I'd like to point out a few interesting items in defense of "aftermarket" decoration on cabinets. First, it is well known that standard cabinets were decorated after leaving the factory. For instance, HMVs purchased at Harrods's in the 1920s could be specially decorated in Chinoiserie decoration similar if not superior to those done through Camden. I suspect that dealers here offered customers similar choice, especially if it could be done for less than through Victor. Possibly this was done "under the counter" so as not to suffer the wrath of Johnson. Second, it is well known that Edison cabinets were sometimes done in the same Chinoisiere decoration although it is not mentioned in the period literature. Indeed, I own a Diamond Disc machine with after market wicker decoration and I know it's original as it has the original receipt which gives serial number, type, price and finish as "wicker". If it was done though the factory or the dealer is not known, but there it is....an "authentic" wicker Edison. Finally, I'd like to mention a machine I once saw. A little background. Some of you may have heard of the Bloomsbury Group. They were a group of writers and artists in early 20th century London. Among the group were Vanessa and Clive Bell, Virginia Woolf, Duncan Grant, T. S. Eliot, Clive Bell, E. M. Forester, even John Maynard Keynes. Vanessa Bell shared a country home in Sussex named Chatsworth with her husband and THEIR lover Duncan Grant. Today the house is open as a museum and preserved in the very wild (for the time) and imaginative way they decorated it. They painted scenes on every surface, including lamp shades and their gramophone. From memory it was painted by Grant and is covered in male nudes. Needless to say, that if it were to come on the market it would bring more than any phonograph has ever brought and maybe ever will. And I doubt there are more than five of us who would want it, because, trust me on this one, most of you would HATE it. So the moral here is.....art can not be judged like a gasket or a spring it's a totally different animal. Good luck with the sale Vince! George Glastris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vince C." <vtm12 at comcast.net> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 5:32 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Variety in collecting. > Once again as the owner of this machine I find it to be a very neat and > different machine. I still assure you that it is an aftermarket job done > at the time it was new. However the inside was redone and he put a > underlid decal on it that had a wood background. I think he had it > produced for the machine. That really stinks and I wish he would have > left it alone no matter what the condition was. > > That being said, I thought a lot of the posts were just rude and arrogant > in the way they were worded as if I painted it in my basement and was > trying to scam people. > > As for the authenticity of the machine I have this discussed this machine > with Mr Baumbach a few years back and he agreed is was an aftermarket job > done when the machine was new. I still have his emails confirming this. > I have many friends in this hobby and am always forthright when selling > machine. > > As for Bob Johnson's comments about it (You will not see me bid even ten > bucks on this one). That is probably the most arrogant comment made. You > clearly have more money than brains and just because you can afford to > purchase all the your machines certainly does not make you the expert. > You level of "self-importance" it laughable. I suspect you thought you > were the one I was referring to when I stated I had spoken to a Victor > expert, you are certainly vain enough to think so. > > Quite frankly I do not care who likes the machine or doesn't like, that > does not take away from what it is. I too being a car nut and having > owned several classic/muscle cars do not like every car I see at car > shows. But I certainly do not walk up to the owner and let him know, in a > rude manner, about it. > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robert Wright" <esroberto at hotmail.com> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org> > Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 5:38 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Variety in collecting. > > >>I had posted the following a few days ago, probably the 4th post in this >>particular string or so, which never made it through because I >>inadvertantly used the wrong sending address: >> >> Apologies, Gregory. I was referring to whomever did the paint job(s), >> not >> the seller. I still think it looks like shabby folk art though, and the >> grey interior makes no sense to me. But mostly, I'm just tired of seeing >> people getting screwed left and right on eBay on dubious machines, etc, >> and >> was probably too quick to assume this was another potential example (even >> if >> I was not alone in my assumption). Glad to hear a positive reference >> from >> you on this seller. >> >> (And even more relieved to later find out the seller was a