Is this the end of our hobby?

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Curt A
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Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by Curt A »

India has upped their game...
Hand wind Berliner toy:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156738370725?_ ... 1506.m1851

Hardy tinfoil:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156734498186?i ... SwsV9nu3nJ

Victor VI:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156710592456?i ... SwSPBns3IR

Ducrétet Tin Foil:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156738258782?i ... Swza1nvvRQ

Hand wind Victor toy:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156717162245?
itmmeta=01JPQJG86HWCWYV7XNWQ6D367F&hash=item247d121f05:g:iw0AAOSwKfZntLsM

HMV Horn machine:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156723577673?i ... Swn3dnuNAd

Edison polyphone attachment:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156729919242?i ... Sw~WFnu3Wa

Columbia BXP on fancy base with table crane:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156729928147?i ... Sww91nu32U
"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."
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Steve
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by Steve »

Curt A wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 12:57 pm India has upped their game...
Hand wind Berliner toy:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156738370725?_ ... 1506.m1851

Hardy tinfoil:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156734498186?i ... SwsV9nu3nJ

Victor VI:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156710592456?i ... SwSPBns3IR

Ducrétet Tin Foil:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156738258782?i ... Swza1nvvRQ

Hand wind Victor toy:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156717162245?
itmmeta=01JPQJG86HWCWYV7XNWQ6D367F&hash=item247d121f05:g:iw0AAOSwKfZntLsM

HMV Horn machine:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156723577673?i ... Swn3dnuNAd

Edison polyphone attachment:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156729919242?i ... Sw~WFnu3Wa

Columbia BXP on fancy base with table crane:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156729928147?i ... Sww91nu32U
The HMV and Victor models at least look convincing! In fact the HMV is genuine, I'm almost certain, so no, it is not the end because a seller is offering expectedly "fake" items cheaply which might appear convincing enough to tempt a casual purchase. It is the end because apparently no one is buying anything anymore, including the genuine items!

OrthoFan
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by OrthoFan »

The Vic. VI looks genuine too. Authentic mfg. plate, crazed finish, plating, etc..

I'm sure there are some Indian collectors with real collections.

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TinfoilPhono
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by TinfoilPhono »

This scammer has been discussed previously. He simply steals pictures online. The most egregious is this listing for a one-of-a-kind prototype that is in the Smithsonian: https://www.ebay.com/itm/156735935707.

I reported it to eBay, with links to the Smithsonian page showing it. They responded that the listing didn't violate their listing practices. So according to eBay, it's okay to offer to sell artifacts in museums.

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jamiegramo
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by jamiegramo »

The listings are a scam. The first hand wind Berliner listed is an old repro though I doubt the seller knew that when he poached the pictures.

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Curt A
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by Curt A »

Like Abraham Lincoln once said: "Don't trust everything you see on the internet." Especially if it looks too good to be true...

I thought those Crap-O-Phone guys just improved their manufacturing techniques...
"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

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jamiegramo
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by jamiegramo »

Curt A wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:45 pm Like Abraham Lincoln once said: "Don't trust everything you see on the internet." Especially if it looks too good to be true...

I thought those Crap-O-Phone guys just improved their manufacturing techniques...
Did Abraham Lincoln really say that? Or did you read it on an Indian ebay auction? :D

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epigramophone
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by epigramophone »

Forget originality and provenance. In the antiques trade generally all that matters today is, does it have "the look".

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Curt A
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by Curt A »

jamiegramo wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:55 pm
Curt A wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:45 pm Like Abraham Lincoln once said: "Don't trust everything you see on the internet." Especially if it looks too good to be true...

I thought those Crap-O-Phone guys just improved their manufacturing techniques...
Did Abraham Lincoln really say that? Or did you read it on an Indian ebay auction? :D
Of course he did... :D
"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

Sidewinder
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Re: Is this the end of our hobby?

Post by Sidewinder »

jamiegramo wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:29 pm The first hand wind Berliner listed is an old repro though I doubt the seller knew that when he poached the pictures.
Yes, I believe made in Italy in the 1970's. The Victor version is correct.

I would have thought that stealing pictures from other websites and using them to fake "sell" on ebay is a major violation? ebay needs to check their chatbot / ai system as it is is deficient.

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