The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It seems as if in America there are many collectors fairs and antique shops that sell cylinders. However in England I have only ever come across 1 shop selling cylinders which were caked in mould.

Any suggestions other than eBay, buying antiques on eBay isn't that same as digging through a box of cylinders in real life there is just something about it.


Thanks, Jake

Jake, I agree with you that finding them in the wild is the fun part, but in the US there are only a couple of phonograph shows and several other events that you might find them at. The best cylinders I have found came from collectors of disc records who didn't care for cylinders, but would grab them when they came across some.

The problem with shows is that you are buying them from other collector/delers who usually know which ones are keepers or at least they know the values. I prefer stumbling onto them at antique shops or on eBay because you might find a sleeper in the bunch... Even then, antique sellers may not know anything about them, except they know they are old and usually they overprice them.

You may already know the dealer in London who sets up at Portobello Road under the flyover... he seems to have a variety of phono related items and may be a good source.

Thanks for the advice I only paid £4 each for them when I did find them a couple of gems they were to , "sons of Uncle Sam" Edward meeker and "all coons look alike to me" Billy Willian's.

Thanks, Jake

12jslater wrote:It seems as if in America there are many collectors fairs and antique shops that sell cylinders. However in England I have only ever come across 1 shop selling cylinders which were caked in mould.

Any suggestions other than eBay, buying antiques on eBay isn't that same as digging through a box of cylinders in real life there is just something about it.


Thanks, Jake

You have just missed the CLPGS Phonofair which took place on 24th June and was advertised in the "Society News" section of this forum. This annual event always includes a large number of cylinders, both wax and celluloid, for sale at reasonable prices.

Dear Jake,

You have indeed missed the Powick Phonofair where there are usually boxes of cylinders to rummage through. If you are interested in buying in bulk, there are usually various lots of cylinders at the CLPGS auction which will be held at the Abbey Hotel in Great Malvern on Sunday 8th October.I don't know if there will be any cylinders in the auction this year but there usually are and they can go for prices as little as the equivalent of 50p - £1.00 each.

Check the CLPGS web site for full details www.clpgs.org.uk

All the best

Tim W-W