How the Internet has, helped my hobby.

Post by **Edisonfan** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:44 am

If it was not for the internet, I would not have been able to find half the stuff I have for my phonograph collection. I would not have known, that there were other collectors, and enthusiasts, like myself. Or find someone to repair my machines, or to find advice on the hobby. Or that there were shows, devoted to this hobby. I wonder, how some of you older collectors managed to find your stuff, prior to the internet?

The internet, has really made this hobby, a lot more accessible to newer collectors, and Enthusiasts.

Paul

Valecnik · Post by **Valecnik** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:03 am

Edisonfan wrote:If it was not for the internet, I would not have been able to find half the stuff I have for my phonograph collection. I would not have known, that there were other collectors, and enthusiasts, like myself. Or find someone to repair my machines, or to find advice on the hobby. Or that there were shows, devoted to this hobby. I wonder, how some of you older collectors managed to find your stuff, prior to the internet?

The internet, has really made this hobby, a lot more accessible to newer collectors, and Enthusiasts.

Paul

I know there are a lot of people who long for "the old days" pre-ebay with a once or twice per year phono show to allow you to meet friends and buy/sell to your hearts content.

I agree with Paul though that for the other 360 days a year when one is not at a show, internet has made the hobby much less lonely and really disseminated the knowledge about phonos more broadly.

I for one am glad we are not back in the "good old days" when we exchanged bad quality polaroid photos by snailmail and made buying decisions based on them.

phonophan79 · Post by **phonophan79** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:07 pm

I also agree with Paul.

Being in my 20's and having started in my 20's... the internet has taught me so much. ...and there are so many people from these forums who have helped me, given advice and have emboldened me to venture into the mechanics of some of my machines.

Post by **Neophone** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:15 pm

Folks,

I'm with you on this!!! I think the positives of the internet far out weigh the negatives in regards to this hobby. Some things may cost more-but a lot more is available to us all.

Regards,
John

SonnyPhono · Post by **SonnyPhono** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:17 pm

I agree. The internet probably hold most of the responsibility for getting me started and established in this hobby. I am also in my mid twenties and really don't know any other way of collecting as I find nearly all of my phonographs and related items online. It's amazing what the internet can do.

That being said, I will admit that I am also quite the adventuring type. Because of that, there is part of me that wishes that the interenet wasn't around so the hobby would be a true treasure hunt. For instance, I can come across a Victor IV with a spear tip horn, a beautiful Victor VI with a mahogany horn, and a stunning mahogany Edison Opera on a mint Herzog full barrel cabinet all at one location. Without the internet, I may be the only collector to come accross them at the time. With such easy search capabilities, the internet allows everyone the opportunity to find and purchase the same phonographs. And because I am new to the hobby and in my mid 20's, I don't have the ablitiy to liquidate part of my small collection to compete with other established collectors. So, it will be a long time before I own that Opera and Herzog cabinet because everyone knows where it is. But in the same sense, it is justified as the long time collectors deserve to own it more than I do at this point as they have "worked" much longer than I have and there will hopefully be one for me someday.

Thats my take on the internet. I think I am happier with it as it has provided endless information, but it would be fun to go back to when finding a real gem was more of luck of the draw. (Although I have found some very rare phonographs by digging a little in the last few months.)

Sorry so long...I got carried away!

OrthoSean · Post by **OrthoSean** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:46 pm

SonnyPhono wrote:(Although I have found some very rare phonographs by digging a little in the last few months.)

I'll agree with everyone so far, the 'net has been a great way to find and sometimes instantly gratify a want. Before we had Ebay and Craigslist and all that good stuff, you'd go years without seeing things that really weren't and aren't rare, like Victor record catalogs from the 20s. Look on Ebay and you could probably complete a run in no time, while "back in the day" you'd rarely turn up things like that. This may not be a great example, but it just popped in my head.

As far as stuff still being out there, it certainly is! In the last two years alone, by word of mouth, I've picked up two very significant and important record collections. I've certainly found more than my share of machines the same way recently as well, but Sonny certainly has a point, you have to look a little further or just have a lucky streak, which I certainly have had! It doesn't hurt to have your name and number out there for "pickers" as well. I frequently get calls from them who've found machines and records and at least get the chance to say "no" before somebody else does.

Sean

SonnyPhono · Post by **SonnyPhono** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:14 pm

Ebay has some nice rare items from time to time. But you will have to compete with everyone if you need or want the item. I tend to do well on Craigslist as I find there are many people who don't know much about phonographs and sell a grandparents possession for a good price. I have even paid more than the asking price if it is a rare item or one that is far under priced. That may sound crazy, but I feel like it is only fair to give someone what they deserve so they aren't "shorted" due solely to a lack of knowledge. And who knows? Maybe that will play into my future luck as I believe that the big man upstairs will reward honesty.

SonnyPhono · Post by **SonnyPhono** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:15 pm

By the way, does anyone live in Connecticut or within reasonable distance? If so, please PM me. Thanks!

EdisonSquirrel · Post by **EdisonSquirrel** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:10 pm

OrthoSean wrote:
SonnyPhono wrote:(Although I have found some very rare phonographs by digging a little in the last few months.)
... you'd go years without seeing things that really weren't and aren't rare, like Victor record catalogs from the 20s. Look on Ebay and you could probably complete a run in no time, while "back in the day" you'd rarely turn up things like that. This may not be a great example, but it just popped in my head.

Sean

Sean,

I agree with you, and Victor record catalogs are an excellent example. Thanks to Ebay, I was able to put together a complete run of Victor catalogs from May 1912 through 1930, and I did so without spending a lot of money. I'm referring here to the full catalogs that were released once or twice a year, not the monthly supplements.

I've also found it relatively easy to find the records I want on Ebay. I'm a big fan of Bailey's Lucky Seven, and I've acquired about 75 of their sides. I could have gotten many more if I had been willing to bid higher.

At the moment I'm concentrating on putting together a modest collection of 2-minute Edison cylinders. While it may be take more patience and money than assembling a collection of acoustic Whiteman fox-trots, I am still able to do so much more easily than in the old days.

Rocky

Post by **Edisonfan** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:56 pm

I meant to say, I found half of the information, not half of my stuff. All of my records, were found in the wild. Only a few DD's were from ebay. I guess I'm one of the lucky few. Having access to two, count them two, record dealers helps. Especially when it comes to 78's, and DD's. Cylinders are a bit tricky. I have found one or two on occasion, but it's when I found box lot that's when I got lucky. That was how I was able to assemble so many 2 minute cylinders. Four minutes, not so much. those I only find maybe one or two here and there. They will take a little more time. I could just go on ebay, but most sellers, are generally, selling only one cylinder at a time. I would go for the box lot, when I find them. Although, I am more apt to buy them in the wild, mainly so I can examine them up close. But, that's just me.

Rocky, if you find a box lot, that is usually a good sign. However, it's best to go through them one by one, to make sure they are in good playing condition. That's what I did, with the last two box lots I found, and bought.

Paul

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