The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks as always for your help. Instead of always asking you guys what the value is on a certain machine in decent shape is there not a book or another website that can be gone to to find out what the current market brings. Example when I had my car collection I always new what a hemi cuda or 67 435 horse vert or a 6 pack bird was worth from number 1 to number 5 condition. There were lots of collector car guides for us to use and to help with car collecting. Now that im just learning about different models table tops and upright victors. the look for the dog book has taught me alot . And I would also like to say vlta Mark was very pleasant to talk to and was very helpful thanks

there really aren't any books that will give you a very good idea as to value, except in very broad, relative terms. your best bet is keeping an eye on ebay and what dealers are selling things for at shows and online. when you ask value questions on a site like this, the people whose advice you're soliciting are pretty much just basing their estimates on just that.

The market for any given item fluctuates based upon any number of factors. Trying to understand this hobby the lazy way is a recipe for disaster. You either know your stuff, or you don't -- or, you're learning. A static price guide is a bad idea. Many price guides for other antiques are notoriously corrupt. If I am the major collector of something and I am writing a "price guide", what is to stop me from valuing the items I already have high, and valuing the items I don't have low? There is no Antique Phonograph Values for Dummies book.

About the closest thing you'll find to that is the guide Paul Eddie provides on Victor-Victrola.com --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/Production%20Volumes.htm


This, of course, is not really a price guide. In fact, Paul provides the disclaimer: "Note that some 'rare' models do not necessarily have high value, depending on collector interest and/or current availability. "

What it does do is to give you an idea about how likely it is that you might come across a certain model. To a collector, this is important. If you pass up a chance at acquiring a VV-XI in not so great condition, chances are, you'll find another one in better or much better condition before too long--possibly for a cheaper price. If, however, you decide not to get a VV-XIII because it has a few nicks on the edges, you could wait a long, long time before another comes your way--like forever...

DS

Looking at ebay prices, as some have suggested, isn't too bad a resource. However, do not just look at buy-it-now prices on items currently for sale. Most of those sellers are just fishing for folks who are unaware of real prices and are looking to make a killing. Look only at prices realized for items actually sold. Also, factor in that ebay prices tend to be higher than most others. The recent Stanton auction had items selling below ebay standards. Even some antique shops don't get ebay sized prices for phonographs.

There is also some regional differences in value depending upon the health of the local economy and upon the number of phonographs that locale had originally. Northern Michigan for example is very sparse as phonographs are concerned. After the turn of the century most northern inhabititants were loggers, trappers, etc. and few had any money for phonographs.

I've looked at price guide books on antiques and flipped to the music section. Every time I have been amazed how inaccurate they are concerning talking machines. I ultimately conclude that the entire book is worthless. There's nothing I hate more than talking to an antique dealer and the person says "the Book says it worth....".

Your best bet, as a new collector, is to get acquainted with a trusted collector and just ask. I've told new collector friends to give me a call and I'll give them the best over the phone appraisal and advice that I am capable. I also tell them that I'll never step on their toes by buying something out from under them.

Happy collecting, Jerry Blais