Phonoland

Hi all,

OK, the unit I was inquiring about earlier turned out to be too big for my space. Thanks for the info, though!

Now I have a lead on a Delmonico Nivico 218 EA, in pretty good shape, everything works etc. I can't get a year on it, though. Does anyone know? I can't seem to find too much info about it on the Interwebz. Thanks!

Posting a some pictures might help.

Thom wrote:Posting a some pictures might help.

Okey doke:





The cabinet design says "Early 1960s" to me, but the Colonial styling of the legs and the scrollwork suggests later, maybe 1965 or 1966, when the Colonial style was popular. I dunno. It's a tube unit, if that helps. I can't find anything about it online.

It's early 60's - trust me.
I've worked on enough of them to know the component layout and styling.
Now get it restored, if you wish to enjoy years of pleasure.

MattTech wrote:It's early 60's - trust me.
I've worked on enough of them to know the component layout and styling.
Now get it restored, if you wish to enjoy years of pleasure.

Thanks, Matt. It's an eBay auction, and I'm still trying to find out from the seller just what kind of condition this unit is in. It started out with "everything works great", but when I asked the seller some questions it turns out that there's static when you turn the knobs, the record speed indicator has to be turned to 45 to play 33s, and there's a white thing sitting at an angle by the back part of the record changer arm that I don't know WHAT it is, but it doesn't look like it belongs there.

Here's a link to the auction if anyone's curious:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Delmoni ... 1542994635

My problem is I can't find anyone local who restores vintage record players. So I'm debating buying it, because I don't want to have to drive all the way down to Columbus to get it restored, and of course I can't use it without it being looked at.

I'm wondering if you've also checked out your local craigslist listings. There's quite a number of old record players, stereos, Victrolas, etc., available in the Toledo area --

For instance:

Record Player Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss ... +player%22
Victrola Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=Victrola
Phonograph Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss ... Phonograph

Joe

Joe_DS wrote:I'm wondering if you've also checked out your local craigslist listings. There's quite a number of old record players, stereos, Victrolas, etc., available in the Toledo area --

For instance:

Record Player Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss ... +player%22
Victrola Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=Victrola
Phonograph Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss ... Phonograph

Joe

Thanks, Joe! Yes, I've been keeping an eye on the Craigslist too. I have kind of a narrow set of criteria, though, so it sort of limits what appeals to me.

1. It has to be inexpensive - I don't have a huge budget.
2. It has to be in pretty good shape, see #1 - I don't have the $$$ to do a total restoration.
3. It has to be pre-1964 (for the style)
4. It has to be close enough for me to pick up
5. It has to be light enough for me and a friend to get up three flights of apartment stairs.
6. It can't be really large - the space where it would go is about 40" wide. So those awesome huge consoles are, sadly, out of the question.

I did look at one of the stereos on Craigslist but it turned out that the cabinet was way too heavy, plus about half of the components on the unit didn't work.

The eBay unit I'm looking at right new comes the closest to filling my criteria (Akron is a bit of a haul but not too much), and if I can get the unit for less than $50 I should be able to stay within my budget, provided the seller answers the questions I've asked. I'm still waiting to hear.

Thanks again for the links, I'll check them out.

Ohiogal wrote:

Joe_DS wrote:I'm wondering if you've also checked out your local craigslist listings. There's quite a number of old record players, stereos, Victrolas, etc., available in the Toledo area --

For instance:

Record Player Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss ... +player%22
Victrola Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=Victrola
Phonograph Search -- http://toledo.craigslist.org/search/sss ... Phonograph

Joe

Thanks, Joe! Yes, I've been keeping an eye on the Craigslist too. I have kind of a narrow set of criteria, though, so it sort of limits what appeals to me.

1. It has to be inexpensive - I don't have a huge budget.
2. It has to be in pretty good shape, see #1 - I don't have the $$$ to do a total restoration.
3. It has to be pre-1964 (for the style)
4. It has to be close enough for me to pick up
5. It has to be light enough for me and a friend to get up three flights of apartment stairs.
6. It can't be really large - the space where it would go is about 40" wide. So those awesome huge consoles are, sadly, out of the question.

I did look at one of the stereos on Craigslist but it turned out that the cabinet was way too heavy, plus about half of the components on the unit didn't work.

The eBay unit I'm looking at right new comes the closest to filling my criteria (Akron is a bit of a haul but not too much), and if I can get the unit for less than $50 I should be able to stay within my budget, provided the seller answers the questions I've asked. I'm still waiting to hear.

Thanks again for the links, I'll check them out.

I highlighted #1 and #2 because these criteria are impossible to realize.
Sadly, the facts are that while these vintage pieces are in demand and quite nice to have, you have to be able to put out the money involved, or else just dream of having one in top shape.
Ebay & Craigs List sellers will for the MOST part not be honest with a potential purchaser about the condition of something.
They only want to sell off the stuff and get the money.
This might sound like negative thinking, but as a professional servicer, I've seen WAY too many of these "online bargains" come into my shop - and trust me, they all have horror stories with them.
Putzed with, tinkered with - messes that the customer has to pay dearly for because of all the extra work involved - and my hourly rate is reasonable.

