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Post by jnorman111 on Oct 10, 2007 12:58:47 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) I am considering puchasing an oak Amberola 50 that includes 100 blue amberoles, without boxes however,some very scratched, for $300. total package includes a wood cabinet which the machine fits on, (depth-wise), and a lower door opens to a space that can be used to store the cylinders in the 5 cardboard beer cases they are in. Not a bad deal? However, the gear cover is missing and so is the grill. About how much would it cost me to replace these parts with originals?
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Post by maroongem on Oct 10, 2007 16:46:15 GMT -5
The price is definately right!!! An oak 50 is less common than the one in mahogany, not to mention the base. These bases usually had drawers that the records sat in. 3 or 4 was usual. Some were plain and you put the cylinder & box in and others had pegs that you put the unboxed cylinder on. There are 2 types of gear cover. The early one had a small hole at the rear where the speed control knob protruded through. The latter ones were solid and the speed had to be adjusted when you removed the cover. The grille was wood and not metal like the smaller Amberloa 30. There are reproductions available out there. You can try Wyatt's Musical Americana. I'm looking at an older catalogue and he did offer a grille for the 50 at that time. He also lists gear covers but it says "inquire" ie: he has them from time to time. They do show up frequently on Ebay, so you may have luck there. With 100 cylinders included, you never know what might be there! There could be ones in the lot that command big money, especially the 5000 or later series. His number is 1-(707)263-5013
Bill
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Post by jnorman111 on Oct 11, 2007 15:25:18 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) Thanks for the reply. I would want only an original wooden grill not a reproduction, as I may in the future want to sell it at my pre-paid space at Union, Illinois, maybe next June. It would be okay for my own listening without a grill or gear cover, however, and I may want to keep it, not sure. I only looked at about a dozen of the 100 BAs so far and most were military marches, etc., I may go see it again this week-end and then I will take the time to look at all the BAs to see just how many have been played with a "nail" or if any are split or cracked. Maybe something of value amongst the 100? The cabinet is not a normal "base", nothing of value, but just a cheap wooden piece that has a large door and space for storage and sort of matches the color of the Amberola 50. I feel at $300. this isn't a bad deal, altho there are some other issues I must consider. This Amberola 50s volume is not as loud as it should be, altho the Diamond C-872 stylus is tracking correct, the reproducer may need rebuilding and/or I may have to sink another $70 for a new stylus. Again, the volume would be okay for my own listening, but not for a re-sale at Union. Some issues that can't probably be repaired properly, and are better off maybe left alone, are a gouge out of the wood on the front left top cover corner, and the grill upper right inside corner which maybe will be covered when the grill is in place. To buy this piece I need to have an approximate price on the cost of an oringinal grill, if any are even available. Let Me Know, Thanks
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Post by maroongem on Oct 11, 2007 17:18:50 GMT -5
I'll be attending a phono show next weekend in Wayne, NJ. I don't know if that is close to you to attend, but if not, I'll ask around and get a general consensus of what one should cost. Ebay is not always a good indicator because all you need is two bidders that want something like this an all reasonable bids are off!! Chances are the reason the volume is low is because the gaskets have dried out and need to be replaced. Is this reproducer nickel plated or painted black? The nickel one would be an early one and the body would be brass. The painted body would be potmetal and can be problematic. They have a tendency to swell making removal from the carriage arm difficult and also the retaining bezel can be frozen making gasket replacement a real "joy"! Perhaps the seller may wish to negotiate price if the cylinders aren't anything of note and the base isn't a cylinder phono base if this is something you really want.
Bill
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Post by jnorman111 on Oct 15, 2007 11:21:42 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) Bill, Did you happen to see an Amborola 50 original grill at the show in Wayne? I am even more excited about the purchase of the Amborola 50 with a cheap cabinet and cylinders for $300. or less, now that I went through all of his cylinders this week-end and found 122, of that amount 25 had various issues, fading, scratches, small spiltings on end, plaster cracked out on end and the celloid warped on the end, etc.. All were playable on this machine, however. So about 97 have some value, none have boxes, but he does have them all cataloged on a sheet of paper by number according to position in the old canned beer cases he has them stored in. Except for about a half dozen 5 digit numbers, the earliest numbered cylinder I noticed was #1517 and the latest was #4220. Mostly were Military marches, Hawaiian melodies, etc.. I did notice several Billy Murray, Green Bros., Radermann, Cal Stewart, Collins, etc., that may be of more value than average? Was hoping for, but didn't notice " Lest We Forget ". HA!
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ultona
Full Member
It's Not Easy Bein' Green
Posts: 164
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Post by ultona on Oct 15, 2007 12:21:05 GMT -5
The Wayne NJ show is this coming weekend, not this past one....
