[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
Believe it or not, those were not low prices for the time. It was still not uncommon for great finds to turn up at auctions or come out of farm houses. Nowadays most everything is picked over and Ebay has made most everyone a dealer eager to make a fortune. Even when something new comes to the market the owner has been told Oh this one is very unique and rare a thousand times. Eric Stott - Original Message - From: Patrick Gunn pgvancou...@yahoo.com To: phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 6:02 PM Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... I recently acquired a number of Antique Phonograph Monthly publications from the 1970's, and I've posted a few ads from the For Sale section from 1975. Since I was then still in diapers, I can only discipline my parents for not getting me started early enough by buying these machines, and storing them away for 20 years... ;-) Victor Mahogany Music Master horn $100. Morning glory horn with flowers, $75. Edison Amberola I, mint, 2-4 M reproducer, 100 cyls, $900. Victor Model VI, original mahogany horn, gold pillars, WITH original rare matching cabinet shaped liek the machine, but on a larger scale. $950. Edison Fireside, Model A, orig horn, K reproducer, repro crane, $390. Edison Concert Phono, drawer type, has converted 2 mandrel, but needs the 5 mandrel. $490. Edison and Columbia 5 Concert cylinders, fine condition in boxes, $30. each Victor MS $350. Edison Spring Motor, w/ 18 brass horn, $750. Victor VI, 31 black/brass org. horn, $600. Berliner Trademark Gramophone, Canadian model, $750. Happy collecting! Patrick __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search - Find what you're looking for faster http://search.yahoo.com ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
Here's another fun way to look at it. $100 in 1975 equates to $344 in 2004. Loran On Wed, 2004-03-10 at 15:18, Eric Stott wrote: Believe it or not, those were not low prices for the time. It was still not uncommon for great finds to turn up at auctions or come out of farm houses. Nowadays most everything is picked over and Ebay has made most everyone a dealer eager to make a fortune. Even when something new comes to the market the owner has been told Oh this one is very unique and rare a thousand times. Eric Stott
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
Right you are Eric. Some of those prices were not that great. Roughly speaking, you could multiply them by a factor of four to get the prices in 2004 dollars. In 1975 I was a senior in high school and I had been in the hobby for about a year. I started out with an Edison Amberola which was given to me by a friend. I used to buy mint Popular Series Blue Amberol cylinders from a local dealer in original boxes with lids for about $2 each. Back then I thought this was a little pricey and I bought very few. Today, this price would be considered a great bargain! You could also pick up nice cabinet model Victrolas at flea markets and through newspaper ads for about $100. Usually, they would include record albums in the deal. Of course, I was just a broke teenager, and $100 back then was a lot of money. Ah, those were the days! -Phil http://www.engineeringexpert.net/edphono.htm
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
So if this was true in 1975... Victor Model VI, original mahogany horn, gold pillars, WITH original rare matching cabinet shaped liek the machine, but on a larger scale. $950. It would be $3268 today. I'm ready to buy one on the spot for $3268!!! Good point about prices though. With inflation and such the deals aren't really as astounding as them seem. But what a way to dream about old prices available today. Dan - Original Message - From: Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com To: Eric Stott est...@localnet.com; Antique Phonograph List phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Here's another fun way to look at it. $100 in 1975 equates to $344 in 2004. Loran On Wed, 2004-03-10 at 15:18, Eric Stott wrote: Believe it or not, those were not low prices for the time. It was still not uncommon for great finds to turn up at auctions or come out of farm houses. Nowadays most everything is picked over and Ebay has made most everyone a dealer eager to make a fortune. Even when something new comes to the market the owner has been told Oh this one is very unique and rare a thousand times. Eric Stott ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
I paid far more in the 70's for this stuff. In 1975 you couldn't touch a Standard for under $600.. You can find them on Ebay now for 300. Do the inflation math. --- Daniel Melvin d...@old-phonographs.com wrote: So if this was true in 1975... Victor Model VI, original mahogany horn, gold pillars, WITH original rare matching cabinet shaped liek the machine, but on a larger scale. $950. It would be $3268 today. I'm ready to buy one on the spot for $3268!!! Good point about prices though. With inflation and such the deals aren't really as astounding as them seem. But what a way to dream about old prices available today. Dan - Original Message - From: Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com To: Eric Stott est...@localnet.com; Antique Phonograph List phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Here's another fun way to look at it. $100 in 1975 equates to $344 in 2004. Loran On Wed, 2004-03-10 at 15:18, Eric Stott wrote: Believe it or not, those were not low prices for the time. It was still not uncommon for great finds to turn up at auctions or come out of farm houses. Nowadays most everything is picked over and Ebay has made most everyone a dealer eager to make a fortune. Even when something new comes to the market the owner has been told Oh this one is very unique and rare a thousand times. Eric Stott ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search - Find what youre looking for faster http://search.yahoo.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
