The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

http://hartford.craigslist.org/atq/4831963524.html

Not mine. Went to look at this today. It's all there, but it's a total project. Cabinet lid has a huge stain. Sides have lots of mildew and dust, etc., which may or may not Goop off. Diamond stylus is worn down to the nub. Faux wood grain horn is decent. Paint is flaking on the bedplate and rust has formed on some of the exposed spots. No mute ball, but the rest of the early-style volume control is there. Serial numbers match.

A worthwhile machine if you're willing to put in the time an effort, but too far gone for me.

Well jeez, Kevin, if I'd known you were going I'd have asked to tag along. That's my home town. Could have given you the Cook's tour of the old section, which is actually still pretty nice. Or was, last I saw it, a few years ago.

The machine does look salvageable, but with the problems you described, and the effort it would take, I can understand why you'd walk away from it at the price. I do like the way the seller says the second reproducer, which I'm guessing is a lateral adapter, is "missing the needle" -- like that's a bad thing!