The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... 73ab5f3cad

I requested a condition report and received the following information :

Condition Report : Overall fair to good.
Motor runs but speed control not working.
Dents to elbow and horn.
Wear to ebonised finish on case and pedestal.
One pillar on case re-stuck and now loose.
One lion's head mask missing it's ring.
Door stuck, handle missing and escutcheon loose.

My opinion on seeing the pictures : Potentially a rewarding project, but only if the price reflects the condition.

Then there is the 31.2% Buyer's premium, rising to a monstrous 37.14% if bidding via the saleroom.com, to be factored in.

Even if it only makes the lower pre-sale estimate of £3000, the buyer will have to pay about £4000.
You would have to want a Melba very badly indeed to pay this level of fees, to say nothing of the remedial work required.

Thank you for requesting this report. I thought about doing the same. The auctioneers had only supplied 3 poor pictures which only really show off-putting lead-solder repairs to the horn and tonearm.

The hole in the door for a handle shouldn’t be there, the door is normally opened just using the key.

I guess I would really need to view it as the photos don’t show the motor.

The buyer’s premium is indeed monstrous! There is good news though, you get 1% off the buyer’s premium if the item goes over £20,000.

Has anyone mentioned the dog chewed feet and lower plinth yet?

It's also missing its original winding handle. Has it been re-motored, I wonder?

Poor thing. It has certainly been through the wars.....quite literally, of course!

Steve wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 1:58 pm Has anyone mentioned the dog chewed feet and lower plinth yet?

No, by Jove, they haven’t but I did wonder if it was rats.

jamiegramo wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 4:36 pm

Steve wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 1:58 pm Has anyone mentioned the dog chewed feet and lower plinth yet?

No, by Jove, they haven’t but I did wonder if it was rats.

Yes I did wonder whether the machine was a barn find.

A collector friend who has viewed the machine tells me that it's condition is worse than the pictures suggest.
We all know that pictures usually flatter a machine, but you have been warned.

This lot sold for £2200 which means potentially the buyer will end up paying £3017 if they were online.

I don’t feel the price is excessive even considering the condition. The machine is rarer than the pedestal and appeared mostly complete. There is a Senior Monarch with pedestal on eBay for £3000 also needing work but a Melba is much rarer than a Senior Monarch. I considered bidding but personally I’m not that taken with the design of the Melba even as a lover of Art Nouveau. I prefer the New Melba.

I already have a Melba pedestal missing its brass hardware so if anyone has an original lion head handle I could get copied please let me know.

jamiegramo wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:18 am This lot sold for £2200 which means potentially the buyer will end up paying £3017 if they were online.

I watched the auction live on www.the-saleroom.com, and yes it sold to an internet bidder.
It must have dawned on the seller that the pre-sale estimate of £3000/£4000 was optimistic, because before opening the bidding the auctioneer announced that he had received "fresh instructions" i.e. to lower the reserve.

jamiegramo wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:18 am This lot sold for £2200 which means potentially the buyer will end up paying £3017 if they were online.

I don’t feel the price is excessive even considering the condition. The machine is rarer than the pedestal and appeared mostly complete. There is a Senior Monarch with pedestal on eBay for £3000 also needing work but a Melba is much rarer than a Senior Monarch. I considered bidding but personally I’m not that taken with the design of the Melba even as a lover of Art Nouveau. I prefer the New Melba.

I already have a Melba pedestal missing its brass hardware so if anyone has an original lion head handle I could get copied please let me know.

I do like the Melba but I'm not looking for another project. If one turned up in beautiful condition I might be tempted. I'm not sure if the Monarch and pedestal to which you refer is the same one that was £7500 about 4 years ago and has been consistently relisted ever since?

I have a Sheraton B without pedestal but whilst I am also a lover of Art Nouveau, I probably prefer my Spanish HMV No. 9 to the Melba. As for the price of this one, I agree that it was quite reasonable.

Steve wrote: Thu Aug 15, 2024 4:33 am
I do like the Melba but I'm not looking for another project. If one turned up in beautiful condition I might be tempted. I'm not sure if the Monarch and pedestal to which you refer is the same one that was £7500 about 4 years ago and has been consistently relisted ever since?

I have a Sheraton B without pedestal but whilst I am also a lover of Art Nouveau, I probably prefer my Spanish HMV No. 9 to the Melba. As for the price of this one, I agree that it was quite reasonable.

For me also I think it’s not being tempted by another project! And lack of space...

The Monarch and pedestal on eBay are in Romford and have been listed for sometime. I’m not sure what price it started at…

I think the Art Nouveau styling of the Melba is weak compared to the Spanish HMV No. 9 which has a definite fluid style. I love it. The Sheraton B is a very elegant machine.