The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

For the next two weeks I'll be taking some time off work and taking road trips in the midwest. Before I enter that new and unexplored shop, I get excited going up to the door. What might I find in there? What would *you* like to find in there? I'm interested to hear what you're looking for. Please be realistic.

This post comes about because I recently took some time to reflect on what I could possibly *still* be looking for after decades of searching antique stores all around the country (and some abroad). I made a list of some things I'd like to find, but the list was short and everything on it was exceedingly rare and consequently very unlikely to be found by chance. One member of the group found a Pooley Victrola at a regular antique shop for a nominal price, as I recall. Often I leave antique shops empty-handed anymore as I already own (or once owned and since sold) about everything I have ever wanted; this excludes the cream-of-the-crop rare items, however. I've not found much in the way of exceptional phonograph items. On my list in regard to phonograph-related items... "Meet Me In St. Louis" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as well as "In My Merry Oldsmobile" on cylinder, outside horn Victor components, Paul Whiteman's "Charleston" record, Victor keys, small promotional go-with items, or an exceptional cabinet machine (like that Pooley!).

A nice Victor V with an oak horn, an XVIII with a VV-XI price tag, or the Brunswick 78 'The Original Charleston'.

I don't have much luck in antique stores, usually the machines I find look like they spent a week on the ocen floor and have high price tags. $400 for a broken Sonora floor model that isn't in original condition, $550 for an Edison S-19 that is missing parts, $30 for a single Edison DD record that is warped and cracked-sheesh.

I still enjoy the excitement of the search, sometimes I get lucky.

I have found that antique stores are not the place to look for phonographs or anything for that matter. Prices are usually sky high! And you rarely find anything but junky phonographs there. For example, an Edison Hepplewhite DD machine with a missing grille and missing door, $750! Once I found a rare 1928 Victrola 9-54 radio/phono unit that needed work, but I was tipped off that it was there by a collector friend.

Any disc machine whatsoever would be a refreshing change! Or a single box of 78rpm records. Even a box full of copies of Bing's "White Christmas" would be a rarity where I am.

marcapra wrote:I have found that antique stores are not the place to look for phonographs or anything for that matter. Prices are usually sky high! And you rarely find anything but junky phonographs there. For example, an Edison Hepplewhite DD machine with a missing grille and missing door, $750!.

I couldn't agree more. This is a point that I just raised in this posting
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=12933
The best way to acquire a decent phonograph at a reasonable price is to network with other collectors.

As some others have said, the antique shops for me are rarely rewarding--overpriced common items and "frankenphones" pieced together out of parts from several makes more often as not. The last couple of years when I have managed to find desirable bargins it has been off of Craigslist. While not very often, lightening will also sometimes strike at the odd thrift store.

What I look for now is drastically pared back due to lack of space and a limited budget. Things I might sell off something else to make room for would be a nice Amberola 1A or a Victor VV-XX or a Victor VI if the price were right and I had the money when they came up. It is also fun to run across big lots of 78s. They are usually dirt cheap and it can be fun to take them home, clean them up, and now and then find a little treasure or two among them.

Clay

For many years I was strictly a phonograph collector. I would occasionally find something but most antiquing trips were simply dry runs. We are all influenced by each other and I noticed that a good friend collected much more than phonographs. He seemed to enjoy collecting in general and his house was always fun because of the variety. Because of him, I started to branch out. My mail collection will always be phonographs but I also enjoy bicycles, yo yo's, tin toys, Oregon Duck sports items (Go Ducks!), a naughty collection (definitely not porn but things your Merchant Marine uncle might bring back from some exotic location), promo toy cars, and things that are "basement worthy". The biggest complement I receive is when someone says they see something interesting that they have not noticed before. I keep an open mind when I'm antiquing and I am very seldom skunked. Jerry Blais

I suppose there will be occasional flukes where someone finds a rarity in a general antiques store, but the good old days when grandma's phonograph went straight from the basement to the local antique store are largely over. I remember what it was like 45+ years ago. I have turned up better stuff at outdoor flea markets.

I have made a number of leisurely pilgramages from Texas to Union and hit every antiques store I could find, but rarely found anything beyond junk 78s. It is time and money better spent buying through eBay, Union, or from other collectors.

We only have 1, count'em 1, antique shop in my town which I check occasionally. One day I dropped by and lo and behold there sat a weathered, crankless Standard Model A. Had rather hefty price tag for its condition. I offered him half and he said SOLD! The horn has been redone, got a crank, had some motor work and the reproducer redone and now I am back to what the original price was.... Nice little machine. But as someone else stated it has become slim pickings.

I am usually just looking for cylinders and 78's. I have no more room for machines...