Sean
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Post by maroongem on Oct 15, 2007 16:01:59 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) Bill, Did you happen to see an Amborola 50 original grill at the show in Wayne? I am even more excited about the purchase of the Amborola 50 with a cheap cabinet and cylinders for $300. or less, now that I went through all of his cylinders this week-end and found 122, of that amount 25 had various issues, fading, scratches, small spiltings on end, plaster cracked out on end and the celloid warped on the end, etc.. All were playable on this machine, however. So about 97 have some value, none have boxes, but he does have them all cataloged on a sheet of paper by number according to position in the old canned beer cases he has them stored in. Except for about a half dozen 5 digit numbers, the earliest numbered cylinder I noticed was #1517 and the latest was #4220. Mostly were Military marches, Hawaiian melodies, etc.. I did notice several Billy Murray, Green Bros., Radermann, Cal Stewart, Collins, etc., that may be of more value than average? Was hoping for, but didn't notice " Lest We Forget ". HA! Hi JMJ, Sorry if there was any confusion. I posted my thread last Thursday night, so when I said "next weekend", I meant the 22nd. I will keep my eye out for one and ask around. Most of the cylinders you mention except for the Hawaiian can get $8.00 or more in nice shape, and as always, it usually depends on the title & artist. Box & lid is always a plus too! Bill
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Post by jnorman111 on Oct 16, 2007 14:28:24 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) Sorry for the confusion about the Wayne show, should have known better, because the Phonovention in Lansing was this past weekend. Let me know if you see an original Amberola 50 oak grill cover, with or without cloth, and who to contact and how much it is priced at. If you happen upon an original gear cover, same applies, and maybe a " modest finders fee " for both! As far as the value of the BAs, none are in boxes. I wouldn't think they are worth $8.00 each, and I seen 25 not worth anything because of condition issues. I could maybe, if lucky, get $30.00 per case for mixed cases of 24 next June at my " set-up " space inside at Union. Of the cylinders with very little appeal for me included in this offer I'm reconsidering, 22 of these BAs are Military or Concert Bands, 14 are Hawaiian Songs, and 15 are Polka or Violin. That leaves only 51 cylinders in this cache that may have some value ( $5 to $8 ), and I think about half of these are of very little value. ( maybe $3. ) Thanks.
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Post by maroongem on Oct 16, 2007 18:12:42 GMT -5
JMJ,
I will look & ask around for one and if I find one that I think is reasonable, I'll pick it up at no obligation. This will stand for the gear cover as well.
Bill
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Post by jnorman111 on Oct 17, 2007 13:17:55 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) Dear Bill, The gear cover does not have a speed control opening on this Amberola 50. I think unless I post that I have actually bought this unit before this week-end, maybe you would only get the price and information about, and not make a purchase of a gear cover or the oak grill if you even see any of the originals at the show. It is a nice idea, but if I don't buy this deal, what would you do with those parts if I don't want them? The other side of the question is, however, if I knew you had them and they are not too expensive, I would make the deal for the asking price. Thanks, Jim PS: HA! ROFL.
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Post by maroongem on Oct 17, 2007 16:29:35 GMT -5
Hi Jim, As I said earlier, no obligation. If the price is right. I shove in in my "parts' bin and sit on it. It eventually gets used one way or another.
Bill
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Post by maroongem on Oct 22, 2007 18:46:20 GMT -5
Jim,
I saw a very nice oak grille for a Amberola 50 that still had the remnants of grille cloth so you could match it. The seller also has a gear cover for that machine. Please contact me off post and I'll give you the particulars.
Bill
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Post by jnorman111 on Oct 23, 2007 11:01:26 GMT -5
(J.M.J.) I am now an owner of my first cylinder machine, an oak Edison Amberola 50. Purchased for $300. along with 122 BAs and a cheap wood cabinet that color matches and is the right size for machine and storage. All day and night yesterday I listened, and oiled, and took apart and determined the issues that need improving, and graded the BAs, and a whole lot of much more fun!
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steve
Full Member
Posts: 130
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Post by steve on Dec 2, 2007 18:04:46 GMT -5
Hi,
Gear covers sell for around $20 to $30, I might have one. You do not see the grill very often. I just saw two of these on eBay.
Steve
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Post by jnorman111 on Dec 3, 2007 13:48:32 GMT -5
Thanks Steve, but I have purchased a gear cover and an oak grill from Croakin' Frog Antiques a few weeks ago and am very happy with these purchases and others from Mark Gaisser the owner. He had his set-up right next to my booth at the Union, Illinois show this past June, it is a small world at times.
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