Adjusted for inflation, phonographs actually are cheaper today. The exception of course are the rare desireable machines which have always appreciated far greater then average. Case in point, I went to my first Union show in 1987 and bought an Edison Concert without a horn for $2200. Today, I would be hard pressed to get much more. my records show that I bought a Vic 4 at a caps show with a MG horn for 1600. in 1989. They are going for about 1200. on ebay now. Edison Standards used to sell in the 500. range now they are about $375. Just my observation, but check your records, you will be surprised. Al Menashe - Original Message - From: Phillip Sands sinatrafang...@yahoo.com To: Daniel Melvin d...@old-phonographs.com; Antique Phonograph List phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 6:02 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... I paid far more in the 70's for this stuff. In 1975 you couldn't touch a Standard for under $600.. You can find them on Ebay now for 300. Do the inflation math. --- Daniel Melvin d...@old-phonographs.com wrote: So if this was true in 1975... Victor Model VI, original mahogany horn, gold pillars, WITH original rare matching cabinet shaped liek the machine, but on a larger scale. $950. It would be $3268 today. I'm ready to buy one on the spot for $3268!!! Good point about prices though. With inflation and such the deals aren't really as astounding as them seem. But what a way to dream about old prices available today. Dan - Original Message - From: Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com To: Eric Stott est...@localnet.com; Antique Phonograph List phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Here's another fun way to look at it. $100 in 1975 equates to $344 in 2004. Loran On Wed, 2004-03-10 at 15:18, Eric Stott wrote: Believe it or not, those were not low prices for the time. It was still not uncommon for great finds to turn up at auctions or come out of farm houses. Nowadays most everything is picked over and Ebay has made most everyone a dealer eager to make a fortune. Even when something new comes to the market the owner has been told Oh this one is very unique and rare a thousand times. Eric Stott ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search - Find what you're looking for faster http://search.yahoo.com ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
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. When I sell my machines, am I supposed to tell Uncle Sam? Because if I paid 300 for a machine in 1980 and am lucky enough to sell it for 350 today, I lost money. But the govt doesn't look at inflation. Am I supposed to declare that as profit? I am never clear on where collections enter into paying taxes. --- Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com wrote: Ha! You've fallen into my trap, grasshoppers. Once you equalize the dollar values, you have to factor in the collectability of the machine. We all know that collectability is the inverse factor of your ability to reach for your wallet and your credit rating among other collectors :) Loran Phillip Sands wrote: I paid far more in the 70's for this stuff. In 1975 you couldn't touch a Standard for under $600.. You can find them on Ebay now for 300. Do the inflation math. --- Daniel Melvin d...@old-phonographs.com wrote: So if this was true in 1975... Victor Model VI, original mahogany horn, gold pillars, WITH original rare matching cabinet shaped liek the machine, but on a larger scale. $950. It would be $3268 today. I'm ready to buy one on the spot for $3268!!! Good point about prices though. With inflation and such the deals aren't really as astounding as them seem. But what a way to dream about old prices available today. Dan - Original Message - From: Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com To: Eric Stott est...@localnet.com; Antique Phonograph List phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Here's another fun way to look at it. $100 in 1975 equates to $344 in 2004. Loran ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search - Find what youre looking for faster http://search.yahoo.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
That's a great question that could apply to anything we collect, or even if we decide to hold a garage sale. Any experts on the list who would like to share the general guidelines? Loran Phillip Sands wrote: 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. When I sell my machines, am I supposed to tell Uncle Sam? Because if I paid 300 for a machine in 1980 and am lucky enough to sell it for 350 today, I lost money. But the govt doesn't look at inflation. Am I supposed to declare that as profit? I am never clear on where collections enter into paying taxes.
