www.phonotrader.com

[Sidewinder]

After only 2 weeks of existence this site seems to be picking up. I got a Fireside at a very reasonable price off it.

[Flvice]

Nice site... Mostly European traders though

[WDC]

I'll be happy if anyone can proof me wrong but so far I couldn't find any info about who is actually running this site.

Still an interesting concept, however I find it somewhat disturbing to be required to register on a website with my e-mail, full name, and street address while the operator is hiding his identity.

To me it is rather strange, especially when they claim to have "personnel to determine" if an offered item is genuine or not. Without any given name there is simply no expertise or profession one can rely on, simply because I don't know who's behind it.

Also paying fees to an anonymous business partner does not really provide a very trustworthy impression. Just my personal thoughts...

[gramophoneshane]

It's Howard Hopes latest scheme. I guess he ruined his usual website where he would normally sell his machines due to the childish nonsense he plastered the site with, and this way he can get a percentage from other successful sellers, and also get first pick of anything listed cheaply, or being sort by special customers who he knows will pay more.
Good way to keep a little bit more control of the UK market I guess
Most of the items listed last time I looked are owned by "phonoking", and if you click on that name in the listing, Mr Hopes details come up.

[Swing Band Heaven]

Anyone care to hazard as guess as to who is behind the Neo Edison site that was discussed recently. Doesn't particularly both me but the person just seemed to be evasive about revealing who they were.

S-B-H

[gramophoneshane]

Actually, I dont think he's involved with that "other" site.
The UKs king of gramophones would surely have known that "R/D" means "registered design", as posted earlier here in the German cased puck thread.
Besides, there'd be nothing in it ($) for him either

[gramophone78]

I looked into who is behind "phonotrader". It is being run by a man in Switzerland and has nothing to do with Howard Hope.However, Howard has placed ads on the site. Since "for sale" ads are free for the next little while,I would think that is why it is just another avenue "free" for a dealer or whomever to use.Soon, a charge will be impossed for ads.One thing I just learned, "Wanted" ads are not free at this time. A charge of 5.00 per month per ad is the fee.
Although new. It seems like a nice "outlet" for the European collectors.It's plan is to offer "real",spam free items to collectors.Although,I'm not a big collector of European machines. I must say that there are some interesting things on there already.I wish it it well.

[gramophoneshane]

It is being run by a man in Switzerland and has nothing to do with Howard Hope.

Are you sure? And he has no connections with the Swiss collector or the moderation(?) of the site?
When it first started, he and one other guy were the only 2 people with listings, and most were Hopes.
It does appear however, that Mr Hope is using the site as an outlet for his lesser machines, and the better stuff is being posted on his normal website. Some machines, like his Triumph, are posted on both sites, and a Gem is listed as sold on the HH site but still for sale on the PT site.

[gramophone78]

Shane, My good friend is a very good friend of the man that has started this. I'm sure (since it's is just starting out) he will welcome all who care to list.However, as I wrote it is only free for selling until the date stated on the site. You may want to send the man a note and I'm sure he will state who he is (I can't see why the won't). I also agree and feel that it has nothing to do with the "Noedison" site.I think the layout is good and as I wrote,I hope it works out for those that use it.

[Sidewinder]

My goodness, the venom!

As I understand, it is a group (or 1?) collectors from Switzerland and Germany who started this. The server from what I see is based in Switzerland. Would it make some people here happier if they were listed individually on the site? I could ask the person I met who is involved why they have not identified themselves individually. Mentioned was that people take it in turn to check whats coming in. If I was doing something like this I would not like my personal details plastered over the web. I can imagine the horror of being telephoned at all hours!

I do not see why, when anything interesting happens to promote our hobby, there is this odd reaction?

This segways well to another topic that concerns me. I'm just back from lunch at a fellow collector and the primary conversation was why are phonograph prices falling, while uninteresting things (from my perspective) like tinplate toys are fetching massive prices. I have seen tinplate stuff sell near the $100'000 mark. Conclusion was that there are no crapobingtinplate cars, ships and aeroplanes, and that the hardcore collectors have documented the subject very well.

So I can only support that a website thats
1.) trying something new to enhance our field of collecting
2.) providing a crapophone free trading platform
(crapophones are poison to the hobby - once crapophoned, twice shy????)
3.) hopefully enhances the hobby because newbies know what they buy is not rubbish

The more people that can be interested in the hobby the better.

Not wanting to stir anything up, just a comment - I can imagine that the UK lost prospective new collectors, and some damage was done to the hobby, with all the dirty washing that went on on the former UK board.