The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Missing it's grille and with an extortionate 38.4% Buyer's Premium, the £30 opening price still looks potentially cheap.
The auctioneers have unhelpfully posted three identical pictures of it, not exactly earning their 38.4%.
How high must these fees rise before potential customers vote with their feet?
If the 163 makes £200 the auctioneers make £76.80 from the buyer, plus whatever they charge the seller.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... 8c00980824

One of these days I would like another 163, I sold a beautiful one I had previously due to lack of space in my previous flat and regretted it ever since, but that commission is enough to put many people off

I wonder what is in the box between the lid stay and the tonearm.

You're in UK, Alex! The land of the reentrants... I suppose you'll soon find one at a good price. They used to sell there as mushrooms! Especially cheap sales of big machines for collection only! I've been always tempted to go there with a truck!

That box looks suspiciously like an EMG soundbox carton to me (begging the question: what might be inside it?!!!) Nevermind the extortionate commission, when will people start calling out these auctioneers for being the clueless, careless clowns that most of them are, instead of the "experts" on their high pedestals that our beloved terrestrial TV here in the UK appears to regard them as.

epigramophone wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 8:31 am with an extortionate 38.4% Buyer's Premium,

Absolutely extortionate! Must be the worst I’ve heard.

epigramophone wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 12:01 pm I wonder what is in the box between the lid stay and the tonearm.

Likely vanished before the end of the action unless it’s empty or of no value.

Ditto

Has anyone considered the possibility that the original horn might also be missing?

I knew a collector a long time ago who replaced a missing 157 horn with a galvanised steel bucket and some plumbing pipe. Because he had the original fretwork it was properly replaced afterwards.

Whilst I'm not suggesting for a minute his motives were ever intentionally dishonest (he did simply buy cheap machines and got pleasure out of fixing things) I do wonder who bought that pup years later. He passed away several years ago and no doubt his motley collection of "cut and shuts" will have made it to a saleroom for onwards journey to some unsuspecting buyer.

It's extremely doubtful any auctioneer would spot it or report it. The onus is always on the buyer who must know what he / she is buying even when they're not permitted to see it.

I did email them asking for more pictures, especially the contents of that mystery box, but no response.

...God forbid they do anything to justify that exorbitant buyer's premium