The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Watched a new episode of American Pickers (season 22 episode 18) a lady's late Husband's collection which included Phonographs.
Now normally I don't pay too much attention to made for TV shows.
However, while showing the machines she states..."this one is a Matestrophone #206 hot-air powered Phonograph $12-$15k".

Really!!!??? Could it be??. Well unfortunately hot-air models don't use a crank. Where did they get the information?
What she does have is a Paillard made Maestrophone model that has a case similar to a #206. Paillard used many case's like this for their spring powered models. Worth maybe a $1000- $1500k to a guy that has to have a Swiss model in their collection.
The reproducer is also a later type.
The guys passed on buying it....I wonder why???

And for comparison.....here is what a #206 looks like.

Thanks for the rundown on a more recent episode. It always bugged me that whenever the guys would find a phonograph, it would be overdubbed with someone's idea of "old-timey" music coming from it to prevent copyright claims.

coyote wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:14 pm Thanks for the rundown on a more recent episode. It always bugged me that whenever the guys would find a phonograph, it would be overdubbed with someone's idea of "old-timey" music coming from it to prevent copyright claims.

Agreed. Normally I would not even comment about a made for TV show. However, given the fact there is only one #206 known to survive, it would have been a very big discovery if in fact true.

Many collectors (myself included) have searched and documented all the hot-airs that are known or have surfaced to no avail. Of the three models offered #205,#206 and #207...the #205 seems to be the model most found...although very few in number. The other two models....one of each survive to date.