Estate Sales Questions

[Kevinpreston3]

I have noticed that alot of people here seem to get large washers and dryers and other large items at estate sales.

I have written in the other forum my desire to have a late 50s Stereophonic Console--Voice of Music or Zenith. I have gone to a bunch of thrift stores and seen nada. Talking with a vintage record dealer, she suggested estate sales.

Evidently, alot of older people have these, and they are the last things to be sold at estate sales, if they do at all. Evidently, they rarely end up in antique stores because of their size. I have some pretty specific requirements I want in the unit, so she suggested going to an estate sale.

How do you guys find out about these? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[gadgetgary]

Estate Sale

I don't know if it is the same in LA, but my local newspaper frequently advertises 'Estate' sales under the 'Tag' sale heading. Many adversise that way thinking they they will draw a bigger turnout over just an ordinary 'Tag' sale advertisement.

Gary

 

[tomturbomatic]

Even if your major daily has classified ads for Estate Sales runing generally from Thursday thru Saturday, you also should familiarize yourself with the weekly neighborhood papers from areas that might be likely to have better sales. One benefit of going to these sales is that you might get to know the agents that conduct them and let them know what you are looking for. They do keep lists. I have heard people here in the Northwest Washington neighborhoods say that they will only put a listing for an estate sale in the neighborhood papers so as to draw the right crowds who know the difference between pretty and exquisite. Fortunately for those of us who hit the kitchen and basement first, our criteria for pretty and exquisite are not the same as in the upstairs rooms.

 

[mulls]

Console stereos

I too am a console stereo fan,but I go for those just a little later to get into the solid state era-I actually use mine regularly and the ss units are a lot more trouble free.Consider a Magnavox as well-many of them have horns in them and the side firing woofers-they really fill a room with sound.Watch ebay-lots from your area are listed-type in "console stereo" from the home page.
Tom

 

[tomturbomatic]

Tom, you are so right about the Magnavox stereo consoles. My mother is still using the set we bought in the late 60s. I don't know who works on them now. We really enjoyed getting the folks out of the house and opening that set up with favorite albums by Virgil Fox, Richard Morris, E. Power Biggs, Iron Butterfly and others. We never blew out anything in that set. Do you have any idea of how, when the time comes, I could offer it to someone who will really want it? Is there an organization for collectors of vintage console stereos?

 

[mulls]

magnavox

Turbo,I think the best way to dispose of it,since you live in an area of large population,is on e-bay.They dont seem to do much in trading papers,etc.None of the consoles of any make have any value to speak of,except the Magnavox top line models(Imperial,Concert Grand).I recently bought a RCA "Custom Collection"1968 molel that looks like it was built yesterday for 42$ on ebay.There is a site for Magnavox lovers I have stumbled on bit did not note the address.I am sure you care more about who it goes to than the $ it brings so I would offer it to our members first-at least it would be appreciated and cared for.
Tom

 

[drewz]

Go for $$$ Neighborhoods

These areas tend to harbor those consoles and usually in mint condition. Remember even back in the day, alot of these instruments as they were referred to cost big $$$ and only the upper income brackets purchased them.

That is how I obtained my flawless 1968 RCA Victor Home Entertainment Center, Featuring New Vista Color Television & New Vista Victrola, Danish Modern Low Boy, "The Nordic"

Last year RCA would use Victor name and refer to any record changer as a "Victrola" and Nipper logo's on their products until Nipper's re-birth in 1980, and by then too late, 1986 GE smashed RCA like a grape and sold it to the French Thomson Group.

 

[mulls]

expensive

Drewz,you are sure correct,IMHO,in your assesment.In 1959,my father-a teacher-worked ALL SUMMER in the produce department of an Acme supermarket to buy a Magnavox two piece stereo-One piece had the turntable,pre-amp-tuner and one power amp and the other had storage and another power amp.each piece was about the size of a DW-a little taller.These old consoles were a significant investment in those days for those of moderate income and were treasured as a stereo AND as furniture.
Tom

 

[tolivac]

I too,was trying to find a Maganavox tube type "Concert Grand" model.I prefer the tubed ones better-the sound is cleaner and better.Their SS units sound "ragged" to me.Passed many of them.the tubed ones like I was looking for are rare.My mom had one-and I saw on e out for trash pickup in the Manassas,VA years ago.Also had a color TV in it.Unofrtunately I didn't have a vehicle or a hand truck big enough to carry it on or in.If it was by the curb here-I would have grabbed it.The machine was VERY heavy.The cabinet and electronics make 'em heavy.I knew of a neighbor in Wash DC area that had a two-peice Maganavox Hi-Fi-The TT,tuner,amp and one speaker system in one cabinet-and the other was a speaker cabinet only.Don't know if it was tubed or SS.Heard it only once-sounded good though.He had them arranged one unit at each end of his sofa.