member of this >> list, which I consider an indication of utmost integrity.) >> >> That said, I don't think it's realistic or beneficial to pretend that >> every aftermarket alteration is a positive thing just because it was done >> around the time of an item's manufacture, whether the resulting machine >> remains "original and correct" or not. I wouldn't care if Lee Iacocca's >> neighbor's kids spray-painted "Free Love" all over the first Mustang he >> drove home from the factory the day of its manufacture, it would still >> look like an abhorrent desecration to me. If someone else likes it and >> wants to pay millions for it, more power to 'em. I'm glad for all the >> diversity in collectors' tastes as well as in the machines we collect, >> believe me, but I refuse to pretend this machine we've been discussing >> looks authentic (even if it absolutely is), valuable (which seems to be >> in debate), or tasteful/attractive (the Shelby mod vs. kids with spray >> paint analogy holds up well on this point). While it's not my cup of tea >> by any stretch of the imagination, I offer absolutely zero criticism to >> anyone who finds it appealing, and I deserve better than to be criticized >> because I don't. >> >> Just another 2 cents. >> >> Best to all, >> Robert >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "brice paris" <antqflea at yahoo.com> >> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org> >> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:38 PM >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Variety in collecting. >> >> >>> Variety, different likes and dislikes, is what makes the world turn , >>> keeps our interest , and lets different collectors collect what they >>> like or can afford. It would be boring and very crowded if we all >>> collected and liked the same things, deep pockets would rule. Visiting >>> different collections and seeing the variety of interests and >>> specialties is always exciting and refreshing even if it is not what you >>> collect and like the best . In every instance I can think of I have >>> always found new and exciting things and learned about something new >>> when I have had the chance to visit others , whether it is a large or >>> small collection. >>> We have now heard from someone else who owns one of the after market >>> decorated machines and previously the purist's who would only buy and >>> collect Victor factory models. I hope the one thing all of these >>> comments have teached us is that we have to respect and be courteous to >>> all, even though we may not have the same interests,opinions or pocket >>> books. I personally admire both and even though not seen very often >>> the after market machines certainly do not in my opinion command a price >>> anywhere close to the factory decorated machines. With that said I >>> certainly would like to own and would be absolutely thrilled to have >>> examples of both in my collection. The cost thereof , however will >>> probably dictate that future purchases if they can be found will be less >>> expensive after market machines. >>> Happy Collecting, no matter what your interests are. >>> >>> DeeDee Blais <deedeeblais at yahoo.com> wrote: >>> Isn't it wonderful that we have such a variety of >>> machines to collect. It would be truly boring if >>> Edison only made the Home model but they didn't. Have >>> you ever wondered why someone would originally pay >>> extra for a mahogany Triumph with a nickel bed plate? >>> Wouldn't that cost about as much as a Idealia or >>> Opera? I'm glad people made those decisions because >>> now we have machines that are rare and desirable. The >>> Victor company sold decorated machines that are >>> nothing short of wonderful. Today, they are prized in >>> any collection. Victrolas were decorated after they >>> left the Victor factory often by a dealer for a >>> customer. Perhaps the original owner commissioned the >>> decoration. I don't know but I love these machines >>> also. I think they are valuable, original, and very >>> interesting. >>> I have the 1965 Mustang fastback that my Dad >>> bought new. I love the car. It has a V-8 and 4-speed >>> but it's a basic Mustang. Do I wish that Dad had sent >>> his brand new Mustang to Shelby for modification? >>> Yes! Yes! Yes! I would consider such a car to be an >>> original Shelby Mustang. I could take my old Mustang >>> and have it modified to be a replica Shelby but in my >>> opinion that would be a waste of time and money and a >>> disservice to a classic car. >>> I think the same comparison can be made with >>> Victrolas. A machine modified shortly after its >>> manufacture I consider to be original and correct. >>> Perhaps that's the only way the original owner could >>> get his VV-IV decorated. I've seen photos of that >>> machine and I'd love to have it in my collection. >>> Happy collecting, Jerry Blais >>> >>> >>> ____________________________________________________________________________________ >>> Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Yahoo! Autos. >>> http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >