The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Someone should grab this beautiful Circassian Walnut VTLA. I would if it were not so far away. I keep hoping for one to turn up near me.

https://hibid.com/lot/168420111/1910-vi ... f=lot-list

Is it just me or does it seem like a lot more of these have been popping up for sale lately? Wonder what the deal is.

Interesting. Elliott Fisher became the parent of the Underwood typewriter company.

travisgreyfox wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 12:09 am Is it just me or does it seem like a lot more of these have been popping up for sale lately? Wonder what the deal is.

Obviously, none of us can say categorically why this is but I'd hazard a guess that as the phonograph collecting community gets older and more and more people are sadly either passing away or going into care homes etc, the families left behind start clearing their homes and it's usually the bigger bulkier furniture items that get sold off or discarded first, leaving the less intrusive items to be moved somewhere for sorting or safe-keeping.

it only went for 1,250??

I know, only $1250, these are strange times..

Well, it wasn't exactly pristine, nor did it have the most attractive grain pattern. Not bashing it. I'd be happy to stumble across it or one just like it some day.

JerryVan wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 12:34 pm Well, it wasn't exactly pristine, nor did it have the most attractive grain pattern. Not bashing it. I'd be happy to stumble across it or one just like it some day.

I was thinking it reminded me of a coffin stood on its end. I can see why the general public would turn away from it. There aren't the collectors about that there used to be, clearly, but I have to admit I've never understood Victrola pricing either. If that was an HMV in the UK it wouldn't have made more than £150 on a good day even if the production figures barely scraped into the low hundreds.

Steve wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:01 pm

JerryVan wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 12:34 pm Well, it wasn't exactly pristine, nor did it have the most attractive grain pattern. Not bashing it. I'd be happy to stumble across it or one just like it some day.

I was thinking it reminded me of a coffin stood on its end. I can see why the general public would turn away from it. There aren't the collectors about that there used to be, clearly, but I have to admit I've never understood Victrola pricing either. If that was an HMV in the UK it wouldn't have made more than £150 on a good day even if the production figures barely scraped into the low hundreds.

A circassian walnut VTLA/XVI used to fetch minimum $5k.

Garret wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:30 am

Steve wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:01 pm

JerryVan wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 12:34 pm Well, it wasn't exactly pristine, nor did it have the most attractive grain pattern. Not bashing it. I'd be happy to stumble across it or one just like it some day.

I was thinking it reminded me of a coffin stood on its end. I can see why the general public would turn away from it. There aren't the collectors about that there used to be, clearly, but I have to admit I've never understood Victrola pricing either. If that was an HMV in the UK it wouldn't have made more than £150 on a good day even if the production figures barely scraped into the low hundreds.

A circassian walnut VTLA/XVI used to fetch minimum $5k.

Not great investments then? It's still slightly mind-blowing the price they used to fetch when they are fairly early and basic machines, hardly optimised for sound reproduction and there are many similar models in the Victor / HMV family which sound identical. Why was this particular model so sought after? Was it the walnut?
This is near enough identical to the HMV Model 14 in walnut but the L-door design does nothing to attract British collectors. A Model 14 sold in complete and working condition not so long ago for £100.