The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just wondering on reading Mr Gordon"s XVII price value from then and now. What is the approximate value of a Victor table model X in mahogany and in oak, an XI in mahogany, a XII in mahogany, one with the fancy trim and the plain, also a Florenza a XVII mahogany cabinet, the three different styles of XVI not L-door, a XVI circ walnut and some XVI electrics and an electric 2-door Credenza? Thanks

Past history from the Trader section is a good source of information. Also, many of George and Tim's books have a value guide. They may be a good investment. Another option might be to narrow the focus of your question to one or a few machines. Most of us are quite generous with our opinion with a touch of knowledge thrown it. I personally glazed over somewhere after the tenth or twelfth specific inquiry. I say this with all respect. If you will narrow your focus, you'll be better feedback from the Forum.

Best wishes, Jerry Blais

Another "real world" source for values is to go to eBay and look for the prices obtained on "completed listings" for a particular model. You can do that via eBay's advanced search feature.

Clay

Definitely a combination of methods of determination should be used. I like to use the above and Baumback's 2nd revision book "Look for the Dog". Great photos, facts, and includes a price guide. Though written at the last peak in the market, I find that it's price range is still accurate for the real rare stuff (maybe less than 2000 or 3000 produced) and value even can be higher. The higher produced machines can be found at a quarter of the low end of the guide's price range, at times and if you are willing to travel. However, if its condition is nice and location is close, then people will pay up to the high end. Oh, I should add that I speak from the perspective of collecting floor model Victrolas and Electrolas only, no external horn machines.

Thanks for the excellent combined knowledge. What is throwing me off---is like the oak table model 10, I have only seen one, it sold on Ebay many years ago for I think 8-9 hundred dollars, has the value of it dropped because of the economy or gone up because it is a model you don't see very often? Thanks Again

emerson wrote:Thanks for the excellent combined knowledge. What is throwing me off---is like the oak table model 10, I have only seen one, it sold on Ebay many years ago for I think 8-9 hundred dollars, has the value of it dropped because of the economy or gone up because it is a model you don't see very often? Thanks Again

It is likely that, unless they have personal knowledge of a sale, nobody is going to be able to answer that kind of question. Market value is, as always, the amount a willing buyer will pay and a willing seller will accept and the only way to discern that is to examine past transactions through research. If it is a rare model with little or no track record people could only speculate, which is pretty worthless.

Clay

As far as the VV-IX table top in oak, with the rarer machines condition is going to be important. Most casual buyers and dealers won't see it as anything more special than a victrola IX and I wouldn't expect it to bring more than $100 unless someone recognized it. Even if they did I think $800-$900 is a bit optimistic at an auction. If you are trying to sell one and have a lot of time to sit on it you might eventually get that much, but you would have to be lucky.

Here's an Ornate VV-IX for $750:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/clt/4938367517.html

You'd think they might've popped that stretcher back into place before taking the photos....

Uhhh.
That's really only a ix if the whole ix machine is embedded within the surrounding cabinet.

Did period pieces all have gold hardware?