The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As a newbie I'm curious where people buy their records. Are there Fleabayers you can trust that when they grade their records they are accurate and fair in the assessment? How about normal store dealers?

Thanks for any advice.

BwanaJoe wrote:As a newbie I'm curious where people buy their records. Are there Fleabayers you can trust that when they grade their records they are accurate and fair in the assessment? How about normal store dealers?

Thanks for any advice.

The answer? Here, there, and everywhere. I have bought many off of Craig's List ads, some at the Orlando phonograph show, and many more off eBay. For rarer and more valuable examples, such as electrics, Golden Gate Orchestra, etc., I have been very pleased with purchases from seller paulsolarski on eBay. Not cheap by any means, but he has good stuff fairly graded in my experience.

Clay

FloridaClay wrote:

BwanaJoe wrote:As a newbie I'm curious where people buy their records. Are there Fleabayers you can trust that when they grade their records they are accurate and fair in the assessment? How about normal store dealers?

Thanks for any advice.

The answer? Here, there, and everywhere. I have bought many off of Craig's List ads, some at the Orlando phonograph show, and many more off eBay. For rarer and more valuable examples, such as electrics, Golden Gate Orchestra, etc., I have been very pleased with purchases from seller paulsolarski on eBay. Not cheap by any means, but he has good stuff fairly graded in my experience.

Clay

Thanks, I'll check Paul's stuff out.

I guess my concern is if you can't play each record you wish to buy you have to rely on a honest seller to do it for you. Most Particularly if you can't tell just by looking at it. That is what worries me about CL and Fleabay.

Paul Solarski has some of the best Edison Diamond Discs. I am careful where I buy them. Many out there have rim chips, worn grooves, damaged grooves from steel needles, all of this will damage your stylus.

Nauck's

I've purchased many fantastic NOS Diamond Discs from Paul as well. Not cheap as others have mentioned, but worth the price considering they are unplayed.

Craigslist. Garage sales. eBay, from non-collector and non-dealer sellers. They are everywhere, if you keep your eyes open. I have, literally, tons.

And very few bought at the prices set by the two sharks listed above.

It just depends on how patient and industrious you want to be.

Wow, those are some high prices.

His stock comes from Ferguson. Who is Ferguson by the way?

Ferguson, if I am correct....was the last of the dealers who sold for Edison. He had a huge supply of N.O.S. records for sale. I have a few that have the sleeves stamped with Ferguson's name, what is weird, is the zip code is on the stamp, I didn't think zip codes were used until maybe the 60's or 70's.

Victrolacollector wrote:Ferguson, if I am correct....was the last of the dealers who sold for Edison. He had a huge supply of N.O.S. records for sale. I have a few that have the sleeves stamped with Ferguson's name, what is weird, is the zip code is on the stamp, I didn't think zip codes were used until maybe the 60's or 70's.

Zip codes started in 1963 IIRC. Clarence Ferguson sold Edison goods pretty much up to his death in 1971, so having a zip code on the address stamp would be fine.