Going to post Victor Type E Monarch Jr $620 eBay Wed 1/26

[mastertonh]

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!
I know many of you are in Orlando, but thought you'd like an advance look at my photos of a Victor E Monarch Jr that I am about to post this Wednesday. We are planning to start a 10 day eBay auction at $620.

Here is a link to my Picasa photo album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mastertonh1 ... enToneArm#
I appreciate your comments and interest. I have enjoyed looking at your posts, and hope many of you are having a lovely time in Florida!

Kind regards,
Heather Masterton, Barn Swallow Antiques, Asheville North Carolina

Here's some of the text I'm planning to use in the listing:
1901 era Victor Talking Machine Type E, Monarch Junior

pretty 10" tiger oak case portable phonograph

original double-spring motor

outside horn, brass and black, 17" long, 9.5" wide

metal nameplate "pre-dog", serial number E 25356

front mount wooden tone arm, bullet brake, 7" turntable

need to replace: reproducer (sound box) and

repair rough solder between throat of reproducer and cast brass elbow

VERY GOOD in parts, nice and clean inside and out, lovely oak case, original metal nameplate, original horn, crank functions and motor operates, smooth and quiet, bullet brake and speed control operate well; original felt very worn, wooden arm is rough replacement and, sadly, attached to horn with a screw, horn exterior shows brushmarks, likely repainted. Rough solder narrows opening of brass elbow to connect non-functioning generic reproducer. Crank handle looks to be from Type R, attached to correct female fitting from Type E. Lacks record hold-down.

[Jerry B.]

You may receive quite a few questions. In addition to a replacement reproducer, the wood traveling arm is definitely a poor replacement. The brass elbow appears damaged not only where it attaches to the reproducer but it looks like a wood screw goes through it into the wood arm. There's no excuse for that. The crank is not correct and the record hold down is missing. To complete the machine it needs:
Long throat Exhibition - $150 (convert a rear mount for $65 plus adaptor $25?)
Record hold down - $75 (reproduction $25?)
Wood traveling arm - $75 (reproduction $40?)
Horn cradle - $40 (reproduction $20?)
Slotted crank - $60 (reproduction $20?)
Brass elbow - $60 (are reproductions available?)
*
I'd estimate that it would take $400 to $500 to complete the machine with original parts. What do others think? Jerry Blais

[mastertonh]

Thank you, Jerry - your response is about what I expected, with of course the stupid screw insertion into the horn...will note that. And the record hold-down. I did see that - I will add that note into the listing, too.

Appreciate the time you are taking!
Please - DO be picky!! I want to make a complete inventory - if this is a machine for parts, then that's what it is.
Best,
Heather

and, just to clarify - the crank has the correct fitting soldered on - it is operational, though not the correct handle appearance -

[solophoneman]

You are calling the arm a tone arm, it is, as Jerry said a traveling arm. Ugh !! someone soldered some sort of mongrel reproducer to the elbow, causing damage to a perfectly good elbow. I hope you did not pay someone good money to prepare this machine for sale for you, because quite frankly they absolutely butchered it. I am being absolutely frank in my criticism. Where did they get that traveling arm for the E ? Even if it was right for the machine (which of course it isn't, it has been placed in the wrong position.

Are you putting a hidden reserve on this Machine, or are you just starting it at $620 and see where it goes ? With all that is wrong with it, and Jerry's pretty accurate price to restore it, You certainly should take a 2nd look at where you expect to start the bidding.

[mastertonh]

Hi Solophone - Thank you once again for your frank assessment. Right, the traveling arm, not the tone arm. I sell on consignment - the sellers have had this piece for some years, just moving it along for them. Got a suggestion for a starting price? No reserves - I never use the things.
Kind regards,
Heather Masterton, Barn Swallow Antiques, Asheville, NC

[Jerry B.]

Starting price...? It would be interesting to know the selling prices for some of the more common front mount Victors at the recent Orlando show. I would expect the asking price to be from $900 to $1100 for an all original Vic R or front mount Vic E and maybe slightly more for one with a Concert reproducer. Actual selling prices might be close to the same or quite a bit less. In reality you have a parts machine and the starting price should be around $350 in my opinion. Jerry Blais

[mastertonh]

Thank you, all, for your kind attention. I will check with my client and with their permission will lower the opening bid.
I'll post a link here for your listening pleasure - perhaps tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Heather Masterton, Barn Swallow Antiques, Asheville, NC

[mastertonh]

We-e-e-ll, I forgot that I scheduled the auction to start already this evening!
[rueful chuckle] -
Here is the link - we'll see how she goes.
eBay Item #190495436200
Thank you again,
Heather

[Jerry B.]

Your ebay listing is very honest. The photos show both the good and bad and a potential buyer should know exactly what is offered. It will be interesting to see if there is an opening bid. I have done very little ebay selling. What typically generates a higher final price? Should you start with a high opening price with little activity or a lower opening price with more buyer involvement? Jerry

[JohnM]

Heather,
If you can endure one more comment -- the term "tiger oak" is a colloquialism (what I call an "auctioneer's term" -- in other words, a term based more in emotion and less in accuracy. The correct term for oak exhibiting a pronounced grain pattern is 'quarter-sawn oak'. This method of sawing is the most wasteful and thus the most expensive to saw oak. The distinctive pattern is the result of cutting across the medullary rays of the oak at a 45-degree angle. White oak yields the best result.