Edison Mains Phonograph on UK eBay

[epigramophone]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/antique-gram ... 1438.l2649

This rare machine, possibly a Conqueror, appeared on eBay yesterday with a starting price of £5. Overnight it rose to £510. Where will it end?

Apologies for the poor quality picture. It is becoming increasingly difficult to download images from some eBay listings, so I had to adopt a low tech approach by making a screen print and then scanning it into my photo gallery.

The seller clearly had no idea what a treasure this is, but now they should be pleasantly surprised .

Roger.

[soundgen]

Close up picture

[epigramophone]

Thanks for the close up Mike. For the benefit of this old technophobe, how did you do it?

The high bid is now £1420 with over six days to go. Only those with deep pockets need apply.

[melvind]

A larger image...

[fmblizz]

LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY GOT TO THEM .... NO SURPRIZE THERE.

BLIZZ

[soundgen]

LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY GOT TO THEM .... NO SURPRIZE THERE.

BLIZZ

Yes even though he said "Thank you to all the people who have advised me exactly what this is.... an Eddison M-class phonograph, and that it is valuable. I will let the auction run to the end, and will not accept any buy it now offers, thank you. I have added some photographs of the plaques which are on it. I do not know if this item is complete, in fact I am sure it won't be.... so stress again it is sold as seen. If you want to come and look at it before bidding you are very welcome. Thank you again for looking, and for the advice from other e-bayers. Cash on collection is much preferred if possible, but I will accept paypal if you are aiming to collect it by courier."

[slippery]

No I don't think it's sold...the vendor is still finding parts including a Bettini reproducer and is trying to trace it's family history back to her great grandfather.I think the interest/offers and it's apparent value was a bit overwhelming...she's planning to relist it when she's finished clearing her fathers house

[epigramophone]

The vendor is doing the right thing by trying to complete the machine and researching it's history. Provenance is valuable to collectors.

I hope she will then entrust the sale to a specialist auction house, where it can be properly catalogued, described and publicised. By doing so she will also free herself of the worry and risk involved with payment and shipping. The auctioneers will take care of all that.

This machine is too important to be thrown to the wolves on eBay.

[barnettrp21122]

[soundgen]

$11,000 last year