As much as I have read here about the falling prices of mechanical
music devices, I feel obligated to relate the prices received here in
the Northwest. After seeing a link at the bottom of these pages last
month to an eBay listing, I found it was for a live auction in Port-
land, Oregon, some 2 1/2 hours south of Seattle. So I decided to at
least preview it.
1. A Seeburg K unrestored; some of the glass missing, some broken; all
coin gear as well as the rewind transmission and pneumatic missing; new
clear glass added to the lower doors.
2. A nice, mostly unmolested Seeburg G, with broken glass but looking
very intact otherwise.
3. A Mills Single Violano, home model, very intact but with some
creative wiring, with three rolls.
All of the instruments were won by people on the floor, with the K
realizing $8000, the G going for $57,000 and the Mills for $41,000.
There was a buyer's premium of 19%, bringing the totals to $9520,
$67,830 and $48,790. At least there is no sales tax in Oregon; I guess
that is some sort of consolation.
The phonograph and music boxes in the auction seemed on the high side
as well, but I did not track them as closely.
Kurt Morrison
Tacoma, WA
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