The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

OK gang, why in the world would this rather battered Edison Standard CASE bring $679.69?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDISON-STANDARD ... 7675.l2557

Clay

Don't believe everything you read. This is a mahogany Home case , very hard to find in any condition. If it was a mahogany Standard case it may have gone even higher. Mahogany Standards are very rare and impossible to find.
Best Regards, Larry

Ah, OK. That makes more sense.

Clay

Any Edison Mahogany case for any of the outside horn machines are very rare and go for big bucks. Back in 2002, I was at the Cecil Dancer Auction in Fulsom CA. It was run by Stanton. This was a Mahogany Model B Home. The case was battered and the lid was all apart. I was going to bid on that thinking it would be a cheap project machine. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!! It went to close to $1500.00. I also remember when the Smiths were selling their collection. They had a Mahogany Triumph that went for $4500.00. Mahogany Edison machines like this are rare indeed.
Harvey Kravitz

Could someone please enlighten me as to why, apparently, the original purchasers of outside horn machines favored oak cases over mahogany cases, but the original purchases of concealed-in-the-cabinet horn machines (e.g. Victrolas, Amberolas) favored mahogany cases over oak cases?

Thanks, Mark

The furniture that most common people had was made of oak. That is why oak was the most common wood. The wealthy were the ones that preferred the look of mahogany. And that is the reason they are scarcer since far less mahognany machines were sold. I very nice mahogany Home sold last year for $3500.00.

Rich Gordon

But surely it wasn't only the wealthy who were buying all those mahogany uprights and consoles.--Mark

No, I was talking about Edison cylinder machines not upright and console record machines.

Rich Gordon

Mahogany can be a tricky wood to work with - it is less forgiving than oak, tends to split along the grain and dents more easily.

Rich, my apologies. I thought you were responding to my post. Best wishes, Mark