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I have two good portable phonographs;one is a Melody and the other is a Pal.The Melody had the soundbox rebuilt by Wyatt Marcus and has red tape on the carrying handle.The soundbox on the Pal needs to be rebuilt and the strap for the record holder is broken.I was wondering which one should I part with? edisonplayer.

I forgot to mention that with the Pal someone put electrical tape on the tonearm to hold the soundbox.edisonplayer.

From what you state, the Melody seems to be far away the better machine to keep.

Neither. Both have easily fixable problems and one day in the future you might regret what you've sold. Take it from someone who has a few regrets here and there!

That's true! I once swapped a 1940s Spanish Columbia portable (luxurious heavy model) for the not less luxurious 113a, both very beautiful, although I liked more the older 113a.
Since some time later I have regretted not to have stayed with both. The 1940s Spanish model had it's problems, but was a superb machine, and sounded fabulous... Never have seen another one like that...

Steve wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:54 am Neither. Both have easily fixable problems and one day in the future you might regret what you've sold. Take it from someone who has a few regrets here and there!

Agreed. Neither machine will sell for big money, so fix them both and keep them. Portables take up little space.
I have over 30 portables, under the beds and in the bottoms of wardrobes where my wife says they breed.

epigramophone wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:28 pm

Steve wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:54 am Neither. Both have easily fixable problems and one day in the future you might regret what you've sold. Take it from someone who has a few regrets here and there!

Agreed. Neither machine will sell for big money, so fix them both and keep them. Portables take up little space.
I have over 30 portables, under the beds and in the bottoms of wardrobes where my wife says they breed.

I've bought 30 portables since Christmas (26 from Barry's collection alone) last year. I haven't counted how many portables I have in total but I recall I had at least 22 Deccas alone when I was trying to justify to myself why I needed another one!

Steve wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 3:54 pm I've bought 30 portables since Christmas (26 from Barry's collection alone) last year. I haven't counted how many portables I have in total but I recall I had at least 22 Deccas alone when I was trying to justify to myself why I needed another one!

Obviously, with only 22 Deccas, you certainly need more! As to the original question, I agree that keeping both is the right thing to do.

CarlosV wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:25 pm

Steve wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 3:54 pm I've bought 30 portables since Christmas (26 from Barry's collection alone) last year. I haven't counted how many portables I have in total but I recall I had at least 22 Deccas alone when I was trying to justify to myself why I needed another one!

Obviously, with only 22 Deccas, you certainly need more! As to the original question, I agree that keeping both is the right thing to do.

It's kind of what we do as collectors, I believe?

Steve wrote: Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:34 pm It's kind of what we do as collectors, I believe?

Sure! We are always looking for the next one, especially when we see one identical to one we already have, but in better shape, or with a subtle difference that most laypersons will not discern. The rule is: buy it and display it side by side with its twin. I don't have many Deccas, but I lost count of how many Pathé Diffusor machines I accumulated, all have differences with respect to the others, no two are identical, and there are many more waiting to be added to the collection.