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
In a message dated 3/10/04 6:37:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, sinatrafang...@yahoo.com 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 (zonophone2...@aol.com) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Message-ID: d1.73d8472.2d819...@aol.com 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 (zonophone2...@aol.com) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Message-ID: 131.2b0c9d86.2d819...@aol.com 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: bay13-f34g04fecezk20002d...@hotmail.com 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 sinatrafang...@yahoo.com 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
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
I have only been collecting for about 3 years. Would have been nice to have started earlier like most of you on the list. To those of you who helped me out with my new find ( Victor V with the spear tip oak horn and the Herzog cabinet). I found someone who lives 45 miles away from where I live who can restore the horn if he see's if it really needs it done. And replace the springs if needed. I have also tried some of the GoJo Cleaner on a part of the victor, and really noticed how black the towels were when I wiped it off. I will see what this guy says about the machine when I take it to him this Sunday. Thanks Everyone, keith -Original Message- From: Phil O'Keefe [mailto:pokeefe...@ameritech.net] Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 3:31 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... Kieth, 2-Minute cylinder phonographs generally don't sell for as much as 4-Minute or 2/4-Minute combination phonographs. I think that is because of the rarity of 2-Minute cylinders in these times. There's plenty of 4-Minute Blue Amberols and Indestructibles around, so the demand for 4-Minute machines is higher, and hence the prices are higher. It's funny how some antique dealers have no idea of what they are selling and try to make a killing on it. I've seen some real junkers in antique stores selling for unrealistic prices. Like you say, they never move. The dealers really crack me up when they try to sell common Blue Amberol records in poor condition (missing boxes, cracks, splits, scratches, broken plaster cores, etc.) for $12 or more. I came across a dealer a few months ago with a pile of very moldy Edison Amberol and Gold Moulded cylinders in the display case. They were marked $8 each and they were reduced to $4 each. She told me that a previous customer informed her that they badly damaged, so hence the price reduction. I bought one from her because the box was rare. -Phil http://www.engineeringexpert.net/edphono.htm On 3/11/04 7:12 AM, Carter, Keith keith.car...@hq.doe.gov wrote: I paid $500.00 for my standard-A back in October at an Antique Mall. I saw one in New Oxford, Pa the guy was selling it for $1200.00 and looked like it been run through the mill. It's more then likely still there. keith ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com From estott Thu Mar 11 15:21:24 2004 From: estott (est...@localnet.com) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... In-Reply-To: bc76289e.45e7%pokeefe...@ameritech.net References: 97c7ef59a387d6118a8a000802564c4603169...@hqgtnexch1.hr.doe.gov bc76289e.45e7%pokeefe...@ameritech.net Message-ID: 18579.24.105.165.162.1079040082.squir...@webmail.localnet.com On a similar tack I went into an antique shop near Williamstown Mass. some yerars ago. It had a Going Out of Business, Make an Offer sign. There was a large quantity of 65 note piano rolls. (For those who don't know, it's a format that will only play on caetain pianos.) The selections weren't exciting, but I had a Pianola, so I askled what he wanted, he said Make an offer and I said how about a few bucks a roll. (I was aiming for a buck or two a roll, although there were a couple selections I'd phave paid five bucks for.) He was livid with rage. Insulted! He pointed out how old they were, in the original boxes. He said that he could get fifteen dollars a roll! I pointed out that they were not able to be played on regular player pianos. He looked at me like I was an idiot. People don't buy them to PLAY he bellowed- They buy them for Antique Authenticity!!!I'd have given him two hundred dollars or more in business. I doubt that he moved many of them at fifteen dollars. No wonder he was going out of business. Eric Stott I came across a dealer a few months ago with a pile of very moldy Edison Amberol and Gold Moulded cylinders in the display case. They were marked $8 each and they were reduced to $4 each. She told me that a previous customer informed her that they badly damaged, so hence the price reduction. I bought one from her because the box was rare. -Phil
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
On Thu, 2004-03-11 at 14:37, Phil O'Keefe wrote: Yeah, a lot of antique dealers are in the wrong line of business. Amen! What gets me is seeing a piece set in an antique shop for YEARS, never getting marked down, never moving. Makes you wonder what school of business they didn't graduate from. Loran
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
