The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It's been talked about a bit on the forum lately and as a collector I'm a bit worried. I spoke with some others at the auction and most seem to agree that prices for phonographs are getting soft and some of the hammer prices indicate it. There's always your high end super rare items fetching a big dollar but I was more than surprised (both at how high and how low) some items sold for. If I wasn't limited to space in my SUV I would have been bidding on a few other nice collectables.

I probably don't have to say but some of the same machines were in better condition than others and account for price differences. I can't give details on all items so here's a link to the catalog if you want to look or follow: http://www.stantons-auctions.com/auctio ... e-auction/

Please keep in mind I collect only Victors so this list will be mostly Victor machines. I did keep track of a few others once I heard the prices going into the thousands.

These are just the hammer prices. You have to add 10% buyers premium on top of these prices.

Hope you all enjoy.


Lot 17 – Victor II humpback - $650
Lot 32 – Victor I - $450
Lot 69 – Victor 0 - $600
Lot 140 – Victrola framed print - $235
Lot 147 – Victor schoolhouse bracket - $170
Lot 160 – Victor C - $2400
Lot 175 – Victor R - $800
Lot 178 – Victor IV - $3000
Lot 201 – Victor VI - $3900
Lot 208 – Victor advertising clock - $220
Lot 227 – Kalamazoo duplex - $2750
Lot 234 – Columbia BS coin op - $2300
Lot 235 – Victor I – $750
Lot 239 – Victor VI (with 24B horn) - $2500 (you read that right. No typo)
Lot 252 – Victor 6 - $3400
Lot 253 – Cabinet (mahogany) for above 6 - $500
Lot 256 – Kalamazoo duplex - $1300
Lot 260 – Victor IV - $1500
Lot 262 – Victor XI tabletop - $650
Lot 264 – Keen-O-Phone - $5500
Lot 267 – Victor P - $700
Lot 270 – Victor V - $1850
Lot 285 – Victor III (with wood horn) - $2750
Lot 335 – Victor I - $550
Lot 353 – Columbia AH - $3100
Lot 365 – Victor III - $850
Lot 372 – VTLA Pooley flat top - $2950
Lot Victor II - $600
Lot 419 – Victor display case with 86 tins - $375
Lot 435 – Victor I - $550
Lot 437 – 36” Nipper - $375
Lot 445 – Canadian Berliner trademark - $1250
Lot 454 – VTLA Pooley flat top - $1500
Lot 458 – Victrola XII with matching cabinet - $1800
Lot 471 – Victor XVII - $300
Lot 479 – Victor XVI L-door - $300
Lot 489 – Victor III - $1800
Lot 502 – Cabinet for rare Edison class M - $4500
Lot 511 – Victor III - $1300
Lot 512 – Victor XI tabletop with matching Pooley cabinet - $950
Lot 521 – Victor XVI L-door - $400
Lot 525 – Edison Amberola 1A - $6500
Lot 535 – Victor M - $800
Lot 542 – Victor #10 reproducer - $8000 (not a typo)
Lot 545 – Victor XVI L-door - $350
Lot 547 – Symphonion Eroica - $21500
Lot 572 – Edison Opera A - $4000
Lot 597 – Victor mahogany speartip horn - $450
Lot 635 – Reginaphone 161 - $11500
Lot 650 Kalamazoo Duplex - $3800
Lot 655 – Victor X tabletop - $275
Lot 659 – Victor XVI L-door - $400
Lot 660 – Symphonion - $15000
Lot 662 – Victor X (spiderleg in OAK) - $950
Lot 668 – Victor III - $1600
Lot 675 – Berliner Johnson lever wind - $14000
Lot 680 – Victor VI - $4600
Lot 714 – Victor E - $750
Lot 715 – Regina - $9000
Lot 717 – Victor P - $500
Lot 720- Olympia upright - $5500
Lot 730 – Salter mahogany cabinet - $2100
Lot 733 – Victor 0 - $750
Lot 750 – Victor Schoolhouse - $2250
Lot 760 – Victor XVI L-door - $300
Lot 764 – Victor XVI L-door (early ball casters) - $350 (yup you’re reading it right)
Lot 770 – Victrola XVII - $350
Lot 779 – Victrola XVII (in walnut and very nice) - $2250 (a steal)
Lot 834 – Victor XVI (walnut) - $550
Lot 843 – Victor XIV (tiger oak) - $300
Lot 846 – Victor XVII - $650
Lot 851 – Victor Schoolhouse (rough) - $1200
Lot 855 – Reginaphone 145 - $13000
Lot 856 – Victor Schoolhouse - $2100
Lot 859 – Berliner lever wind - $8000
Lot 864 – Edison Idealia D2 - $17000
Lot 870 – Victor E - $750
Lot 885 – Victor II - $800

