The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Someone alerted me to this short video that aired recently, with Charley Hummel:

http://science.discovery.com/videos/odd ... -doll.html

Interesting video! It's nice to see the doll could be married up with the replica phono mechanism by a longtime dedicated collector.
I'm not familiar with this series, so I wonder if these encounters between buyer and seller are staged, or at least "talked through" before taping. How else would the producers know if they have something interesting? It looks like the clip was taped at Mr. Hummel's home.
I saw there was an adjacent related clip where the previous owner of the doll (who knows how HE got it) brings it in to the dealer. I wonder what the dealer paid him?
Bob

If my memory is correct, the seller wanted $4000 and took $3000. The dealer offered it to Charlie for $4000 and Charlie bought it for $3800 and included an interesting history lesson. Jerry Blais

Of course, everything was staged and precisely arranged. As far as I remember they got in touch with Charley about two weeks before. This is television, everything is orchestrated. The the deal was real, and it's great to see Charley in TV once again.

I believe Jean-Paul Agnard made the replica phono. works for these dolls (as well as the rare wax cylinder for them). As most Edison collectors know, the dolls were a miserable failure and the majority of dolls that are found are minus the works as the remaining stock were sold sans mechanism.
And as Norman can attest, Charley's home is a wonder to behold..........................

Bill

Another interesting story on NPR... Click here for story

I found the story quite interesting. Thank you for sharing it.