The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It's been some time since I was on the forum. For the past 5 months my life has been involved in my father's battle with cancer and his final demise. My wife and I have divorced and I am selling the large house we had and am moving to a smaller one that I can maintain by myself. This sounds like the lyrics from a country song, I know but it is true. Now I have to downsize my very large collection of phonographs and related materials. I don't know whether it would be easier to auction them off or sell them on an individual basis. The main problem I have is my location. In NE NC it's hard to find buyers much less shippers. I have considered Stanton's in Mich. but the cost to ship is prohibitive. I have some extremely rare and unusual machines, and a lot of run of the mill and duplicates. I think that an auction near a major highway would level the playing field for all concerned, buyers as well as me. I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks Ed

Hello,
I am sure that many of our forum members would be interested in seeing a posted list here of what you have for sale. It is not too difficult to box up and ship horn cylinder or disc machines. The big uprights will be a problem. I would think that you would get a better price for your machines than if you sold through auction. It has been a while since I sold anything through an Auction house but they do charge a hefty commission. Stanton's is great because the people attending the Phonograph auction are usually there to buy. If you try to sell a collection through a lesser know auction house your buyers might just be a regular antique crowd and the results could be very disappointing.
Pete

Ed,

So sorry to see you downsizing, and what you have gone through. I really admire your collection, and thank you for sharing it. Hope all goes well, and best wishes.

Steve & Jeff Oliphant have been known to buy entire collections. You'd have to do some google to find contact info, they are based in California.

The Union show is coming up in June, that would be an excellent place to sell some of the machines if you have the means to get them there.

Doesn't Stanton's travel and pick up collections to sell? I'd check that option just to be sure.
Bob

barnettrp21122 wrote:Doesn't Stanton's travel and pick up collections to sell? I'd check that option just to be sure.
Bob

From their website:

"We are always happy to travel to your location to examine your items for a possible sale in your area or for us to move your collection to Michigan for your own auction, or for inclusion in one of our twice yearly consignment sales"

If it were my collection, I would sell them on an individual basis knowing that each one would go to a good home. This forum would be a very good start - a couple units at a time. Most people would drive to get a machine they really want. I know I do, drive that is.

I'm located in NC and would be interested in seeing a list of machines and asking prices. You can send me a PM if you prefer, or post general list of machines and prices here on the forum. Thanks very much.

Stantons

Thanks for all the suggestions as to disposal of the collection. I noticed pictures of my collection that I posted 6 months ago, I now cannot get in that building because of many more phonographs shoved in there. I started an inventory about 2 years ago, listing what the machine was, number, style, wood, finish, ect. I stopped at a little over 200. Now I'm sure that number would exceed 300. In the advent of time it would be almost impossible for me to list and sell these on this forum. I would love to be able to do this but my work schedule would not make this possible. Stanton's will come and pick up my collection, but they would have to have a tractor trailer to do so. This would cost me several thousand dollars in shipping from here to Mich. Since the majority of my machines are internal horn models individual shipping would also be costly.
I went to Brady Jefcoat's auction of his collection a couple of summers ago in Yanceyville NC. The town is only about 10,000 in population, but there were people from almost every state present. The prices that day were extremely high, and not many extrodinary machines were present. Most of the machines sold were either made up, or in need of restoration, because the bulk of the collection had already been donated to the museum. I am contemplating several auction houses here in NC to conduct an auction. I would like one that is near a major highway like I 95 also one that does live auctioneers on the internet. Keep the ideas coming, and I will inform youall as to what I plan to do. Thanks Ed