The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I tend to get discouraged, when I see some machine that I would love to own, until I see the price. Now granted, I have one machine I did pay a bit of money for, but it was not the same price as a used car. When, I see someone pay $20,000.00 on an Edison Class M I have too ask myself why, and would want too ask the buyer the same thing? It's also why I don't buy off of eBay anymore, because the prices and the shipping costs, turn me off. Too me, personally, and this is just my opinion. Some of the more common machines should have low prices, like Victrola's and Columbia's and some Edisons, but there are the more rare machines that have the higher prices, that put me off. That's why I don't own a coin operated phonograph, or a external horn machines, because they are out of the reach of your average collector like myself. Which makes me unhappy, because people put such a high prices on machines.

Sorry, for complaining, but I just had to voice my thoughts, and opinion.

Paul

P.S. I did not know where to post this? Please move to the correct board.

When I first started buying and selling machines 40 something years ago, the external horn machines were out of my reach as a young father. Things change and partly through patience I have those external horn machines. My Columbia BII was bought a few years ago at a local auction. It needed a motor cleaning and reproducer work, but it was only $500.00 and came with a box of pre-dog 7” Victor records that a friend gave me $500.00 for. Not an everyday occurrence, but a sweet deal. Finding a way to be in the right place at the right time is my best advice. Network with people in and outside of the hobby. Search out deals in the wild. Buy something to trade and buy what you enjoy. I don’t care to have some of the rare machines. I prefer machines that make me smile when I look at them and when I play them. As Teddy said, comparison is the thief of joy, or something like that. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

Thank You!

I purchased my first machine in 1976-- At the time, $60 was much like $500 now--It was a stretch for me at the time. As a young teacher, I didn't have much disposable "fun" money, but I quickly fell in love with our incredible hobby. My next machine was a Victor "E" front mount-- well, part of one-- I got the case and motor at an auction for $7. It took me four years to finally finish the machine. Because of my limited funds, I learned to work on my machines. Many of the "big" collectors at the time were very generous with their knowledge and time and helped me learn. I still have notes that were mailed to me (no email!)by Tim Fabrizio, Allen Koenigsberg, Terry Baer and others, sharing their experiences and tips for working on machines.
Most of the machines I purchased were 'project' machines that I was able to buy very reasonably. And of course the "right place at the right time" mentioned above is important, too. I bought my Victor IV with Mahogany horn in 1978 for $70, when a complete machine was selling for around $700.

Out of necessity, my hobby has been self-supporting (a fact my wife appreciates). I buy, fix, sell and re-invest. If the funds aren't in the "phono account", I don't buy.

So Edison Fan--- Don't be discouraged. Prices have always been relative to rarity. I remember when the 'going price' for a Hexaphone was about $2500 and saw a Class M sell for $4k at one of the shows. Both were way out of my league---so I didn't buy them, but enjoyed seeing them at the shows. My early collection was mostly "common" machines, but I loved the hunt, the "find" and getting my hands greasy while bringing a machine back to life.

Keep searching and those less-common machines will eventually find you.

Brad Abell

Edisonfan wrote:When, I see someone pay $20,000.00 on an Edison Class M I have too ask myself why, and would want too ask the buyer the same thing?

Paul the simple answer is "because they can"

You can ask that question of just about anything that is bought and sold, why would someone pay 1 million dollars for a 427 Shelby Cobra or a Bugatti Veyron for 2 million, again because they can.


Chuck

Thank you Brad, and Chuck!

Edisonfan wrote:I tend to get discouraged, when I see some machine that I would love to own, until I see the price. Now granted, I have one machine I did pay a bit of money for, but it was not the same price as a used car. When, I see someone pay $20,000.00 on an Edison Class M I have too ask myself why, and would want too ask the buyer the same thing? It's also why I don't buy off of eBay anymore, because the prices and the shipping costs, turn me off. Too me, personally, and this is just my opinion. Some of the more common machines should have low prices, like Victrola's and Columbia's and some Edisons, but there are the more rare machines that have the higher prices, that put me off. That's why I don't own a coin operated phonograph, or a external horn machines, because they are out of the reach of your average collector like myself. Which makes me unhappy, because people put such a high prices on machines.

Sorry, for complaining, but I just had to voice my thoughts, and opinion.

Paul

P.S. I did not know where to post this? Please move to the correct board.

And yet I've seen plenty of desirable machines at what I would consider moderate prices languish in this forum's Yankee Trader section. More than one I would have bought had I (a) the time, (b) the disposable $$$, and (c) the space. On the whole, I think prices are down some from a few years back, at least for machines outside the "scarce as hen's teeth" category.

Thank You!

Paul,

There are lots of things I would love to own, but can't afford... in the grand scheme of things, they are really not that important. You are here on earth for a short time and when you leave, you can't take any of it with you anyway... I wish I had the foresight back in the '70s to buy a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing basket case for $5000 that I ran across in the back of a garage, but at that time coming up with $5000 was like coming up with several hundred thousand now... hindsight vs foresight.

That being said, and also I am not a rich guy, I have found some really rare machines that I would never have thought would come my way for anything I could afford. I just enjoy the hunt and whatever turns up makes me happy. I have found in the wild a Victor rigid arm M that needed restoration, a Victrola XX in an antique shop at a very reasonable price, a Columbia Perfected Graphophone Type G with a wood mandrel (much rarer than an Edison Class M), a Columbia BII with a nickel horn, a Zonophone Concert backmount machine and all just by happening onto them at the right time. My Columbia AS coin-op came as a result of trading other stuff that I had picked up over the years to another collector who wasn't as interested in the AS as I was, but changed hands with no cash involved... I always wanted a coin-op cylinder machine, but never could afford one. So, look around, ask questions to people you come in contact with - collectors or not, and maybe something will come your way. If it doesn't, don't be discouraged... just think how fortunate you are to have been born in the US and that this collecting thing is not even an option for millions of people in the world.

When I start thinking about all of the things I passed by or missed, I actually count myself blessed, since I didn't have to store them and take care of them all these years... Think of what your life would have been like to be born in Germany in 1920... especially if you were Jewish...

Valid Point!

Thank You Curt!