The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In a town nearby, a family is attempting to clean out of contents of a house/barn belonging to an elderly man I met in 1992. This fellow was really into antique cars, but he bought almost anything as long as it was very old. As a result, he amassed quite a few antique phonographs. Back in 2005 I bought around 15 machines and extra parts from him, but the area where he stored his uprights was impossible to access. They were packed in with perhaps an inch to spare on each side. Now the family wants to dispose of the estate, so this morning I finally got my first look at them.

Luckily, I didn't see them 15 years ago or I'd have filled my garage. (These days I'm more interested in disposing of redundant machines and parts.) There are around 15 machines, and they all appear to be in pretty decent shape. All appear to have their sound boxes and cranks. There are even some dusters and needle tins there. (I picked nothing today.) There are 2 VV-XI in mahogany, a couple of Grafonolas (at least one in oak), an Edison LU-37, a VV-VI which the owner played for me, not one, but TWO really nice Brunswick consoles with nice Queen Anne legs and gold-plated hardware (3-way Ultonas of course), an Orthophonic 8-12 (spring-driven), a high-end Silvertone, an unmarked off-brand, 3 or 4 extra Victrola motors, and piles of records (some in Victrola albums). I know I've left out a few machines. Some of the machines are still in a place where I cannot raise the lids, but everything I saw looked complete. The fellow didn't buy junk, and everything looks to be in good shape (although dusty).

The family is motivated to sell, they realize the stuff isn't worth very much, and I have no doubt that someone could do well with this group of machines and parts. They're located in Dansville, NY, right off the I-390. I will be happy to assist anyone who's interested, if you wish. I just don't want to see them thrown in a dumpster and I'd like to help out the family.

If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll give you the family's email address.

George P.

Email sent.

I visited what the "American Pickers" would call the "honey hole" again today with a friend. It's a little frustrating because we're both just too cramped for space to buy any of this stuff. But I brought a camera this time in hopes of someone wanting to rescue one/all of these machines. Sorry for the camera work - - some of these machines are still in places that are hard to access...and some of their lids can be opened only an inch or three.

Here's a decent VV-XI in mahogany. It's all there. Here's an impressive Brunswick Type "S." I'm not familiar with this model, but it reeks of quality. EDIT: A friend has identified this model as the "Stratford." It cost $400.00 when new! That was the original price of a Vernis-Martin Victrola!
Here's the interior: Believe it or not, there are TWO of these Brunswicks! Both in the same condition. I didn't take pictures of the other one because it's still in "the cave," but I could raise the lid a little and see it's the same as this one.

Here's the VV-VI. Missing the crank escutcheon, but it plays: Here's a larger-than usual Grafonola. The lid could be raised only about an inch, so all I could see was the hardware is nickel-plated and the crank is there. Here's a decent-looking VV-XI in golden oak: Another shot of the oak XI: The oak XI to the left, and a spring-driven Orthophonic 8-12 to the right: The Ortho sound box is present and looks decent.

Here's what I thought was a high-end Silvertone, but when I raised the lid this morning about an inch, I discovered it's a "Starling." This brand is not in R.J. Wakeman's article on "Off Brand Phonographs." The cabinet, as you can see, is impressive - - almost monumental. The hardware is gold-plated. I didn't see the tone arm on this one, but the former owner didn't have anything missing a tone arm, so I suspect it's inside the cabinet somewhere (I couldn't get the cabinet doors open today). I like the looks of this one: Finally, here's a nice little VV-X. I found an extra Exhibition sound box in the barn and laid it on this machine's turntable, although it already has its original Exhibition in place: Not pictured is another mahogany Grafonola of typical size and design, an Edison LU-37 missing its reproducer and the cabinet beginning to come apart, and the second Brunswick Type S.

I realize that these machines have limited appeal for an experienced collector. But I stress that they can be had for a VERY reasonable amount. The family knows they aren't valuable. If you're interested, let me know and I'll give you an email address to contact.

By the way, I'm getting nothing out of this, other than trying to save the machines from a dumpster. Literally. I will strip the parts from them all if it comes to that, but it would be much, much better if someone would keep them intact. If I have to strip out those Brunswicks, I may never get over it.

Best to all,
George P.

I can't possibly take any, but I just wanted to say that the Starling looks very interesting indeed! A beautiful, classy looking cabinet, and "monumental" describes the style well. Hope someone saves that one or at least is able to get some good photos of it.

As I'm fixing to move in mid-August out of a tiny little Toyota, there aren't any phonographs here I could go for--but with the scarcity of them, and the fact that keeping them out of the landfill is a Very Good Thing, I'd say that buying them, renting a storage unit, and selling them one at a time is what I'd do. Just something to save the machines, get them and their parts away from the house before that goes, and then--Endless projects? Sell to other collectors? Either way, best of luck!

Sad to see good phonographs sit somewhere like that and go bad, though.

I'd sell my Brunswick colonial in a heart beat for either of those model "S".

Starling was made by Brenard Mfg. Co., Iowa, about 1919, the slogan: "The Phonograph in Which Art and Nature Blend"
They also made the 'Claxtonola' and 'Sylvan'

So, if you can get that to California as carry-on, Jerry can bring it home for us!

I'm delighted to report that all the phonographs have been sold intact, and will eventually be offered singly on the open market that way (except for the VV-XI that had been sawn in half, and the LU-37 whose veneer-less cabinet fell apart while being loaded).

George P.