thanks
Andreas

Extremely fair prices!

I don't see items like those in most antique shops and malls. Just junky stuff and common items like no-name portables and VV-IVs and the like. Yawn.

I've been going to Union for 25 years, and I'll be there again this year.

Prices vary, but I've been satisfied with what I've purchased, including some bargains.

AZ* wrote:I don't see items like those in most antique shops and malls. Just junky stuff and common items like no-name portables and VV-IVs and the like. Yawn.

I've been going to Union for 25 years, and I'll be there again this year.

Prices vary, but I've been satisfied with what I've purchased, including some bargains.

Absolutely.

Your criticism of Union is not fair at all.

I don't think anyone criticized Union. Jerry just listed some machines he sold at Union, I assume in response to a different thread about high prizes at Wayne. I've never been to Union, but I've been to Wayne several times. I found the prizes mixed with some good deals in between. It always depends on what someone is looking for I guess. Considering that I can see and examine a machine there before buying and also that I am not at the mercy of USPS and such, I would always prefer to buy there.
Andreas

While I have only been to the Orlando show so far, I would think that likely prices are going to be a mixed bag at pretty much any show--some unrealistically high, most in the middle, and a few real bargains. And the advice to get there early for the best buys seems universal among those with whom I have discussed shows.

Clay

alang wrote:I don't think anyone criticized Union. Jerry just listed some machines he sold at Union, I assume in response to a different thread about high prizes at Wayne. I've never been to Union, but I've been to Wayne several times. I found the prizes mixed with some good deals in between. It always depends on what someone is looking for I guess. Considering that I can see and examine a machine there before buying and also that I am not at the mercy of USPS and such, I would always prefer to buy there.
Andreas

Agreed. Prices vary at both Union and Wayne. I've been to both, I've bought great stuff at both at very fair prices. There are always a couple of dealers at each that price things high. At the last Wayne show, one had a machine I was particularly interested in and it was priced at what would have been retail for a perfect example, but this one needed some parts and a serious cleaning. I pointed out the issues to the dealer and he was uninterested in hearing about them, I passed. I tried once more before I left to get him to budge to a reasonable price and he wouldn't. Fine. I later found a really nice example for a much more realistic price and I bought it. I don't think this guy ever sells much at Wayne, it always seems to be the same machines each time. This is an exception, though, most of the dealers at each show seem to have new stuff each time, which is why I keep going!

Sean

I've paid what I considered fair prices considering condition for items over the years at Union (VV-XVIII, Columbia BII, Viva-tonal 160)...and occasionally what would now be considered high for a Vic VI with original 24B brass horn, but that was 9 years ago. There were several times that I wished I had just that much more floor space in my apartment to accomodate a circassian VV-XVI or oak VTLA which seemed well-priced, but what the hey.