I attended the Union show and agree with the fact that there was some
pretty nice stuff, but I don't necessarily agree that all the prices
were all that great (at least not for the stuff I would purchase). I
have been looking for a nice phonograph advertising sign for example.
I saw one for around $900+. I could have purchased it, but my less
spontanous half (my wife :) ) said I should hold off. Long story,
short, I was able to find the exact sign from a local individual who
new what he had, but charged me only $275. I also had been looking for
a phonolamp. This is something the wife always wanted. Again, with a
little patience and waiting for the right individual, I found one for
$1500 in all original working condition! Not bad. Bottom line, I find
more and more that the shows do not necessarily provide the best buys
and things aren't that difficult to find if your patient. With the
economy as it is, there are more and more people looking to free things
up that they have held onto as they need the money. Thus, I go to the
shows to look and talk with folks, but do my shopping elsewhere or
person to person.
just some personal experience.......Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Melvin <d...@old-phonographs.com>
To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Wed, Aug 18, 2010 11:16 am
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] CAPS
I did not attend CAPS (even thought I did originaly plan to), but
after reading the comments it appears to me that the expierience very
much follows what was seen at the Union show in June. Tons of great
stuff, some of it for terrific prices, but very little actually sold.
It was a very slow show as far as selling went for many dealers. I
really believe we are seeing the effects of the economy and fear of
spending. I don't think it really had much at all to do with CAPS
itself. I think it's just the way things are going right now and that
it will turn around. So, it's been a slow year. That's all it is. It
isn't an issue of the hobby or the shows that is keeping folks from
buying. It's just fear of the unknown.
My 2 cents...
Dan
On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:52 AM, DeeDee Blais <deedeebl...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
I'm glad to have an open discussion about the sale and I think it's
healthy.
The club did a great job. There were plenty of sellers providing a
variety of
items at very good prices. It was simply a buyers market and buyers
did not
open their billfolds very often. I thought attendance was OK and I'm
glad to
read that it was a bit higher than last year. I noticed new faces
late into the
sale. I did close a couple of sales but it was difficult and
probably not worth
the effort. The sale of my Edison Standard B (2 min only) was a good
example. I
paid $175 for the machine, refinished the case (decal & materials
about $20 plus
several hours effort), repaired the belt tensioner (another hour),
disassembled
the top works to clean & oil (another hour), and provided a
reproduction 14"
horn ($20). My out of pocket cost was $215 with at least five hours
of labor. I
sold it for $280 very late in the sale. I attempted to sell a Vic I
for a friend
and it was priced at $725. It had a nice original finish, the parts
were all
original right down to the slotted crank and little brass bell horn.
The nickel
finish on the old elbow and tone arm were not great but at $725, the
machine
should have flown out of the sale. The price was prominently
displayed but
buyers did not even make an offer. You can't close a sale if there's
no sale.
Is there anyone on this list with a nice Vic 1 that they'd sell for
that
amount? The buyers were just not buying. I'll be back next year and
hope things
are better. Thanks to CAPS for a great effort and thanks to the
vendors for a
good selection. Thanks to the buyers... well,thanks for nearly
nothing!
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