Wow -- what a surprise lay in store for me when I opened my email inbox this morning! Glad I skipped the industrial strength java or they'd be carting me off to Mercy General right now. George Vollema & Jeff Young -- thank you. Tom -- thank you, too. Tim -- thank you for chiming in, as someone else who knows me. Rich -- yes, a good write-up will (usually) go a long way. And yes, the photo technique is widespread in advertising and similar to that found in the Fabrizio/Paul books, which I've long admired, as have (obviously) countless others. In fact, I first learned of the technique from the late Peter Schiffer, their publisher, who six or seven years ago asked me to write a book for him about early wireless gizmos. It was a project I started with great enthusiasm but unfortunately never got around to finishing (I may have learned Tim's and George's photography technique, but I don't have their discipline or anything close to it.) Edward -- yes, the more clear photos, the better. Harvey -- agreed; it was a lot of dough, but it was a legitimate auction. As anyone who knows me knows (and many of you on this forum do), they're all legitimate auctions: phonos, wireless sets, early electrical apparatus, etc. George Paul -- Yes, definitely. I believe that if you take the time to build it, they'll still come -- both on ebay and elsewhere (eg, Tim's great Phonophan website). John Robles, Steve Anderson and Bruce -- I don't think I've met any of you (although, Steve, I recall seeing you at your table in Orlando a couple of years ago), but I'm sure you're all more charitable people in person than your pile-on posts would lead me to believe. John especially. Anybody who went to the lengths that you went to save the life of your pet clearly has his heart in the right place. Everybody else -- happy Australia Day (at least I think it's today). cheers, Grant (firebottles)
In a message dated 1/26/2011 10:35:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, gpaul2...@aol.com writes: Thanks, Rich, for the mention of our books. It's funny - - when asking $50 or $70 for a book, we believed it was incumbent upon us to provide the best photography we could. (I think we improved over the years!) Yet, someone selling an item on eBay, for which they expect to receive hundreds or thousands of dollars, will post one or two fuzzy, out-of-focus images taken with their phone. Along with that, they may post either a 2-line "description" of what they think the item is, or several pages of pure fantasy. I've watched Firebottles's auctions too, and I've wondered what on earth is gong on. However, after reading first-hand testimonials of the seller's honesty, it appears something very different may be happening. Most everyone buying on eBay is aware of the potential pitfalls, and poor photos/poor descriptions simply decrease a buyer's confidence. This must have an effect on the final bid. Then a seller like Firebottles provides a SERVICE; the opportunity to see the item from all angles and to read an accurate description. Maybe global buyers are willing to pay - handsomely - for such a service and the confidence it inspires. How else can a seller move run-of-the-mill merchandise at such prices? Which begs the question - is the phonograph market really depressed, or is it suffering from the sloppy practices of most eBay sellers? Admittedly, show prices aren't high either, but relatively few people attend shows. I wonder if there were a few dozen sellers like Firebottles on eBay what might happen to the market...? Just a thought. George P. -----Original Message----- From: Rich <rich-m...@octoxol.com> To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> Sent: Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:03 am Subject: Re: [Phono-L] $6100.01 Edison Standard Phonograph The photo technique is a standard advertising photography process. Seamless paper background, proper color balance, proper gray scale rendering, focus, multi angle lighting. If you want to see the affect of these techniques look at the Fabrizio/Paul series of books. The lighting shows the depth of the finish. Take a copy of the description and either line out everything that is not an actual condition statement or highlight the actual condition statements. Take it apart line by line and word by word. Good photography coupled with a well written description is the secret. Same thing that sells cars. I have seen the many comments about the possibility of either over restoration or refinishing of the items from this seller but I have never seen or heard of any real physical proof. As the quality of the usual eBay photography and descriptions is so poor I can understand the skepticism when one is presented with a quality presentation. On 01/26/2011 08:15 AM, Jeffry Young, D.O. wrote: > I will also chime in on this seller. I also know him personally, as we > both are Zonophone guys. He has purchased machines from me at a > discount, and within a month or two has had them on ebay. I have alsways > looked carefully at the pictures. At least with the machines that I have > sold to firebottles, no changes or alterations were made. > > He has a great gift for his descriptions on ebay. It can not be > understated how much good, honest descriptions increase the final > selling point of an item. Also, as I wanted to take better pictures for > my auctions, I asked firebottles how he does it. It has taken him about > 5 years to perfect this. He is not a professional photographer. By trial > and error, he uses a curved white back drop, which I believe is just > heavy paper. He uses 500 watt high intensity lighting, from multiple > directions so there is little shadow. Also, you have to be able to > manually "white balance" you camera, and use a tripod for steadiness, > and good focus. I am sure there are some cross over collectors out there > who are professional photographers that can comment on his photographs! > > Lastly, many American machines sell extremely well outside the United > States. Prices are realized that we would never see in this country. Why > do you think that Guido buys all those common American made machines to > have shipped back across the pond? Because he has a market for them. > > These comments are just my own personal experiences. Please feel free to > correct anything that I have said, if you have more or better knowledge > about the situation. I do not want to state things in error. > > Thanks, > Jeff > Wisconsin > > -----Original Message----- > From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] > On Behalf Of George > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 7:43 AM > To: Antique Phonograph List > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] $6100.01 Edison Standard Phonograph > > I've been reading this thread and the seller is a long time customer of > mine. Along with well written Ebay listings and good photos he is > extremely honest and will bend over backwards for his customers. If I > remeber correctly this machine went to an international buyer and first > thing the fellow did was over wind it and break the main spring. I ended > up repairing this at no charge to the customer including a couple of > other minor things discovered when I received it. The seller took care > of all costs. > > While I can not speak for all his machines this one was original. While > I do know the origin of it, I will not make it my business to say where > it came from other than it was a fairly recent acquisition for the > seller and the auction did not have any "Never, never land bids". At > least nothing that the seller had anything to do with. If all sellers > were as honest and straight forward as this fellow I personally would > still be buying on Ebay today. There is"junk" being peddled on Ebay with > poor descriptions and photos. I just had another of these Ebay purchases > from another unfortunate Ebay buyer last week in my shop. > Thank you, > George Vollema > Great Lakes Antique Phonograph > Newaygo MI 49337-8556 > www.victroladoctor.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: harvey kravitz > To: Antique Phonograph List > Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 9:52 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] $6100.01 Edison Standard Phonograph > > > I also followed this auction. I made a couple of posts in another > forum on this > topic. I can't believe how high this went. I can't sell a Standard for > $300.00. > Go figure. That seller must be laughing all the way to the bank. For > that kind > of money, you can get an Edison Opera.or a Victor VI. > Harvey Kravitz > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Jay Horenstein<jay.horenst...@gmail.com> > To: Antique Phonograph List<phono-l@oldcrank.org> > Sent: Tue, January 25, 2011 6:42:12 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] $6100.01 Edison Standard Phonograph > > I didn't watch this auction......why did it command such a high price? > > On Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 5:58 PM, Tim Gray > <timsanti...@northstate.net>wrote: > > > Wow! At least I know it was a honest auction. I have bought a > couple of > > nice machines from the seller. I live 30 minutes from him and picked > them > > up. He allowed me to see some of his other machines and big radio > > collection. his items are always very nice and they bring better > than > > average prices. Tim > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=190474 > 888084 > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Phono-L mailing list > > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
