The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Yesterday, I went to an auction in Massachusetts intending to be a spectator since I'm kind of full around here and ended up picking up 8 machines and some records. I don't have this one home yet, but this was my "shocking moment of the evening" when I won this machine for what I consider to be a very low price. It's a VE Louis XVI sn 503. It should clean up beautifully. Sorry for the cell phone picture, but it's the best I can do for now. As I was packing things up and locking the machine cabinet, I found a bonus hiding inside the cabinet.

Sean

Way ta go, looks like a great machine. So, what were the other 8 bargains?

Steve

Not everything was a bargain, trust me. Some big money changed hands there yesterday, prices were all over the place.

At any rate, I wound up with the Louis XVI, a super clean Edison A-275, A Victor 8-8 Schoolhouse, a Columbia BET, a Columbia BKT, a Brunswick Parisian, a nice Eagle and a Columbia Favorite. I took a chance on 5 crates of 78s and discovered a group of about 40-50 7 inch Berliners, Zonophones and pre-dog Victors among them as the guys were helping me load my vehicle. THAT was a nice surprise! I've been cleaning and playing those all day. The records are in way above average condition for these, which is even more pleasing.

Sean

Congratulations, Sean!
I figure that must have been the Fontaine's auction. They sure had some beautiful pictures of the machines.
See you at Wayne, I hope?
Bob

Hi Bob,

Yes, this was the Fontaine sale. I'm hoping to get over there after work this afternoon to pick up the Louis XVI or the other two floor models if the XVI won't fit in my Outback, then it will be time to call my machine mover, I guess!

Sean

Would this be the same model as the one in the famous photo from November 1920?

Finding a stash of early 7" records in a purchased box of records, and in good shape to boot, really is the icing on the cake. Fantastic!

Clay

Torjazzer wrote:Would this be the same model as the one in the famous photo from November 1920?

that's basically the same machine, but the gothic version.

A quick update, after quite a bit of waiting and working to get a reasonable yet reputable mover, I finally got this home and cleaned up over the weekend. Here's one shot of the results, the color is a bit off (camera issue, sorry), but it gives you a decent idea of how clean a machine this is. I did nothing further than a very light cleaning and one wipe down with Howard's Feed-N-Wax. I'll post some more photos or do a "featured phono" once I can get a handle on better photos.

As a side note, I found an article in the October 1920 issue of the "Talking Machine World" discussing the introduction of these machines, mentioning prices were "from $1000-$1340". Does anyone know which models cost what?

Sean

Excellent hunting !

Is that a Heywood-Wakefield Wicker-ola next to the humpback in the first photo ?