They didn't graduate from the research and experience school! As a former antique dealer myself, who owned a 2,000 s.f. antique mall, I must relate the other side of the issue, and that is when people come in wanting to sell something of little value but think it is a valuable treasure because it was their grandmother's. I have been asked to pay ridiculous prices for common goods. Usually the would-be seller has never seen another example of the item in question, so it must be a rare find and I am just trying to 'rip them off'. John Robles Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com wrote: On Thu, 2004-03-11 at 14:37, Phil O'Keefe wrote: Yeah, a lot of antique dealers are in the wrong line of business. Amen! What gets me is seeing a piece set in an antique shop for YEARS, never getting marked down, never moving. Makes you wonder what school of business they didn't graduate from. Loran ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com From bruce78rpm Thu Mar 11 17:10:38 2004 From: bruce78rpm (bruce78rpm) Date: Sun Dec 24 13:10:36 2006 Subject: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... References: 20040311225929.76004.qm...@web80601.mail.yahoo.com Message-ID: 000601c407be$128e1aa0$30862...@ne2.client2.attbi.com I am convinced that there are some folks who display items at antique malls or shows that really do not care whether they ever ever sell anything at all, but rather are just content to display their ridiculously priced so-called treasures for all to gaze at in wondrous amazment, including their rare and one of a kind $25.00 78rpm recording of Smiles by Campbell Burr on the Columbia Label. - Original Message - From: john robles john9...@pacbell.net To: Antique Phonograph List phon...@oldcrank.com Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 5:59 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975... They didn't graduate from the research and experience school! As a former antique dealer myself, who owned a 2,000 s.f. antique mall, I must relate the other side of the issue, and that is when people come in wanting to sell something of little value but think it is a valuable treasure because it was their grandmother's. I have been asked to pay ridiculous prices for common goods. Usually the would-be seller has never seen another example of the item in question, so it must be a rare find and I am just trying to 'rip them off'. John Robles Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com wrote: On Thu, 2004-03-11 at 14:37, Phil O'Keefe wrote: Yeah, a lot of antique dealers are in the wrong line of business. Amen! What gets me is seeing a piece set in an antique shop for YEARS, never getting marked down, never moving. Makes you wonder what school of business they didn't graduate from. Loran ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
My other hobby was collecting railroad memorabilia until the prices got too far out of line. I used to go to several shows each year and I often saw this pricing mentality among the dealers. They would buy tables at the show and they would have the same, rare over-priced stuff on the tables year after year. Some of them came from far away and had a lot of stuff to cart in... but it never sold! I often wonder why they kept lugging it around from show to show if it didn't sell. What's the point? I haven't been to many phonograph shows to see if this phenomena occurs in this hobby. -Phil On 3/11/04 4:53 PM, Loran T. Hughes lo...@oldcrank.com wrote: On Thu, 2004-03-11 at 14:37, Phil O'Keefe wrote: Yeah, a lot of antique dealers are in the wrong line of business. Amen! What gets me is seeing a piece set in an antique shop for YEARS, never getting marked down, never moving. Makes you wonder what school of business they didn't graduate from. Loran
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
This is off topic for phonos but relates to the dealer's not knowing their business...I went into a local antique shop a couple of years ago and was looking at the wares when I spied one of those cardboard display boxes with glass in the lid to display the contents. It contained what looked like plates out of an old book. Upon closer examination it was of a religious nature (30 plates depicting the passion of Christ). Each plate was on very thin paper tacked to a larger piece of paper. They were of very fine detail. I was about place it back on the shelf when I noticed writing on the back of some of the prints. It was in a sepia tone ink and looked to be latin and of a style of writing that was unusual. I ended up buying the set on a whim. Trying to do some research, I took them to a local book seller who claims to deal in antique and rare books. He took a look at them and said they were JUNK, Just throw them away I didn't accept his word for it and did a little more research. I asked questions online then I took them to the Art Museum in Toledo and had the Print curator look at them. I got kind of excited when she put on cotton gloves to handle them. She then pronounced them 16th century engravings by a Flemish old master. This was like a Antiques Road Show Moment! No value was given because she cannot do appraisals. However the book seller was an idiot and who knows how many valuable items have been pitched on his advice and the selling dealer could have done the research the same as me and done much better. It just goes to