In a message dated 3/10/04 6:37:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: The sad truth is that if you accumulated your collection in the 60's and 70's, as many did, its worth about 3 times less than you paid for it, if you adjust for inflation. That may be true of the 1970s, I can't really say because I was in a sort of hiatus at that point while I got settled into my independence after graduating from college. But when it comes to buying in the 1960s, I think I did okay even factoring for inflation. A few examples, with modern dollar equivalents based on the "CPI Inflation Calculator" website (http://146.142.4.24/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl).
--Columbia Model AB "MacDonald" - cost $20 in 1962, factored for inflation $122.65 now --Victor III with flowered morning glory accessory horn - $8 in 1963, $48.42 after inflation --Zonophone Model A - $25 in 1964, $149.35 after inflation --Columbia BO with 2/4 minute adapter and Herzog half-barrel cabinet, full of records - $40 in 1963, $242.09 after inflation -- Columbia Type N - $5 in 1964, $29.87 after inflation -- Edison Triumph Model B - $35 in 1962, $214.64 after inflation -- Edison Opera - $80 in 1966 (with 120 records), $457.28 after inflation -- Victor V with wood spearpoint, MINT condition - $40 in 1965, $235.17 after inflation -- Columbia Type A, Washington decal, gutta percha reproducer, morning glory horn & stand, large box of brown wax records (at auction) - $17 in 1962, $104.25 after inflation I could go on all night, but I think it's clear that at least in the early 1960s, machines were cheap even after factoring for inflation. (There's nothing at all unusual about the ones I've listed -- everything I bought was similarly priced.) I had well over 50 machines in that era and all would still qualify as fantastic bargains regardless of inflation. Even my worst buys, like a Peter Pan at $20 ($122.65 now) aren't too horrifying. For that matter, many of the machines I've bought in the last ten years seem like fantastic bargains today, even some bought from some of the most sophisticated and expensive dealers in the business. I won't deny that common Standards and Homes are soft in the market, but there are LOTS of machines which have appreciated steadily for as long as I've been in the hobby (43 years). I have no complaints -- I've had a lot of fun and have made out reasonably well financially, though that was never my motivation. Best regards, Rene Rondeau From Zonophone2002 Thu Mar 11 04:04:06 2004 From: Zonophone2002 ([email protected]) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Message-ID: <[email protected]> i did get a victor 6 off ebay last year for 3500 so you can still find bargains but ebay has shown to all of us how common some machines are and some that are not i can remember in the 70s buying blue amberols for about 1 dollar each now they are all over the board for price happy collecting rob From Zonophone2002 Thu Mar 11 04:05:21 2004 From: Zonophone2002 ([email protected]) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Message-ID: <[email protected]> hi all you are suppossed to pay 25 percent on your capital gain profit on collectibles right steve do any of us lol rob From plavzic Thu Mar 11 04:52:33 2004 From: plavzic (Robert Plavzic) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Message-ID: <[email protected]> The 1960's prices - ouch! Also when I look at the catalogs from the early Christies Sales in London in the late 70's, hand wind Berliners were being practically given away (low 4 figures) Isn't there some sort of cycle: new / second hand / junk / quaint / cute / collectible / antique where one has a starting price which drops down till the item is junk & lots of the items are thrown away. The next generation becomes interested.......collects etc and prices start to rise. Early in my collecting days I received a good piece of advice (which I unfortunately always fail to follow) - instead of buying 3 or 4 average machines, save your money & buy 1 exceptional machine, they will always keep their value. However for me "value" is relative. I could buy shares if I wanted value (or lack of it!) happy hunting Robert > >[email protected] writes: >The sad truth is that if you accumulated your collection in the 60's and >70's, as many did, its worth about 3 times less than you paid for it, if >you >adjust for inflation. >That may be true of the 1970s, I can't really say because I was in a sort >of >hiatus at that point while I got settled into my independence after >graduating >from college. But when it comes to buying in the 1960s, I think I did okay >even factoring for inflation. A few examples, with modern dollar >equivalents >based on the "CPI Inflation Calculator" website > >--Columbia Model AB "MacDonald" - cost $20 in 1962, factored for inflation >$122.65 now > >--Victor III with flowered morning glory accessory horn - $8 in 1963, >$48.42 >after inflation > >--Zonophone Model A - $25 in 1964, $149.35 after inflation > >--Columbia BO with 2/4 minute adapter and Herzog half-barrel cabinet, full >of >records - $40 in 1963, $242.09 after inflation > >-- Columbia Type N - $5 in 1964, $29.87 after inflation > >-- Edison Triumph Model B - $35 in 1962, $214.64 after inflation > >-- Edison Opera - $80 in 1966 (with 120 records), $457.28 after inflation > >-- Victor V with wood spearpoint, MINT condition - $40 in 1965, $235.17 >after >inflation > >-- Columbia Type A, Washington decal, gutta percha reproducer, morning >glory >horn & stand, large box of brown wax records (at auction) - $17 in 1962, >$104.25 after inflation > >I could go on all night, but I think it's clear that at least in the early >1960s, machines were cheap even after factoring for inflation. (There's >nothing >at all unusual about the ones I've listed -- everything I bought was >similarly >priced.) I had well over 50 machines in that era and all would still >qualify >as fantastic bargains regardless of inflation. Even my worst buys, like a >Peter Pan at $20 ($122.65 now) aren't too horrifying. For that matter, many >of the >machines I've bought in the last ten years seem like fantastic bargains >today, even some bought from some of the most sophisticated and expensive >dealers >in the business. I won't deny that common Standards and Homes are soft in >the >market, but there are LOTS of machines which have appreciated steadily for >as >long as I've been in the hobby (43 years). I have no complaints -- I've had >a >lot of fun and have made out reasonably well financially, though that was >never >my motivation. > >Best regards, >Rene Rondeau >_______________________________________________ >Phono-l mailing list >[email protected] >http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
