The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just wow,

Looks like something you'd see at an antique dealer around here. Anything with the word "Edison" on it is priceless in their eyes.....

chrisg wrote: Wed Jun 08, 2022 8:24 pmJust wow,

I MAYBE see the earliest 1896 homes for that price but for this one, take off maybe $3300 and MAYBE someone will bite.

zenith82 wrote: Wed Jun 08, 2022 9:35 pm Looks like something you'd see at an antique dealer around here. Anything with the word "Edison" on it is priceless in their eyes.....

Agreed! These are the types of prices I am used to seeing at antique stores, malls, etc. I rarely see an affordable external horn machine other than on this forum or offered from fellow collectors.....

Unfortunately, this type of pricing is not limited to this hobby.

I am also a collector/dealer/player of vintage banjos and overpricing is rampant there as well. Many instruments seem to be chronically for sale.

$4,000 is really high. The most I’ve ever seen an Edison Home sell for was $2,500 and it was an early model from 1896 in immaculate condition.

They don’t realize Edison made thousands of these machines. They think because the name is synonymous with history and invention it must be worth thousands

Or…it could be because it was made before X year and anything made before X year must be valuable.

It’s like how these stores handle Elvis or Beatles records. They sold Millions of copies of their records you’d think they wouldn’t cost so much because they had the best selling albums ever…

But those acts are so synonymous with music history, and have so much legend around them, stores charge a premium price.

vintagetenor wrote: Fri Jun 10, 2022 11:33 am Unfortunately, this type of pricing is not limited to this hobby.

I am also a collector/dealer/player of vintage banjos and overpricing is rampant there as well. Many instruments seem to be chronically for sale.

Try anything that says "Porsche" or .

This one is less outrageous, but $800 for a Project Fireside machine that’s probably worth $200 at the most?

(While looking closely, they do seem to have a model K reproducer on there)

And I’m sure these are nice people, but judging by all the stuff they sell I’d bet they probably have no idea how to pack a machine correctly, because they have various non-phonograph items so it tips me off that they need many instructional videos on how to properly pack since they don’t specialize in these machines. (I learned that lesson 4 years ago)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255565479182?h ... Sw2UxiH5jb

AmberolaAndy wrote: Tue Jun 21, 2022 1:05 am This one is less outrageous, but $800 for a Project Fireside machine that’s probably worth $200 at the most?

(While looking closely, they do seem to have a model K reproducer on there)

And I’m sure these are nice people, but judging by all the stuff they sell I’d bet they probably have no idea how to pack a machine correctly, because they have various non-phonograph items so it tips me off that they need many instructional videos on how to properly pack since they don’t specialize in these machines. (I learned that lesson 4 years ago)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255565479182?h ... Sw2UxiH5jb

But worth every penny--after, all, it's "RARE" :

"Edison Fireside Model A Cylinder Phonograph PARTS ONLY Antique RARE Early 1900’s. No have run is includes. Phonograph has not been tested. A piece that looks to go under the cylinder is broken. We tried to shows an accurate condition in the pictures. Lid is in good condition. Please refer to pictures. Let us know if you have any other questions before purchasing."

That second "sentence" would be enough to put me off buying from this listing even if the price weren't ludicrous.