show, always do the homework!!! I haven't paid for an appraisal yet, but maybe the Antiques Road Show will be in the neighborhood sometime soon! Gregg Cline Phil O'Keefe wrote: Yeah, a lot of antique dealers are in the wrong line of business. Years ago, my friends and I got permission to go through an old foundry that was going to be torn down. We took all kinds of really beautiful wooden patterns for gears and machinery components. One pattern was for a big pulley with beautiful spokes on it. I didn't want it anymore so I took it down to the local antique store and tried to sell it to the owner. She looked at me like I was an idiot and said, Absolutely not interested! As I was walking out the door, a customer was on the front steps and he stopped me to ask what I was carrying. I told him what it was and he asked if I wanted to sell it. He paid me a surprising amount of money for it. The store owner saw what had happened and became furious and threw both of us off of her front porch and told us never to come back again! -Phil http://www.engineeringexpert.net/edphono.htm On 3/11/04 3:21 PM, est...@localnet.com est...@localnet.com wrote: On a similar tack I went into an antique shop near Williamstown Mass. some yerars ago. It had a Going Out of Business, Make an Offer sign. There was a large quantity of 65 note piano rolls. (For those who don't know, it's a format that will only play on caetain pianos.) The selections weren't exciting, but I had a Pianola, so I askled what he wanted, he said Make an offer and I said how about a few bucks a roll. (I was aiming for a buck or two a roll, although there were a couple selections I'd phave paid five bucks for.) He was livid with rage. Insulted! He pointed out how old they were, in the original boxes. He said that he could get fifteen dollars a roll! I pointed out that they were not able to be played on regular player pianos. He looked at me like I was an idiot. People don't buy them to PLAY he bellowed- They buy them for Antique Authenticity!!!I'd have given him two hundred dollars or more in business. I doubt that he moved many of them at fifteen dollars. No wonder he was going out of business. Eric Stott ___ Phono-l mailing list phon...@oldcrank.com http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
What gets me is seeing a piece set in an antique shop for YEARS, never getting marked down, never moving. Makes you wonder what school of business they didn't graduate from. Loran In Europe there was a charming term for items in a shop that just wouldn't move. Shop Daughters - the daughter you just can't marry off. Eric Stott
[Phono-L] Phono buying in 1975...
Unfortunately, this happens all of the time in one form or another. How many times have you seen a post that states I have this item for sale and what will someone give me for it? That is nothing but an auction in disguise. Or, as you experienced, the shop owner who has to call someone who has another offer pending. The only way that I can deal with this is to either hit the DELETE key or walk out. Most of the time I would have purchased the item at the asking price. Rich On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 19:48:13 EST, gpaul2...@aol.com wrote: -Anyone can become an antique dealer, and some clearly cannot find anything -else to do. In 1979, I walked into a shop and found an Edison Standard Model -B with a 24 minute attachment. No horn, no lid, but it worked. The price -was $110. I asked the dealer about it (planning to get the price lowered a -bit), and she said that before she could sell it, she'd have to make a phone call. - I stood there dazed as she asked some man on the other end of the phone line -if he was still interested in the Edison. She dropped the phone from her ear -and stated, He's willing to pay $120. Do you want to outbid him? I was -dumbstruck. Isn't this a pricetag on the machine? I asked. She mumbled -something about this man being a friend of hers. Fine, I'll give you $130. The -woman reported this to her friend, paused, and told me, He'll go $135, but -no higher. I was barely holding on to my temper by now, and said something -like, Does this mean that I can REALLY buy it for $140? She said Yes, so I -did. After I got home, it occurred to me that the woman might have been -talking to a dial tone! I've never had anyone else pull a stunt like that. - -George Paul -___ -Phono-l mailing list -phon...@oldcrank.com -http://t2.cwihosting.com/mailman/listinfo/phono-l_oldcrank.com
[Phono-L] Phono Buying in 1975
I have never considered myself old, but I was buying phonographs in 1975. I think it is interesting that the prices of the more common items, Edison Standards and Homes, have not increased too much but the better items, Victors with wooden horns, have increased in value at a greater rate. I remember buying and selling Standards for about $250 and thirty years later the same machines are trading for less than twice that amount. I bought my first Vic VI for around $800 in the late seventies and the last one I sold netted about $5500. My advice would be to buy the best that you can afford and enjoy it! If an Edison Standard stretches your budget, pay a little extra and buy a really nice one. You'll never be sorry if you buy the best quality that you can afford. Happy Collecting, Jerry Blais (Oregon)
