The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The deal of a lifetime

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Classic-Victor- ... 19ee46d653

Holy cow!!!!... .

To a newbie, what is the estimated value if this were complete?

Was it a buy it now, or were the advanced collectors asleep at the wheel?

The buyer bought it 14 minutes after it was listed.
In the right place at the right time!
I bet he was frozen at the computer in disbelief after pressing the buy it now button.

It is a shame that such a fine organization did not benefit more buy that donation. Oh well.

James.

Sometimes it just happens that way. They should have done a little research before they sold it. Good for whoever got it.

Wes

OMG And not from a dubious seller either!

Did anybody here get it?

Clay

That Victor might have sold for thousands if it had been listed in a 7-day auction. Apart from the wrecked horn and missing leather boot, it looked reasonaby complete, a diamond in the rough.

Someone at the SA was either incredibly inept or indifferent not to better research what they obviously recognised as an artifact, or else the sale was an "inside job" by a SA employee that wanted the machine for himself. Fourteen minutes after listing, it is bought by a proxy buyer with no other bidding history for at least a month. Hmmmmm......

Unfortunately it is not all that unusual for valuable objects not to be recognized for what they are at thrift shops, although with the internet that happens less often than it used to. And some, being understaffed and inundated, just don't want to go to the effort of research and marketing. I bought a Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock at a local Good Will for less than half its value. They had an idea it was valuable, but just wanted to move it out.

Here, it could have been an inside job, but it does not surprise me at all that it went quickly. Certainly I would have been on it immediately if I happened to be on eBay when it showed up. If anything, I am surprised that it took 14 minutes!

Clay

Clay, I guess you are right. However, it seemed suspicious to me that anyone that presumably regularly trolls eBay for Buy-It-Now "sleepers" to pounce on would not have any bidding history for at least the past month. I will be interested to see the buyer's feedback history when that is eventually posted - I am curious to know if he follows any pattern related to phonographs.

I wonder what "ate" the horn? It looks like it went through a shredder!

BTW, I would love to steal an Atmos clock!

Some people are just lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. (No, I didn't get this.)

A customer of mine recently bought a watch on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $3,000. The last one to appear on the market several years ago sold for $20K. I'd value it closer to $25K today.

But hey -- I bought President Lyndon Johnson's watch on eBay with Buy it Now last fall and that was a steal. Fully documented, and I've been offered some crazy money for it.

Luck happens. Just not often enough.