The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here's part of of a clean, complete Schubert Edisonic for sale on eBAY. One catch though. To win the whole machine you need to bid/win 14 separate auctions...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Edison- ... 3f33e9e82c

Below you can see a picture of the whole machine and also the seller's response to my question re. why he's not selling it complete.

That stinks. With people here willing to go out their way to transport large machines from one place or other to a show, this guy doesn't know who might be interested, sadly. I suppose he didn't even try.

Undoubtedly thinks he will realize more money if he sells it in parts. The cabinet has a six dollar shipping charge!

I noticed these auctions last night and felt the same, that this is really profit-driven (however misguided) butchery in the purest of forms. he actually removed trim (damaging and breaking some pieces in the process) to sell as well. it's obvious enough to say that no one who "loves" phonographs as this guy claims would ever consider doing anything like this - quite the contrary, considering how a few members of this forum managed to rescue that rare edison cylinder player in the pacific northwest from a similar fate not too long ago. but for this person to even further attempt to justify this based on the lack of an "effective local market"... he is located just outside of philadelphia, pa., within two hours of new york, baltimore and washington dc - not to mention the edison national historic site in central NJ or the johnson victrola museum in delaware.

miker2001 wrote:Undoubtedly thinks he will realize more money if he sells it in parts. The cabinet has a six dollar shipping charge!

I think you're referring to his auction of just the lid support mechanism. he apparently destroyed the remainder of the cabinet in stripping it of everything else (I'm assuming that's why he said it couldn't be reassembled at this point).

His separate auctions include:
- Turntable
- Edisonic reproducer
- Motor
- Lid support
- Internal horn
- Grill with original cloth
- Doors
- Beaded trip pieces
- Metal tag
- Crank
- Crank Escutceaon
- More beaded trip pieces

Only thing not apparently offered is the cabinet shell & lid. Really a sad ending for an unmolested original machine that's lasted more than 85 years.

I hate dirtbags who do this to decent machines. I will give this seller a curse from the old country. May all his/her teeth fall out except for one, and may that one have a toothache!!! May the fleas of 1,000 camels infest his/her armpits!!!
Harvey Kravitz

I don't think the seller realizes that the Edisonic machines are highly collectible, rare, and sound great. I know; I have two Schuberts. I don't think he will be able to sell the parts for more than the whole. I will not bid on any of these items even if I want one.

As a Schubert Edisonic owner I join in everyone's amazement that such a butchery occurred--and was "justified" by the perpetrator.

Harvey your reply is classic, I've never laughed so hard
But your right and I agree
Gene