interesting i have an idelia but my concert/opera is my work horse it has the best sound of all when i play some of the hot 5000 clylinders if we were talking a chipendale chair i would be more concerned with restoration but most of these phonographs were mass produced for consumption and have a lot of wear i do not like the super gloss look but many restorations can closely approximate what left the factory and if you are honest when you sell it it should not matter just a few thoughts zono In a message dated 11/13/2010 3:43:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, steve_nor...@msn.com writes:
Ron said it very well. I would favor a mint machine over a restored one but I would not discriminate over a restored machine as that is the only way most people can own a mint looking machine. I would also love to have a 1795 silver dollar in uncirculated condition, but I had to settle for one with a hole that was filled in that was in average condition. I recently got a gold Exhibition in the deluxe hinged box, the mildew smell was horrible. I sprayed the inside with Lysol and I will have to treat it once more to get rid of the smell. Some people would likely be upset I got rid of the original mildew, but if you cannot enjoy what you have why collect? I cringe when someone cleans $20,000 of the value of an Idelia by polishing the copper oxidation off, but some people cringe when you restore an all brass horn to original look. Most people would prefer mint machines, but the reality is if you want to enjoy a machine that looks perfect it will most likely be restored. The only two machines that I have that are excellent is my VV-IV and my VV-VI that came in an aftermarked console which protected it. My Triumph E is one I had restored. Someone varnished over the whole thing and ruined the case, made the pin striping run, and the machine was in excellent shape until someone ruined it. I had the bedplate refinished, now it looks better than new. I enjoy the machine because it looks so nice, when I want to play records I go to my crappy looking A in a B case Triumph. I have seen people with machines that look new, unfortunately there are not enought to go around. One year a radio collector brought a Triumph A with a wooden horn and an iron and brass O to show it to people. The finish was so alligatored it acutally felt like the reptile when you touched it. The O was rusty and when I told the guy it would restore nicely he was horrified and told me he did not buy it to listen to or restore, he liked to keep things just as he found them. Steve > I agree with Steve. It depends on condition and the machine itself. It can be subjective and dependent on the collector or individual as well. Do you want a common but pristine original Vic -IV, for example, or would you rather have a refurbished and refinished Edison Opera brought back to showroom beauty? Also rarity might be a consideration. Would someone wait for a near original Edison Idealia or take one that was redone? It depends...cost, rarity, the collector themselves are only a few of the considerations. > I think most of us would take the rarest machine in the most original condition at the lowest cost (speaking in general terms). Cost, especially in todays economy may be a key determiner in the utlimate decision made. > > Ron > > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
