Phonoland

I have a GE jm-7 record recorder and record player set which was my mothers. I would like to sell it but have no idea what it is worth. It is in good condition, has it's wires and it runs when turned on. There is also a brand new in package needle with it.
Could someone tell me what it might be worth?
Ramblnrob frm North Olmsted Ohio

Unless this has been inspected and overhauled by a professional, it's best not to plug it in or turn it on--even for a potential buyer. It only takes a few seconds to turn this into a smoldering hulk, or worse. That's because, over time, the rubber used to insulate wires, etc., has turned rock hard, causing shrinkage and small cracks in the insulation to develop. Other components, such as capacitors, are similarly life-limited, and MUST be replaced. (This, unfortunately, normally includes both the recording and playback heads or cartridges; an expensive and time consuming restoration is normally needed.)

That said, it's very hard to specify even a price range for a disc recording outfit like this. I've seen asking prices of a couple of hundred dollars over the years on eBay, but they seldom sell for the "buy it now" prices. Your best bet would be to post a nominal starting price on eBay -- say $25-$50 -- and see what it goes for.

Joe

Thank you very much for the info. I never thought about the problem with the old wire insulation. -Robbi