The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I had a look at the phono section on eBAY today, searching by "items newly listed" first.

There were 22 pages of newly listed items and I swear 75% of the listed items were crapophones, one after another....

It was hard to even find real phonos items hidden between all the crapos...

Couldn't agree with you more. Like the VV-50 in mediocre condition that the seller has priced starting anywhere from $999.00 to $2800.00. Huh?!? Or the "VV 1-1", shown with an external horn (!) that is more like the bell to a baritone horn than a horn to a talking machine...supported by black steel straps bolted to the outside of an unattractive cabinet. People are actually bidding on this. Oh well.

Some beaten-up machines are great for the experienced craftsman to buy for cheap, restore, resell for a profit, and prolong the heritage of these machines. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder; the crap is at the other end.

I haven't see that many listed in a long time, but I guess with the holidays coming...

I did spot this real one, but I'm not sure if the $3,100.00 "buy it now" price is in the ballpark. The horn needs some TLC, but I think it's repairable....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victor-V-phonog ... 336eab8382

... definitely not in the ballpark if you don't have the money and/or are only out for the bargains. but in the ballpark is just relative... compared to a pricey dealer site like musical treasures or phonophan, that's cheap... for a phonograph show, it's probably average, for ebay it's maybe somewhat high, for an overpacked stantons auction that's reached saturation point, it's way way way high.

in general terms, though, ebay really has seemed overrun lately by lots of crap, fake or just downright boring machines in not such great shape, in most cases grossly overpriced (common uprights for 800 to more than a thousand, the same for portables). I think it's a product of the new listing policies... you can list pretty much anything at whatever idiotic price you like virtually indefinitely for free. so there's really not much incentive for people who are just listing things for the sake of it and have little motivation to sell to begin with.

Ebay has it's place. Phonographs (crapaphones) are not the only thing flooding there listings. I still look through the listings daily but with all the crap to sort through I'm at the point where the aggravation make it nearly intolerable. Of course Ebay is still a good venue to unload unwanted machines and parts but as a buyer you have to utilize a day just to wade through all the crap.

The internet definately has it positive side but as far as I'm concerned, I sure miss the days running around to different antique stores, auctions and shows. The thrill of the hunt was always fun. The personal interaction with like mined phonograph enthusiast has surely gone by the wayside thanks to the internet. Just look at the younger generation texting there so called friend in the next room. (holy [crap], I'm showing my age now) LOL

Just my opinion (venting)

Gary Blizzard

Oh yea Happy Thanksgiving