No association with The Mad Picker. No vested interest in any of the items listed.
The URLs contain brief if not overly informative (or always completely accurate) descriptions of the items. Hover cursor over link and look at the URL preview area of your browser. In Vivaldi, this would be the lower left corner of the task bar.
The Mad Picker is located in Aldergrove, BC. It is reasonably close to three border crossings with Washington State. Getting there would be doable if there were something you just had to have.
Mostly, it is just interesting to look.
https://www.icollector.com/Vintage-Rowe ... _i49308620
https://www.icollector.com/Victor-Berli ... _i49309145
https://www.icollector.com/Early-Columb ... _i49309154
https://www.icollector.com/Vintage-Edis ... _i49309173
https://www.icollector.com/Large-Box-Of ... _i49309174
https://www.icollector.com/Large-Box-Of ... _i49309175
https://www.icollector.com/Edison-Home- ... _i49309182
https://www.icollector.com/Early-Vintag ... _i49308373
https://www.icollector.com/Vintage-Horn ... _i49309258
https://www.icollector.com/Edison-Floor ... _i49309272
https://www.icollector.com/Early-McLaga ... _i49359196 (very pretty)
https://www.icollector.com/Misc-Phonogr ... _i49359220
https://www.icollector.com/Vintage-Phon ... _i49359219
https://www.icollector.com/Early-Mason- ... _i49359222
Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
-
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1240
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm
- Inigo
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4469
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
The off brands look very interesting... That Mc Lagan, and the other from Toronto...
Inigo
-
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1240
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
McLagan is the king of Canadian off-brands: https://www.capsnews.org/capp/mclagan/mclagan.htmlInigo wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 3:25 pm The off brands look very interesting... That Mc Lagan, and the other from Toronto...
They custom-made a wide variety of machines under other names, as well, for various distributors and stores.
And the other one: https://www.capsnews.org/capp/mason&ris ... risch.html
- Inigo
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4469
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
Thanks for the Mac Lagan connection... they're big and beautiful machines indeed... precious!
I wonder how does it perform with that curious Fletcher soundbox with these tiny holes and the second air chamber. I've seen Fletcher soundboxes before, but I wasn't aware of such special technology, never noticed the six holes etc.
I wonder how does it perform with that curious Fletcher soundbox with these tiny holes and the second air chamber. I've seen Fletcher soundboxes before, but I wasn't aware of such special technology, never noticed the six holes etc.
Inigo
-
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1240
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
The Fletcher arm design is quite innovative, too. It has some sort of ring weight at its base which is turned to adjust tracking force for different form-factor records. However, this mechanism is plagued by faulty materials engineering--self-destructing/crystallising pot metal. As you know from your A-V machine, this sort of materials engineering problem is all too common.Inigo wrote: Sun Jun 25, 2023 6:21 am Thanks for the Mac Lagan connection... they're big and beautiful machines indeed... precious!
I wonder how does it perform with that curious Fletcher soundbox with these tiny holes and the second air chamber. I've seen Fletcher soundboxes before, but I wasn't aware of such special technology, never noticed the six holes etc.

- Inigo
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4469
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
Yes, it's a pity to see it degrading and being incapable of helping it...
Inigo
- Curt A
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 6830
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
- Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
- Location: Belmont, North Carolina
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
I have two of these Fletcher tonearms and reproducers. Now I know what the six holes and air space behind the diaphragm are supposed to accomplish. I never thought they were designed for fibre needles...
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- Inigo
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4469
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: Items from Upcoming Mad Picker Auctions
Aren't you curious about restoring one of them and try how it sounds when adapted to different machines? I would try one or the big horns (let's say, a Credenza) and also one of the medium-sized horns, as a tabletop Victrola VI or an external horn Victor with a good morning glory horn ..
Inigo