The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello,
A friend of mine took these pictures in Washington state recently. It is sad to see what they did to the rare search light horns.
Pete

Let's hope the ends were not deformed in the process.

I wonder if they have a clue as to what they are and their value.

Clay

Since they all appear to have had the small end shortened, their value as phono horns has been reduced to near zero because of the work needed to restore them. The same thing could have been done without cutting them down and would have been reversible.

Jim

phonojim wrote:Since they all appear to have had the small end shortened, their value as phono horns has been reduced to near zero because of the work needed to restore them. The same thing could have been done without cutting them down and would have been reversible.

Jim

Sadly, as I look more carefully, I think you are correct Jim.

Clay

UGH
Some people just don't care (or give a ****) as long as their purpose has been achieved.

I found the horn for my Vic II on eBay. It had been transformed into a pool table lamp. The original elbow had been cut in the process, but at least the horn was still in one piece. Unfortunately they had spray painted the inside white for better reflection, but the outside and the decal was still in good condition. Nobody else wanted it, so I got a good price.
Andreas

Its sad so many horns and machines and even records have been used for other than their intended purposes. horns for funnels, phonographs for record cabinets, motors for fishing equipment, records for clocks, i was at a antique store and the clock was 250.00 and it was a record of the Charleston on Edison, great condition until they glued numbers etc.

Truth is we will never be able to stop all of these clowns, lol. However, its us collectors which will be able to preserve many great machines for generations to come.

I have to say, that I really don't care for the " Searchlight " horn, either as a lamp, or as a talking machine horn.


But, having gotten that off my chest, I think it unforgivable to chop these things down to make lamp-shades, funnels, party hats, what have you.

I get really torqued-up whenever I see musical instruments irrevocably converted into lamps...

This phonograph horn as a lampshade thing is the current trendoid store decoration. There are several shops here in Toronto that make me weep every time I pass by. I'll take some pics. The most galling example is a found in a record store actually. I'm pretty sure it started life as a Canadian Berliner horn from about 1906.
JRT

All I can say is: @#%$&#$