What is something like this worth

[Carl]

I saw this for sale. The seller asked me to make an offer if I'm interested. The cabinet is included. I wouldn't know where to begin. Any suggestions? Thank you

[JerryVan]

It looks fairly nice. At first glance, the tone arm & horn elbow have had the nickel removed and are polished brass. What finish is on the horn? Painted? Bare metal? Polished brass? Hard to tell from the picture. Anyway, it could be worth anywhere from $1250 to maybe $2000, but hard to say with just the one pic and no close ups.

[kiwiatlarge]

It's pretty much a buyers market right now (except for the machines I want to buy). Vic IIIs aren't going for much more than $800 and cabinets not much at all. Depending on the condition of the nickel on the tone arm and horn elbow, if the horn has been repainted or original, and whether the motor needs a lot of work, I'd say $1,000 to $1,400 if you want it for your own collection. Start low and see what the seller says. Having a cabinet that fits it is a bonus and worth paying a bit more for. If you are buying to sell, anything over $1,000 seems risky. At the of the day, if you like it, paying a couple hundred too much is no worse than a couple of visits to the supermarket and unlike groceries, you will have it for years. Vic IIIs are a nice machine to own.

Michael

[Carl]

Thank you, Jerry and Michael.

[Starkton]

[quote=kiwiatlarge post_id=363227 time=1757359688 user_id=36290]
I'd say $1,000 to $1,400 if you want it for your own collection.
[/quote]
I would be surprised if the seller is satisfied with this. He has obviously put a lot of effort into the appearance of the ensemble, albeit partly incorrectly, and expects that daylight and a nice setting will increase the sales value. Since he apparently didn't mention the price, he's speculating on a buyer without much experience who acts on gut instinct and offers him $2,000 or more for it.

But of course, I could be wrong. Maybe he has to sell a relative's or friend's collection and is glad to receive any fair offer. I would be happy for the questioner and am curious to see how things turn out.

[Carl]

But of course, I could be wrong. Maybe he has to sell a relative's or friend's collection and is glad to receive any fair offer. I would be happy for the questioner and am curious to see how things turn out.

Thanks for your input. I don't know how it will turn out. The seller came up with $1500.00, and when I reached out, not with an offer, but to negotiate, well, he hasn't answered. Of course, the usual criteria applies: rarity, condition, provenance, etc, but I'm not well versed in knowing what determines the value of these. So, I'll see how it plays out. If he answers and we talk, or if he never answers, so be it.
Thank you

[jamiegramo]

I had assumed the machine and cabinet were superimposed onto the nice garden background but maybe not.

I’m not sure how I feel about the side of the cabinet being pine. I would prefer it all oak like the front and the machine.

[JerryVan]

I had assumed the machine and cabinet were superimposed onto the nice garden background but maybe not.

I’m not sure how I feel about the side of the cabinet being pine. I would prefer it all oak like the front and the machine.

My guess is that the cabinet sides are oak, just not quartersawn oak.

[jamiegramo]

Your guess may be right and the cabinet sides are plain sawn oak. The dark contrast in the rings does look very pine like though but may be not when viewed in person.

[VanEpsFan1914]

I have a lower-end Herzog cabinet under my Victor III and it has the same grain on the sides. I think it's riftsawn oak not quartersawn; the door is veneered in quartersawn. Quartered oak did cost more then and does still now.

This is a nice outfit all things considered and I am going to play the counsel for the opposition and say that $1500 might not be that bad if you wanted it _for your collection_ instead of just as an investment or to sell. That said, nickeling the tonearm and elbow is going to be important; the polished brass is not a good look on this and I do not think it is simply aged-nickel gone yellow. Would love to be proven wrong here.