I'll lead out with a story from about 10 years ago. A fellow collector I know was bidding on a VTLA Victrola on eBay but didn't win it. Back then you could find out who was bidding and actually do contacts. A Radio collector in my hometown contacted him after the auction ended and offered up a similar machine for private purchase. This fellow collector who is a friend of mine was quite interested and asked me to check out the machine since he was a 1000 miles away. I said yes, and went to check it out. It was a pristine VTLA with all the original record boxes and no issues. I picked it up for him and held it at my house for a couple of months til he arranged to have it shipped. Since I was an obvious collector while at the seller's house he showed me around his radio collection, it was interesting and I was cordial to compliment him on his collection. I was only there to be a confidante to my fellow collector friend and do the deal.
A couple of weeks later this radio collector called me and said he had been out to some estate sales and found another phonograph which he had purchased. I told him I would contact my friend and see if he was interested. The seller said, "no, this one is for you, if you want it". he said he had enjoyed the visit and that maybe this machine was something I would like for my own collection. I asked what he had found and he said a Victrola XVIII (18). I have never heard of anyone in this forlorn western area as to ever to have have found a local machine of that caliber. I asked him again if it was a XVII or a XVIII. he was specific and then I asked about the condition. All he had to say was "Well, it's better than that VTLA you picked up for your friend". My heart was beating wildly because I knew he knew what he was looking at and didn't exagerate condition. Off I went with furniture blankets in hand to check it out. He said he would like to get $1500 for it....I had cash in hand and picked up the most minty victrola XVIII (spring motor) you could ever hope to find.
It now sits in my office where I can see it and play it if I wish. I guess a good deed done sometimes have its rewards.
I'm hoping others have stories of things stumbled upon or fate or just downright diligence to acquire a machine you had always wanted. This is my (sorry) lengthy story (one of many).

Happy Collecting,
ColoradoPhonograf