I just loved Al's jaunt down memory lane. Thanks Al for that wonderful story. In speaking with fellow collectors much older than I am, that is the way it used to be. People had all original machines that they no longer needed or wanted. Let's face it, by the end of the 1920s, people that had horn machines were wanting to give them away. The horn phonograph was an 'eye sore' to many and the masses were wanting to get that new state of the art Victrola. There were many Victor VI machines left in stores for a long time after the production run was over as people just did not want an ugly horn phonograph in their home. That is why they are so rare today.
A friend of mine in his 80s has shared stories with me regarding several Victor VIs that he owns. He said that it was not uncommon to go up north and find someone wanting to sell a nice 'All Original' Victor VI with a nice 'All Original' mahogany spear tip horn for $300.00! It if was sitting on a cabinet, the seller would say, "What would you give me for cabinet?" As we all know, Al's example, and the example that my friend shares are from long lost days of the past. I will be fifty this year and my days of finding what those found in the 1960s are over. I have been collecting now for about 17 years. In 1991, I purchased a table top Silvertone phonograph at the Barn Yard Flea Market In Columbia, S.C. from a wonderful couple that ran a local antique business for $185.00. The machine, a beauty with some records, was my dream come true! I took the machine home and played it for hours. I still have it today. The only thing that this purchase did however was spark the fire for more, and more, and more, and...well, you get it. About 40 machines later, and thousands of records later, I am still in the market for more, more, and more machines. Eventually this will have to stop, or my wife is going to leave me. Maybe then I will seek out a psychiatri...@#! One thing that has kept me from getting mislead and heading into bad investments is that I quickly joined a phonograph club with very knowledgeable people. Not only did I learn (still am!) from them, but I have had the fortunate opportunity to buy some nice pieces from them. They, the experts bought, and sold to me. As for originality, my most difficult challenge is fining original slotted cranks. These fell off of the machines over the years and were unfortunately lost. The machines have out lived the cranks. I do have a very early Victor I with a nice reproduction brass bell horn. I like the horn and am in no hurry to find an original. I have a Victor III with a most gorgeous Don Gfel smooth oak horn. Never would I consider taking this horn off to put an original on. It just ain't gonna happen! I have no problem with reproduction parts. What I do have a problem with is people making a Victor horn machine out of a Victrola by nailing up the doors. Another example is when people drill holes to make other parts fit. This is where a not original phonograph becomes JUNK. I really get a kick out of those so determined to make a nice and museum quality Trade Mark machine. There is one on ebay right now. Let's face it, those are all gone! The proper reproduction parts I can deal with. The mutilation of machines and being dishonest and misleading the public, I can't. Again, as always, thanks to all that keep this group going and so enlightening! Best to all and may you find that bargain! Brantley Williston, S.C. </HTML>
