I read back issues of Saturday Evening Post, AND tonight they advertised Radio/ Record player that used no needles. It was a 1941 issue and I think Magnavox. It was $599. I’d love to know the no needle thing
Way back in the late 70s, a friend of mine had a used record store. Sometimes people would come in with old 78s, expecting to get a fortune for them. They’re old, right?
My friend would have to explain that they weren’t worth very much, and even if they were- he as a dealer would pay less for them, because he would be reselling them, and needed to make a profit. It wasn’t just him, it’s how the market works. You don’t own a store just to break even. There was one dealer in Manhattan who might take them, because they did carry 78’s, but the sellers still might not get much.
The other consideration- in fact, the bigger one- was supply and demand. An object is not valuable simply because it is old. If it’s old and in very worn condition, it’s worth even less. In order to be worth a lot of money, there has to be a demand for it. If there’s a great demand, and a small supply, then it became valuable. If there’s a great supply (and there were far more old 78s still around than people thought) and a small demand, then it’s not worth much.
Mutt must mean the very first discs. Prior to the flat discs we’re familiar with, records were sold as cylinders. Legend has it that these sounded better, but that flat discs were cheaper to manufacture.
BasilBruce over 1 year ago
Jeff just isn’t in the groove.
The dude from FL Premium Member over 1 year ago
I read back issues of Saturday Evening Post, AND tonight they advertised Radio/ Record player that used no needles. It was a 1941 issue and I think Magnavox. It was $599. I’d love to know the no needle thing
E.Z. Smith Premium Member over 1 year ago
R. Crumb is spinning in his grave! No, wait…
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 1 year ago
Way back in the late 70s, a friend of mine had a used record store. Sometimes people would come in with old 78s, expecting to get a fortune for them. They’re old, right?
My friend would have to explain that they weren’t worth very much, and even if they were- he as a dealer would pay less for them, because he would be reselling them, and needed to make a profit. It wasn’t just him, it’s how the market works. You don’t own a store just to break even. There was one dealer in Manhattan who might take them, because they did carry 78’s, but the sellers still might not get much.
The other consideration- in fact, the bigger one- was supply and demand. An object is not valuable simply because it is old. If it’s old and in very worn condition, it’s worth even less. In order to be worth a lot of money, there has to be a demand for it. If there’s a great demand, and a small supply, then it became valuable. If there’s a great supply (and there were far more old 78s still around than people thought) and a small demand, then it’s not worth much.
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 1 year ago
Mutt must mean the very first discs. Prior to the flat discs we’re familiar with, records were sold as cylinders. Legend has it that these sounded better, but that flat discs were cheaper to manufacture.
brklnbern over 1 year ago
And now they are worth—Nothing!!
ArcticFox Premium Member over 1 year ago
Jeff is one smooth operator.