I read George Paul's story on the Amberola 1 and it brought tears to my eyes. I had to ask DeeDee to get me a tissue. I thought to myself that it's never happened to me. Well, never is not forever.
I am a Journeyman for Pacific Power & Light and last Thursday, the 14th, there was a wind storm that knocked power out for many areas all the way from Southern Oregon to Northern Washington. Prior to the storm, I had learned of an auction in Halsey, Oregon, about thirty minutes from my home. In the auction was some kind of Edison Amberola with records. In a storm situation my good wage turns into double time and then it was declared an "emergency" where we work sixteen hours on and eight off and are paid around the clock! It doesn't get much better especially around Christmas time. I didn't think much about the auction. I expected the it to be delayed but I didn't really care because the Amberola was probably a common 30 or 50. Yesterday, the last customers were back on line and I returned to my regular duties. On my lunch break I stopped at a local second hand store and there sat an Amberola 1-A with a "not for sale" sign on the top. The owner could hardly contain his happiness when I asked about the machine. Yes, he bought it at the Halsey auction...there was hardly anyone there...he bought it for $325 with the M reproducer. He proudly explained that he didn't realize what he bought until he returned home and did some some research. He told me that it was really rare and worth $3,000! The wheels were turning in my head. If I had been at the auction, I bet he would have dropped out around $500. I could have listed in on phono-l for a quick $2000 profit and made more money than I did on the four miserable days of storm work! Side story...I called Big Al, the guy that bought the $75 Col AB McDonald, and he was still out of power four days after the storm. I live about four hours from him and thought about offering to trade and deliver my 6500 watt generator for the AB McDonald! Pass the tissues and happy collecting, Jerry Blais __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
