[78-L] "Value" of 78s

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Taylor Bowie" <bowiebks at isomedia.com>
> As per usual,  Mr.  Barr seems fixated on the idea that 78s are worth 
> "about
> $1 each (or less)."  I"m not sure why this concept is so important to him,
> as in fact it is simply not true.   The fact that he buys tons of material
> for pennies does not take anything away from the ongoing market for better
> 78s,  of which there are many in all categories which routinely sell for
> many times one dollar.
>
Very true...but these are NOT the 78's which one usually encounters! In
EVERY field of "collectible artifacts," there exist items which are worth
much more than average...a "Group Of Seven" painting, here in Ontario,
recently sold for 1.3 MILLION dollars...! However, almost all 78's
can be average-valued at $1 +/- (eWotsit sales MAY draw MANY
times that sum...?!). I usually buy 78's in "job lots," and pay a few
cents per each! Nevertheless, in spite of Nauck's $3 minimum bid
(still only 3x the $1 value...?!) it seems that everyday 78's seem to
sell for prices around $1/per each! Keep in mind that I regularly buy
large bunches of 78's...in my personal quest for EF78REM or data
thereupon...?!

Over the last few years, I have paid on the average about 9 cents
per each for 78's. Of course, this did NOT involve any highly-
collectible 78's (AFAIK...?!)! Even if I take the current eWotsit
minimum bid (and Kurt's) of three bucks...that is still a 200%
increase in value over about 70 years...?!

OTOH, if you had (like me) purchased a Mustang convertible back
in 1964-65 for around $3,000...it would now bring in around $50,000...
or a 167% increase in about forty years...!

Steven C. Barr
> There is lots of cheap crap in every field of "collectable" material,
> including records,  books,  art,  antiques,  etc. etc.  In no case is the
> general value of material defined by the lowest common denominator,  as 
> Mr.
> Barr insists on doing with records.
>
> I could put together a small collection of 18th century books,  none of
> which would be worth more than $5 or $10 each.  But I would never say that
> "18th century books are worth $5 to $10."
>
> I don't collect with any interest in the "investment" factor,  but because 
> I
> enjoy listening to the music,  studying the artists,  and learning about 
> the
> times and the circumstances when the records were made.
>
>
> Taylor
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steven C. Barr" <stevenc at interlinks.net>
> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 6:20 PM
> Subject: [78-L] There ain't no sanity clause...?!
>
>
>> Okeh...the purpose of this post is to start (1) some serious
>> thinking...and
>> (2) some serious discussion...?!
>>
>> All (AFAIK) of us here on 78-L are active collectors of (very) old 78 rpm
>> phonorecords. We spend as much (or, in my most recent case, MORE than?!)
>> as we can afford to acquire these ancient artifacts...and/or related
>> artifacts
>> thereunto...! We also spend large sums on devices which will actually
>> RETRIEVE the sounds which they contain! Further, we send out MANY
>> e-mail messages concerning these artifacts (thus keeping 78-L 
>> alive...?!)!
>>
>> Now, unlike many other collectible artifacts, 78rpm phonorecords are
>> NOT promising investments; while the motor cars I once owned (1951
>> Cadillac 60 Special--1966 Mustang convertible) have 100-tupled
>> their initial value, "78's" are still worth about $1 each (or less?!).
>> Yet,
>> we (and especially *I*) continue to acquire the dommed things...?!
>>
>> Admittedly, most of the content is only available to be heard to-day
>> via the original "78"...BUT a 78 can only provide two or three minutes
>> of "listening pleasure"...?!
>>
>> For our resident classical-music aficianados, there is a further issue;
>> classical records primarily exist in "album set" form, requiring the
>> listener to rise and change the record every 3-5 minutes...?!
>>
>> SO...why do we all have this illogical fascination?!
>>
>> NO prize for "best answer"...I was just wonderin'...?!
>>
>> Steven C. Barr
>>
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>
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