I can see Ron's point, but how many people actually see such buys locally? I have an extensive collection of advertising signs but have never even found one locally (well I have found a couple at a quarterly antique show full of out of town dealers in my city). And to find a $1500 lamp phonograph seems like a very unlikely occurance. But, things do come up occasionally for better deals at estate sales and such. I can't see how you could really fill out much of a collection with local buys. At least not in my area. Without knowing others that bring things to my attention and access to the quality that are at the shows, I wouldn't have much of anything. So, yes it would be wonderful to find everything locally for great prices. But, in my experience those deals are few and far between.
Dan On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 11:40 AM, <ronbr...@aol.com> wrote: > 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! >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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
