The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

To begin with I happen to love cylinder records just as much as disc records. Though, I have since learned, it is much harder too sell cylinder records, than it is too sell disc ones. I don’t know if it’s the recordings themselves or the mediums, but I was able too sell 4 little wonder records, much faster then twenty plus cylinder records. Only sold six. Also, they happen to be Edison Blue Amberol records, with music that most collectors including myself aren’t terribly interested in.

Maybe it’s me, but I guess, more record collectors will buy disc records over cylinder ones?

Thoughts?


Paul

Do you think it has anything to do with the selections of music found on cylinders? I love the players, but most Edison cylinders are really boring.
Dave D

Dave D wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:17 am Do you think it has anything to do with the selections of music found on cylinders? I love the players, but most Edison cylinders are really boring.
Dave D

I will agree with you on that. Most of the music on cylinder records, especially Edison ones, the music is boring. Mainly since Edison had the final say on the music, because the wanted music he enjoyed and not modern music. Which makes it harder for me to sell cylinder records, as opposed to disc ones. The only disc records that would be harder to sell are Edison Diamond Discs.

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:12 am Also, they happen to be Edison Blue Amberol records, with music that most collectors including myself aren’t terribly interested in.

Content is certainly part of it. Also keep in mind that most people on the board are not beginners and likely already have whatever common records they are interested in. You might try lotting them up and selling them on ebay.

I would also recommend that you not do the "canceled due to lack of interest" thing on your posts. I have had people come back to me months and occasionally years after a post to ask if something might still be available.

(Edited for typos)

Ok!

52089 wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:40 pm

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:12 am Also, they happen to be Edison Blue Amberol records, with music that most collectors including myself aren’t terribly interested in.

Content is certainly part of it. Also keep in mind that most people on the board are not beginners and likely already have whatever common records they are interested in. You might try lotting them up and selling them on ebay.

I would also recommend that you not do the "canceled due to lack of interest" thing on you posts. I have had people come back to me months and occasionally years after a post to ask if something light still be available.

Ok

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:33 pm

52089 wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:40 pm

Edisonfan wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:12 am Also, they happen to be Edison Blue Amberol records, with music that most collectors including myself aren’t terribly interested in.

Content is certainly part of it. Also keep in mind that most people on the board are not beginners and likely already have whatever common records they are interested in. You might try lotting them up and selling them on ebay.

I would also recommend that you not do the "canceled due to lack of interest" thing on you posts. I have had people come back to me months and occasionally years after a post to ask if something light still be available.

Ok

Agree with 52089. Last year I sold an item that someone saw on a Google search that led to an ad of mine posted in 2014. Person signed up to PM me and I made a sale! Better late than never.

As to cylinders... I have tried for decades to be one of the cool kids and like them, but I just can't get there so I have permanently given up. They are an interesting novelty to me. Yes, part of it is the music available on them, but I DO like a lot of the jazz selections on the 5000 series BAs. Problem is, these seem to sell for a HUGE premium over the DD versions, and to my ear, the discs play far superior.

The DDs have the same issue insofar as musical content until about 1925 on.

The above is the opinion of this writer only. If that view makes a heretic, I wear the badge proudly. Different strokes.

I thought there would be buyers, since I got a lot of views, but made only two sales.

I was avoiding eBay, because the section for listing an item for sale has changed since the last time i listed on eBay. Also, i don’t want buyers to have to pay a sales tax, and i don’t have too pay a fee.

Another possible explanation is that cylinders are more of a niche market than discs. That is certainly the case in the UK, where all my collector friends own disc machines but many do not own, or want to own, cylinder machines.

From a European standpoint, I have to fully agree with epigramophone: cylinder phonographs are an oddity over here, and only some collectors buy one or maybe two machines just as a curious addition to their collection. Personally, I have never met another collector that really owns a cylinder phonograph.

I also have to agree with the point that cylinders mostly feature boring music which is completely out of fashion today. While a jazzy or swing disc record would still appeal almost everybody, as both genres happened to become evergreens over the decades, the popular songs often featured on cylinders tell absolutely nothing to contemporary people.