The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So, over the weekend I went to an auction in Valentine, NE, essentially the middle of nowhere. They had advertised a lions head reginaphone on the craigslists within about a 4 hour drive of the auction. I didn't win the machine, as it went for far more than I could afford. After it was sold, the lady who won it, was talking about getting it refinished. The only spots that were damaged, was a chip near the handle on the door, and then some scraping from the crank. I failed to take pictures of my own of it, but it was in great shape, working, been in the lady's family for 75+ years, and no water stains or rings or anything common to flat wood surfaces.

Is this a machine that is worth more original, or refinished? and is this more of a music box collectors machine, or a phonograph collectors machine? I'm curious to know who pays $10k+ for one of these.

Clean it. Baby it. But please don't refinish it. It looks beautiful just as it is. Nice, nice machine!

Martin

Categories of collectables have different tolerances between preservation and restoration. As a general rule, talking machine collectors prefer a well preserved machine while music box collectors lean towards restored pieces. That's my observation. Jerry B.

Having bought and sold music boxes and phonographs for many years, I know for certain that there is a definite market for restored machines. Many folks use one or two machines as part of their overall home decor. They are not "collectors" but on the other hand they have an appreciation for what they are buying and while their spouses may not, they will tolerate a machine in their living room if it looks great and compliments their other fine furnishings.
As for this Reginaphone, of which I have had many and currently have 4 of in stock, the one that resides in my dining room (shown below) looks brand-new after a major restoration about 10 years ago. It has a piano finish, as per factory specs. Many clients have seen it at my home and have tried to buy it, but my wife has it on her "restricted" list. So I blame my wife instead of flat-out just refusing to sell it.
As for retail prices, they have come down a bit over the years, but they usually sell between $12,000 - $15,000 when nicely restored. They are beautifully designed and crafted machines.


Raphael

I think Raphael made some terrific points on the subject; if someone has a terrific home ( thinking worthy of Architectural Digest ), antique furniture with a less-than-perfect finish could both detract from the room, and from the item itself...

The only way I personally would want to see this machine refinished, is by someone who can perfectly replicate the original red-mahogany "piano-finish".


Hopefully, the new owner ( if they spent five figures on such a machine ), knows about appropriate finishes, and has connections to a restorer who can do it justice.

If it gets a "Bob's Garage fur-ni-ture refinish", a la Homer Formby, that would be a crime.


We have a "high-end" ( I should say, "high--priced" ) antique-dealer / interior designer around here with a "restored barn" full of "restored" furniture, which is FULL of once-red mahogany, once-piano-finish furniture, most of which is now orange colored and orange-peeled in its surface texture... He has worked his magic on a couple of talking machines too...

But, all the country-club ladies seem to love his stuff...

A good restorer should be able to save the finish on this machine. Its really in very nice shape other than a bit crackled. My Brunswick was in similar shape and after I carefully sanded the finish down to remove the worst of the pebbled effect I put a light coat of shellac over the old finish. After rubbing it down it once again looked great and would fit in in any room.

Larry

larryh wrote:A good restorer should be able to save the finish on this machine. Its really in very nice shape other than a bit crackled. My Brunswick was in similar shape and after I carefully sanded the finish down to remove the worst of the pebbled effect I put a light coat of shellac over the old finish. After rubbing it down it once again looked great and would fit in in any room.

Larry

I agree. A good and competent restorer of fine furniture would easily be able to save the finish on this particular example and make it shine like new. Most people opt for the strip and dip treatment, though. :/

This machine's finish is absolutely fine as it is.
As far as who pays 10K plus for one of these...someone who knows true quality when they see it!

You will get opinions all over the place. Generally speaking, I do not favor refinishing unless the original finish is in really poor shape. This gorgeous lion's head Regeniaphone is one I would most definitely just clean. And well worth its price IMHO. And as others have said, it it is going to get a refinish take care it is done by somebody who knows what they are doing. It would be a crime to mess up this treasure.

Clay

Wow, Valentine NE. My folks are from that area (Wood Lake NE). Did it really sell for 10K way out there?