Hi Once, and only once I tried to warn a prospective purchasser of a crapo, who was about to buy one off a flea market table for around $600. The opposite effect was the result: the person became convinced that it was genuine and a bargain, and I was trying to steal them away from the deal of the century. They could not get their $$$$ out fast enough! Lets hope time has brought realization :-) And a general comment: where there is money there are crooks.....logically Rob On 3/12/08, Kuglarb at wmconnect.com <Kuglarb at wmconnect.com> wrote: > > I agree with all of you. One must be careful in not only collecting > phonographs, but collecting anything in general. This is especially true > for the > first timer that wants to jump into 'collecting.' I read an email from > someone in > this thread not long ago that used the adjective 'sleazy' to describe > antique > dealers. I would just like to say that not all antique dealers, just like > car salesman and politicians, are dishonest. In fact, I have obtained > some of > my most prized antiques, including a phonograph or two from antique > dealers. > We must understand that there are many people that do not take the time to > research a subject before heading into it head over heals. This includes > both the > seller as well as the buyer. > > An example of this was last summer when I attended a large estate auction > in > my area. The auctioneer advertised in the newspaper ad a nice vintage > 'old' > Victrola with a real nice 'old' horn. I tried to contact the auctioneer > beforehand to ask some specifics so that I could find out if it was indeed > a nice > old phonograph. I could not reach him before the auction and was late > getting > to the sale the next day. By the time I got there, the phonograph was > only > moments from hitting the selling block. The nice vintage 'old' Victrola > with a > real nice 'old' horn turned out to be a nice old 'CRAPOLA'! As my six > year old > would say...YUCK! > > Before I could react, the auctioneer had already described it as the most > beautiful Victrola that he had ever had the pleasure of auctioning off and > that > whoever was fortunate enough to win the bid would really have a > prize! The > crowd oooed and aawwed as if he were auctioning off the Hope Diamond. As > soon as > he started the bidding at $100.00, several hands flung toward the > skies. I > told the man next to me, that had his fingers brushing his mustache in mad > anticipation of bidding, that this was a reproduction item and that is was > a > reproduction of the worst kind. I explained to him what a Crapola is and > he said > that I did not know what I was talking about as "this was just like his > great > grandmother's wonderful Victrola." Yea, I know, a Victrola with a horn!! > Anyway, I stood in total disbelief as the Crapola sold for over > $1000.00!!! > > After the auction, I shared some lessons of learning (Phonograph 101) with > the auctioneer. He did not want to hear it! He said that although he did > not > know that the item was not genuine, it was the buyers responsibility to > know > what he was bidding on. I could tell that the auctioneer really did not > care as > he only wanted the money. The buyer left with big smiles and could not > wait > to show off his new prized possession. He left in such a hurry that I > could > not get to him to share a little insight. Maybe it was a blessing as the > smile > and happiness that he showed of owning this 'prized' item was a true Kodak > moment. > > Junk is out there. It always has and always will be. Unless one knows > any > better, junk will still sell. Some folks, like the auctioneer may not > know any > better, but as in the example, they sure don't care about learning. It's > a > buy at your own risk market! > > My hats off to anyone that tries to keep one from getting burned. Thanks > to > the individual in this group for taking the time to write the ebay seller > as > an effort to get the facts straight. As true lovers of these things > called > phonographs, and the fantastic joy that this hobby of collecting brings, > it is > our responsibility keep the hobby as honest and wholesome as possible. It > begins with each individual. > > I continue to promote the hobby so that there will be collectors out there > when we are gone. I am grateful that my daughters love the hobby and have > already picked out which phonographs they want to put in their homes. In > fact, > they have names for each machine. My youngest daughter's favorite is the > Victor > 0 and she named it 'Sunny' when she was small. > > I have had the fortunes of meeting many nice people along the way that > have > not only sold me some nice pieces, but have educated me along the way. I > hope > to be a mentor as well. > > Don't get me wrong, I have also found those that are really in this hobby > strictly for the money and will do some 'minor' under the table things to > make a > profit. If one stays in the hobby long enough, they learn about these > individuals fast. News travels through the clubs! This is such a small > profit for > such a large price to pay. > > Hey, as we say here in South Carolina...Y'all are a great bunch! Thanks > for > all of the information ya'll bring to the hobby. Keep 'er running at > 78....rpms that is! > > Brantley </HTML> > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org >