Speaking of Idelias, I saw a singularly interesting one this week. The
reproducer was wrong (not oxydized), the horn was wrong (14" black with brass
bell), the crank was wrong (some bizarre brass fabrication) but the case and
bedplate finishes were original and in good condition, if covered with massive
amounts of dust. What made my heart start pumping was that the usual Edison
trademark signature plate on the bedplate was missing, replaced with an
elegantly engraved oxyidised-finish plate saying "Presented to William H. Taft
from
Thomas A. Edison." I regret that I didn't have a camera with me to photograph
it. I wish I could get my mitts on that one!!
As for the auction, there are (as Ray Wilenzik noted) well over 50 known.
Most are probably restored, Guido's included. But, like Class Ms, of which
there must be at least 100 in existence, they so rarely change hands that they
get premium prices when they do sell. Guido's was a gorgeous restoration, the
repeating attachment was a lovely addition, and the presumably original-finish
mahogany-painted metal horn was a nice touch. I felt it was probably worth
the $25K reserve, I never expected it to go more than $1K-$2K more than that.
But obviously there were at least 3 bidders who felt it was worth a lot more
than that. That's what the free market is all about. If you really, really,
REALLY want something, and it comes up for sale very infrequently, you have
hard decisions to make.
As for me, I have never regretted "overpaying" for any phonograph I own.
Eventually the price always seems to surpass what I paid, and in the interim
I've had the enjoyment of owning it and admiring it. I know of a few people
who
passed up the Idelia I own today because it was too expensive. And they were
right, it was. But I've never regretted buying it, though it was a hell of a
lot cheaper than $41K. And if someone offered me $41K tomorrow, I wouldn't
sell it. I'd rather have the machine than the money, at least at this point in
my life. Talk to me in 20 years and I may feel differently. But it's
precisely this kind of long-term ownership that makes such machines so
expensive when
they do turn up. (I'm only the third owner of my Idelia, in 98 years.
Obviously this hasn't been bandied around the collector circuit!)
Best regards,
Rene Rondeau
