Section Four: Valuation

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Of course, everyone wants to know how much their Victor phonograph is worth. I get 80+ emails every day; most of these ask me for a free appraisal in some shape or form. One simple rule applies here:

I don't provide free phonograph appraisals.

In other words, I won't answer email requests for free value estimates. Not even for "rough guesses". Not for dying relatives, impoverished friends or needy charities (yes, I've heard every possible request for "special" exceptions). I'm not being rude or arrogant. It is simply not possible to respond to literally hundreds of appraisal requests every week. Also, when value is involved, exact condition/correctness of the veneer, components and finish are critical. It would be easy for me to sit in my leather chair sipping Merlot, looking at subjective Victrola descriptions on my computer screen and taking pot-shots at a value figure. The problem is that my 2-second guess won't mean one wit to a well-informed potential buyer when he or she spots something incorrect on the machine or when it has a particularly unique veneer. The devil is always in the details when buying/selling antiques. That's why the typical "phonograph price ranges" that are presented on some websites have little validity in the marketplace, because a large blemish or a unique finish on a common model can make hundreds or thousands of dollars difference in the selling price.  Another reason I don't do freebie guesstimates (being totally honest) is that I would spend all my free time trying to keep up with the requests.

The market for antique phonographs has been significantly depressed since 2007. Supply currently exceeds demand. Prices have also dropped due to changes in the economy, and as a correction for the steep rise in prices during the 1990's. The good news is that selling prices for most original antique furniture pieces, including old phonographs, are destined to increase in value over time, even considering the short term dips and peaks in valuation. The bad news is that these old phonographs were produced by the millions, and most Victrola (internal horn) models are still quite common with the average selling price in the $100 to $300 range. Competitive online auctions like Ebay have, in some cases, flooded the market with common phonographs, which has further driven down the value of models that were originally produced in high volumes. External horn Victors usually bring more money; typically in the range of $500 to $3000 depending on model and condition.  Of course, there are numerous rare Victor and Victrola examples, with unusual finishes, that can sell for upwards of $20,000, but those are very few and far between. To give you an idea, out of 105,000+ inquiries and submissions I've gotten from this website since 1998, I estimate that only 3300 phonographs were rare enough to be valued at over $2,000, and only a few dozen have been worth more than $10,000. As you might imagine, those few dozen people were quite pleased to learn what they had, but they are by far the minority. Sometimes people get upset or angry to learn that their old Victrola is worth only $100, because they have seen the same model with an asking price of $3000 on Ebay. Just remember: sellers can ask any price they wish, and a crazy price tag means absolutely nothing in the marketplace. If it didn't actually sell for $3000, then the asking price was too high. If you see "some old phonograph" get appraised for $8,000 on Antiques Road Show or Pawnstars, it is likely a very rare example. If your Victrola isn't that particular model, with that particular finish, in that particular condition, then it probably won't be worth $8000.  Value is based solely on rarity, condition and demand. It represents what a reasonable and knowledgeable buyer will pay in the current market.

If you want to know how rare your Victrola is, and get a rough idea of what it might be worth, finish reading these introductory pages, and then click on the "Products" link (this can also be accessed from the home page). Just follow the instructions.  It will give you an indication of how common (or uncommon) it is, and also will help in establishing a rough price range. I have attempted to provide as much general information as I can on this site. That's the best I can do unless you contact me and make arrangements for an individual paid appraisal.

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