Mike

Thanks for the list Mike. Do these numbers include Stantons buyers premium or do we have to add it? How much is the premium? Thanks - I wish I could have been there. John

Ripduf1 wrote:Thanks for the list Mike. Do these numbers include Stantons buyers premium or do we have to add it? How much is the premium? Thanks - I wish I could have been there. John

Hey John,
I updated the ad. I forgot to say the 10% buyers premium was extra. Thanks for pointing it out.
I was surprised I didn't see you there. Hopefully at the spring auction. As always, I'll bring some beer lol

Mike

For someone like me just starting out with phonograph collecting seeing these prices is quite interesting. My interest is in upright machines that are beautiful to look at as well as play. Thanks for posting this.

PHONOMIKE wrote:It's been talked about a bit on the forum lately and as a collector I'm a bit worried. I spoke with some others at the auction and most seem to agree that prices for phonographs are getting soft and some of the hammer prices indicate it. There's always your high end super rare items fetching a big dollar but I was more than surprised (both at how high and how low) some items sold for. If I wasn't limited to space in my SUV I would have been bidding on a few other nice collectables.

I probably don't have to say but some of the same machines were in better condition than others and account for price differences. I can't give details on all items so here's a link to the catalog if you want to look or follow: http://www.stantons-auctions.com/auctio ... e-auction/

Please keep in mind I collect only Victors so this list will be mostly Victor machines. I did keep track of a few others once I heard the prices going into the thousands.

These are just the hammer prices. You have to add 10% buyers premium on top of these prices.

Hope you all enjoy.


Lot 17 – Victor II humpback - $650
Lot 32 – Victor I - $450
Lot 69 – Victor 0 - $600
Lot 140 – Victrola framed print - $235
Lot 147 – Victor schoolhouse bracket - $170
Lot 160 – Victor C - $2400
Lot 175 – Victor R - $800
Lot 178 – Victor IV - $3000
Lot 201 – Victor VI - $3900
Lot 208 – Victor advertising clock - $220
Lot 227 – Kalamazoo duplex - $2750
Lot 234 – Columbia BS coin op - $2300
Lot 235 – Victor I – $750
Lot 239 – Victor VI (with 24B horn) - $2500 (you read that right. No typo)
Lot 252 – Victor 6 - $3400
Lot 253 – Cabinet (mahogany) for above 6 - $500
Lot 256 – Kalamazoo duplex - $1300
Lot 260 – Victor IV - $1500
Lot 262 – Victor XI tabletop - $650
Lot 264 – Keen-O-Phone - $5500
Lot 267 – Victor P - $700
Lot 270 – Victor V - $1850
Lot 285 – Victor III (with wood horn) - $2750
Lot 335 – Victor I - $550
Lot 353 – Columbia AH - $3100
Lot 365 – Victor III - $850
Lot 372 – VTLA Pooley flat top - $2950
Lot Victor II - $600
Lot 419 – Victor display case with 86 tins - $375
Lot 435 – Victor I - $550
Lot 437 – 36” Nipper - $375
Lot 445 – Canadian Berliner trademark - $1250
Lot 454 – VTLA Pooley flat top - $1500
Lot 458 – Victrola XII with matching cabinet - $1800
Lot 471 – Victor XVII - $300
Lot 479 – Victor XVI L-door - $300
Lot 489 – Victor III - $1800
Lot 502 – Cabinet for rare Edison class M - $4500
Lot 511 – Victor III - $1300
Lot 512 – Victor XI tabletop with matching Pooley cabinet - $950
Lot 521 – Victor XVI L-door - $400
Lot 525 – Edison Amberola 1A - $6500
Lot 535 – Victor M - $800
Lot 542 – Victor #10 reproducer - $8000 (not a typo)
Lot 545 – Victor XVI L-door - $350
Lot 547 – Symphonion Eroica - $21500
Lot 572 – Edison Opera A - $4000
Lot 597 – Victor mahogany speartip horn - $450
Lot 635 – Reginaphone 161 - $11500
Lot 650 Kalamazoo Duplex - $3800
Lot 655 – Victor X tabletop - $275
Lot 659 – Victor XVI L-door - $400
Lot 660 – Symphonion - $15000
Lot 662 – Victor X (spiderleg in OAK) - $950
Lot 668 – Victor III - $1600
Lot 675 – Berliner Johnson lever wind - $14000
Lot 680 – Victor VI - $4600
Lot 714 – Victor E - $750
Lot 715 – Regina - $9000
Lot 717 – Victor P - $500
Lot 720- Olympia upright - $5500
Lot 730 – Salter mahogany cabinet - $2100
Lot 733 – Victor 0 - $750
Lot 750 – Victor Schoolhouse - $2250
Lot 760 – Victor XVI L-door - $300
Lot 764 – Victor XVI L-door (early ball casters) - $350 (yup you’re reading it right)
Lot 770 – Victrola XVII - $350
Lot 779 – Victrola XVII (in walnut and very nice) - $2250 (a steal)
Lot 834 – Victor XVI (walnut) - $550
Lot 843 – Victor XIV (tiger oak) - $300
Lot 846 – Victor XVII - $650
Lot 851 – Victor Schoolhouse (rough) - $1200
Lot 855 – Reginaphone 145 - $13000
Lot 856 – Victor Schoolhouse - $2100
Lot 859 – Berliner lever wind - $8000
Lot 864 – Edison Idealia D2 - $17000
Lot 870 – Victor E - $750
Lot 885 – Victor II - $800

