The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was moving some stuff around in our home a few days ago and found some items I've not seen in many years. It was actually fun finding stuff I'd not seen in a very long time! Thought I would share this nostalgic look back at a list of phonographs that Dave Houser sent to prospective phonograph collectors. Can you imagine buying an Edison Opera for $75? Also note the interesting reference to an "Opera Comb". A 2/4 minute Opera? Perhaps a typo on Dave's part. Also note the 3 cent stamp! Anyway, I hope some of you will enjoy perusing the list as much as I did when I found it again after years of being tucked safely away.

Doug

Oh my gosh I'll take em all I guess you just have to remember that wages were't much back then.

A fascinating look back.
Maybe instead of spending my time checking Craigslist and this Forum, I should start working on some mathematical equations using hyper-complex numbers, that will allow me to build a time machine.
I'd really like to buy that Victor MS!

I like the Amberola 30 available at the original price ex-factory!

Those are actually very high prices for 1961! I didn't start collecting until 2 years later but I never paid anywhere near those prices for Standards, Homes, Amberolas, etc. One example -- my Victor III cost $8 -- from a dealer.

The most I (almost) paid for any phonograph in the 60s was $75 for a Columbia BS, but it had sold by the time my check reached the dealer. I was bummed.

An online inflation calculator reports that $75 in 1961 is about $586 today. A lot of money, but not a bad price.

The real bargain, though was the postage. A 3 cent first class stamp calculates out to 23 cents this year.

So where is this Dave Houser? Is he passed away or still selling phonographs or what?

Another reminder of how I wish I had gotten started in the hobby years before I did.

Clay

Wolfe wrote:So where is this Dave Houser? Is he passed away or still selling phonographs or what?

Dave passed away about 25-30 years ago. I met him around 1970 when I started collecting phonos, he was a character. He liked to say he
started collecting when Edison when out of business in the early 30's. Another story was how in his travels he would fill a box car with phonographs and send it home. His storage building was filled with phonos from ground to ceiling and it wasn't a low ceiling.


Chuck