[Phono-L] Collectibles - How's That For Originality?

[Douglas Houston]

Well, as a fatter of mact, I read the book about Eldredge Johnson, by his
son. I seem to recall that he didn't have a Victrola in his home!  He
certainly WOULD think that we're nuts.


> [Original Message]
> From: <Kuglarb at wmconnect.com>
> To: <phono-l at oldcrank.org>
> Date: 8/14/2008 8:06:51 PM
> Subject: [Phono-L] Collectibles - How's That For Originality?
>
> Doug - You make a great point!  Just think, we collectors are enjoying
items 
> that have long outlived their shelf life.  It amazes me that when I
attend 
> phonograph shows, people just staring out collecting phonographs, or even
the 
> most avid collectors, want machines that are pristine, have all the
original 
> parts, and obtain all of the manuals and directions that first came with
them.  My 
> question to them is, "Would you like the original crate that the machine
came 
> with also.  If you do, I have several in the back?"  
>
> I am one for originality, but let's all understand one thing.  The
pristine 
> Victor VIs, with all of the original parts, that came out of the old
lady's 
> attic are long, long gone.  Anyone looking for such an item, a phonograph
in 
> particular, is in for a rude awakening if they think that every
phonograph that 
> they have in their collection is 100% original.  One or two may be, but
for the 
> masses, the cranks, horns, the governor weights, turn table felt,
reproducer 
> gaskets, etc., are most likely replacements of some sort.  I agree, some
of the 
> replacements may be original parts such as the horn or the cranks, but
keep 
> in mind, most ARE NOT original to THAT machine.  The only person that can 
> honestly say that a machine is 100% original is the one that bought it. 
Sadly, 
> these people have more than likely passed away by now.  
>
> Just think, each machine that we buy has changed hands many, many times. 
I'm 
> sorry, but I don't fall for that machine on ebay that is being sold by
the 
> great, great grand daughter to the grandfather that purchased the
phonograph in 
> down town New York on St. Patrick's Day in 1909.  In most cases, it just
don't 
> happen that way.  
>
> I am approached by sellers wanting to sell me machines that were sold to
them 
> by collectors that I knew and passed up buying that same machine from
them 
> months ago.  The new seller wants $1000.00 more for it than when I could
have 
> bought it from the first seller.  With the exception of the machines
located in 
> well protected and guarded collections, most machines are bought and sold
and 
> bounced from one person to the next.  I see it often.  In fact, I was at
a 
> show a couple of years ago and there was a gentleman there with a Victor
VI.  In 
> looking at the machine, I realized that it was the same one that I
watched on 
> ebay just two weeks before.  The only difference is that the buyer bought
it 
> on ebay for $3500.00 (No horn).  His sale price at the show was $5500.00
(With 
> worn out horn).  It did not surprise me to see this gentleman take this 
> machine home with him because several people at the show saw the item on
ebay and 
> declined as well.
>
> I spoke with a reputable phonograph repairman the other day by phone.  He 
> said that he would never have a reproduction crank, reproduction horn, or
any 
> other reproduction part for a machine in his collection.  Keep in mind
that this 
> repairman also sells and pushes reproduction parts!  My response to him
was 
> that some of the reproduction cranks (slotted especially because
originals are 
> difficult to find), horns (wood ones especially), and other reproduction
parts 
> look fantastic on a phonograph.  I have seen some phonographs with
original 
> horns that were so bad with rust and holes that one could read a
newspaper 
> through it.  Let's face it, a 1956 T-Bird for sale at a Barrett-Jackson's
auction 
> most likely does not have the original tires, original battery, or
original 
> head lights.  Some things do just wear out, don't you know.
>
> On the positive note, all of these machines still provide us collectors
with 
> much fun, and the opportunity to sport or show off a piece to anyone that
may 
> be interested.  Not all of public USA is even interested in phonographs. 
It 
> never ceases to amaze me that when we have friends over, many never even 
> acknowledge my Victor V with the oak spear tip horn.  I often say to my
wife that 
> the reason why is that they just saw one at Wal-Mart!  
>
> One thing is for sure, phonographs are not only great collectibles, but
great 
> pieces of history.  Besides the fun in collecting, I have enjoyed the
many 
> friends that I have met along the way.  
>
> I can imagine having the opportunity to speak with Mr. Eldridge himself
and 
> ask him what he thinks of his products still being enjoyed and collected
after 
> all of these 100 and some years.  His response would most like
be...."Your are 
> kidding, right."
>
> Thanks much and may God bless!
>
> Brantley 
> South Carolina   </HTML>
> _______________________________________________
> Phono-L mailing list
> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org