Mike

I've been attending Stanton's sales for thirty years. Yes, the prices are a trifle soft, but not particularly out of line with sales prices since the GFC. The folks who should be really worried are the music box and pneumatic musical instrument collectors. Those things are trading at knock-down prices. The fad definitely appears to have passed.

PHONOMIKE wrote:It's been talked about a bit on the forum lately and as a collector I'm a bit worried. I spoke with some others at the auction and most seem to agree that prices for phonographs are getting soft and some of the hammer prices indicate it. There's always your high end super rare items fetching a big dollar but I was more than surprised (both at how high and how low) some items sold for. If I wasn't limited to space in my SUV I would have been bidding on a few other nice collectables.

I probably don't have to say but some of the same machines were in better condition than others and account for price differences. I can't give details on all items so here's a link to the catalog if you want to look or follow: http://www.stantons-auctions.com/auctio ... e-auction/

Please keep in mind I collect only Victors so this list will be mostly Victor machines. I did keep track of a few others once I heard the prices going into the thousands.

These are just the hammer prices. You have to add 10% buyers premium on top of these prices.

Hope you all enjoy.


Lot 17 – Victor II humpback - $650
Lot 32 – Victor I - $450
Lot 69 – Victor 0 - $600
Lot 140 – Victrola framed print - $235
Lot 147 – Victor schoolhouse bracket - $170
Lot 160 – Victor C - $2400
Lot 175 – Victor R - $800
Lot 178 – Victor IV - $3000
Lot 201 – Victor VI - $3900
Lot 208 – Victor advertising clock - $220
Lot 227 – Kalamazoo duplex - $2750
Lot 234 – Columbia BS coin op - $2300
Lot 235 – Victor I – $750
Lot 239 – Victor VI (with 24B horn) - $2500 (you read that right. No typo)
Lot 252 – Victor 6 - $3400
Lot 253 – Cabinet (mahogany) for above 6 - $500
Lot 256 – Kalamazoo duplex - $1300
Lot 260 – Victor IV - $1500
Lot 262 – Victor XI tabletop - $650
Lot 264 – Keen-O-Phone - $5500
Lot 267 – Victor P - $700
Lot 270 – Victor V - $1850
Lot 285 – Victor III (with wood horn) - $2750
Lot 335 – Victor I - $550
Lot 353 – Columbia AH - $3100
Lot 365 – Victor III - $850
Lot 372 – VTLA Pooley flat top - $2950
Lot Victor II - $600
Lot 419 – Victor display case with 86 tins - $375
Lot 435 – Victor I - $550
Lot 437 – 36” Nipper - $375
Lot 445 – Canadian Berliner trademark - $1250
Lot 454 – VTLA Pooley flat top - $1500
Lot 458 – Victrola XII with matching cabinet - $1800
Lot 471 – Victor XVII - $300
Lot 479 – Victor XVI L-door - $300
Lot 489 – Victor III - $1800
Lot 502 – Cabinet for rare Edison class M - $4500
Lot 511 – Victor III - $1300
Lot 512 – Victor XI tabletop with matching Pooley cabinet - $950
Lot 521 – Victor XVI L-door - $400
Lot 525 – Edison Amberola 1A - $6500
Lot 535 – Victor M - $800
Lot 542 – Victor #10 reproducer - $8000 (not a typo)
Lot 545 – Victor XVI L-door - $350
Lot 547 – Symphonion Eroica - $21500
Lot 572 – Edison Opera A - $4000
Lot 597 – Victor mahogany speartip horn - $450
Lot 635 – Reginaphone 161 - $11500
Lot 650 Kalamazoo Duplex - $3800
Lot 655 – Victor X tabletop - $275
Lot 659 – Victor XVI L-door - $400
Lot 660 – Symphonion - $15000
Lot 662 – Victor X (spiderleg in OAK) - $950
Lot 668 – Victor III - $1600
Lot 675 – Berliner Johnson lever wind - $14000
Lot 680 – Victor VI - $4600
Lot 714 – Victor E - $750
Lot 715 – Regina - $9000
Lot 717 – Victor P - $500
Lot 720- Olympia upright - $5500
Lot 730 – Salter mahogany cabinet - $2100
Lot 733 – Victor 0 - $750
Lot 750 – Victor Schoolhouse - $2250
Lot 760 – Victor XVI L-door - $300
Lot 764 – Victor XVI L-door (early ball casters) - $350 (yup you’re reading it right)
Lot 770 – Victrola XVII - $350
Lot 779 – Victrola XVII (in walnut and very nice) - $2250 (a steal)
Lot 834 – Victor XVI (walnut) - $550
Lot 843 – Victor XIV (tiger oak) - $300
Lot 846 – Victor XVII - $650
Lot 851 – Victor Schoolhouse (rough) - $1200
Lot 855 – Reginaphone 145 - $13000
Lot 856 – Victor Schoolhouse - $2100
Lot 859 – Berliner lever wind - $8000
Lot 864 – Edison Idealia D2 - $17000
Lot 870 – Victor E - $750
Lot 885 – Victor II - $800

