The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

http://rochester.craigslist.org/atq/4475066003.html

This appeared on the Rochester CL a few hours ago.
Is this a good price or even a desireable machine to have
or restore?
Gene

Well after looking at it and seeing that it definitely needed some TLC
I decided to offer the seller a lower price for this machine. we
settled on 80.00 and so I bought it. It is walnut but the finish is
completely alligatored all over, but i like the effect. structurally
it is very sound and the motor does wind up and sound quiet, however
the start/stop lever and the speed indicator lever are both disconnected
as if someone was not the seller had been working on the internal parts.
it came with a bag of parts a duster and the original key. Now I just
need to get everything put back together, hopefully in the right places
and clean the cabinet up.
Gene

Columbias are decent machine, IMHO, and this one is a bit more attractive than many, as it has at least a little decorative trim on the case and gold plating on the hardware. It also looks to be in pretty good shape, at least cosmetically. I would most certainly consider $100 a very reasonable price for it.

Clay

Thanks Clay I appreciate your HO trouble is I'm running out of room
for new machines, but I really appreciate them alot.
Gene

the L-2 is an attractive case and with the inlaid stringing on the doors this one is a notch above most. If nothing is broken then $100 is an excellent price - it might even have the automatic stop.