So with that said, if you're worried about costs to own one of these sets, expect to spend some money - the restorations are pricy, but mandatory, but it's a one-time investment that won't ever be needed again if done right, and by a reputable experienced restorer.
I don't know about other restorers out there, but I've never had a set come back for something that I "should have done" when it was in my shop.
I don't think my customers would enjoy lugging a heavy console back to me a second time.

Also beware - there are several goonbags around that "claim" to do what I do - and they're as bad as the Ebay sellers - they're NOT technically qualified to perform proper restorations - I've seen these "fuddled with" sets come in my shop too in a mess - slapped together just to make a buck off the unwary.

MattTech wrote:
Sadly, the facts are that while these vintage pieces are in demand and quite nice to have, you have to be able to put out the money involved, or else just dream of having one in top shape.
Ebay & Craigs List sellers will for the MOST part not be honest with a potential purchaser about the condition of something.
They only want to sell off the stuff and get the money.
This might sound like negative thinking, but as a professional servicer, I've seen WAY too many of these "online bargains" come into my shop - and trust me, they all have horror stories with them.
Putzed with, tinkered with - messes that the customer has to pay dearly for because of all the extra work involved - and my hourly rate is reasonable.

Thanks, Matt. I know that I'll have to spend money to get a unit restored - I guess what I should have said is ideally I'd like to spend less on the unit, and more on the restoration. Right now the Delmonico I'm looking at can be had for $40. I'd consider that a fair price - but I'll listen if someone tells me it's not.

So what, in your opinion, should I expect to pay for a restoration of, say, this Delmonico? I suppose I should find that out now rather than be stuck with a $40 doorstop. I mean, are we talking a couple of hundred or a couple of thousand?

Thanks for your expertise, I appreciate it! If all else fails I'll just admire the awesome units you guys have.

If the cabinet is in good condition, grille cloths not bad, expect a couple hundred for a restoration.
This should include a full and proper overhaul of the record changer, as well as the tuner/amp chassis.
Speakers should also be checked, replaced if needed. - occasionally they don't fare well over the years.
These days, parts cost more because of their rarity, but as a one-time layout to reverse the neglect and aging it is worth it to many to have something that will last many years.

If you consider inflation, these sets are really a bargain...

In 1964 a high-end console would have cost 5-600 dollars, new.
To make that same console today would cost $3000.00 or more.
But.... to aquire one for $40 - $100 TODAY, and pay for restoration maybe $300 to $500 - it's way LESS than the $3000.00 you'd have to shell out IF they were made today.

MattTech wrote:If the cabinet is in good condition, grille cloths not bad, expect a couple hundred for a restoration.
This should include a full and proper overhaul of the record changer, as well as the tuner/amp chassis.
Speakers should also be checked, replaced if needed. - occasionally they don't fare well over the years.
These days, parts cost more because of their rarity, but as a one-time layout to reverse the neglect and aging it is worth it to many to have something that will last many years.

Thanks, Matt! Again I appreciate your input. I'm willing to pay a couple of hundred to have a great-sounding piece of equipment that looks cool too. Darn it, I wish you lived in Ohio! Then I could have you restore the Delmonico and I'd know it was being done right. Any advice on how to find a reputable restorer in my neck of the woods?

Oh, and if you get a second, could you please take a look at this picture and tell me what that white thing is behind the record changer arm? I have no idea what it could be, but it looks like it does not belong there.



Overall, what do you feel is a fair price for this unit? What would you pay for it? (anyone else can answer too, of course!!)

Thanks again for all your help, I really appreciate it!

That "white thing" is a record size sensing finger, which through the mechanism underneath the changer tells the machine where to set the needle down.
In that photo it looks to be damaged or broken, and something like that is not repairable.
In some cases I'd retrofit another suitable changer entirely to make the console useable.
Go find another specimen, I'd steer clear of those damaged units.

Matt is correct. I have one of those sets waiting for restoration ( legs are missing from mine) and the one you are showing one is damaged. They are cute as as hell but the tone is somewhat mediocre. My advise is stay away from that one. At any rate you are better off finding one and restoring it or having it restored rather than buying one that is supposed to have been "restored".

Thom wrote:Matt is correct. I have one of those sets waiting for restoration ( legs are missing from mine) and the one you are showing one is damaged. They are cute as as hell but the tone is somewhat mediocre. My advise is stay away from that one. At any rate you are better off finding one and restoring it or having it restored rather than buying one that is supposed to have been "restored".

Well, to be fair, the seller didn't claim it had been restored, but I suspected that white thing was something to do with the record changer and that it was broken. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I'll give this unit a pass and keep looking.

The record size sensor is not broken. I thought it looked funny when I first saw it on one of those I repaired many years ago. Its shaft is tilted on purpose. This lets the spindle be shorter without reducing the number of records it can hold.