Mike

I've been attending Stanton's sales for thirty years. Yes, the prices are a trifle soft, but not particularly out of line with sales prices since the GFC. The folks who should be really worried are the music box and pneumatic musical instrument collectors. Those things are trading at knock-down prices. The fad definitely appears to have passed.

The prices of cabinet machines are very soft, but of course that is because the decorating fad for placing one in the "Great Room" has passed with that wasteful and difficult to decorate space. At the turn of the century I could sell any polished and restored upright machine for between $700 and $1000 dollars at retail. Of course I would bid agressively for machines of this type. Now that the fad has passed I don't bid at all, and neither do the other folks who used to bid on them, most of whom don't even show up at the sales anymore.

The soft prices worry me not one whit as a collector, for they simply mean that I can more easily buy things that I fancy. On the other hand, had I been fooling myself that these objects were investments for my retirement I'd be scared silly.

The soft prices worry me not one whit as a collector, for they simply mean that I can more easily buy things that I fancy

I strongly agree with this quote from Uncloe Vanya. The drop in prices ought to be great news to everyone on this Forum.

John

Thank you for posting. I was there and looked at many of the machines you mention. Some of the machines had issues, some serious. One or both (I can't remember) of the flat top Pooley VTLAs had a complete set of albums, but they were the later 17 record albums, not the boxes that would be proper for them. The Victor V (lot 270) had the large black MG horn and, at $1850, sold for right around the same price as one I bought at Stanton's over 15 years ago. I felt that some of the Victor VIs sold for prices appropriate for their condition and, as always, condition is everything. Some of the machines had been refinished, not necessarily well done; some had obvious reproduction parts; an otherwise nice maroon Gem had half the paint missing from its horn bell, several had repainted horns, etc. That is not to say that there weren't many very beautiful things at the auction - there certainly were. It's just that in order to make a well informed judgement you really need to be there to see the actual merchandise.

Uncle Vanya, I agree with you - lower prices allow me to build more of a collection than I was able to years ago and at 71 years old, I'm not worried about the long term value - just enjoying it now.

A couple of other prices realized:

251MC - Brunswick Cortez, electric - about $650.00 = 10%
319G - Mahogany Amberola V - S550.00 + 10%
400V - Potmetal O reproducer - $220.00 + 10%

I made a few videos to show my wife, and Steve Stanton gave me permission to post them on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWc-RZfW4xQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EkMEhr-Anw

I was bidding on the desk Reginaphone and making the video at the same time, with dubious results......

Raphael

Raphael, did you get it?