Phonolamp?

Phonophan79 · by **Phonophan79** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:40 am

Greetings all -

Random question.

The lamps with the 78RPM players in the base... Phonolamps... How rare are they? What is a reasonable price to pay for one?

Thanks for any help!

Neophone · by **Neophone** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:36 am

PP79,

There are many different varieties of "phonolamps". I think you could call most, if not all, relatively rare. I would imagine prices would range from anywhere from a few hundred dollars on up. It's not really feasible to give a price estimate on such a broad question. Make, model, condition, so much is involved. Most phonographs are just wood and metal, but with these phonolamps you also have fabric, fringe, tassels and the like. Is the material rotted? Has it been recovered? How gaudy is the whole thing?

Some of these things look like they belong in a House Of Ill Repute!:lol: A lot of these have been recoved over the years, that's going to affect the value. There are a lot of factors involved here. There aren't really a lot of hard and fast prices in this hobby, I've found. They are wonderful curiosities, I hope to get one someday myself. Good Luck!

Regards,
J.

Record-changer · by **Record-changer** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:55 am

I saw one years ago with the turntable in the lampshade, amd the base being the horn.

STEVE · by **STEVE** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:04 pm

I would imagine prices would range from anywhere from a few hundred dollars on up

When Neophone sees them for a few hundred dollars, perhaps he would be good enough to let us know!

I've seen a few of these on Ebay and being sold privately online too. The cheapest one I've seen to date made $1600 and it was a genuine auction (not a faked Ebay shill bid auction) too!

by **Joe_DS** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:29 pm

The lamps with the 78RPM players in the base... Phonolamps... How rare are they? What is a reasonable price to pay for one?

Compared to the production runs of the conventional talking machines produced by the name-brand manufacturers, these are quite rare, indeed. There were, as Neophone noted, a number of different styles of lamp phonographs manufactured during the teens and 1920s. This article provides some basic information:

A Little Light on Lamp Phonographs -- http://www.intertique.com/LampPhonographs.htm

As for prices, I've seen parts, such as the lamp-base--sans motor or shade--sell for a several hundred dollars on eBay; but a good condition, working example will probably set you back at least $1,600+ to ???, as Steve stated. In fact, there's one listed for sale on this page for $3,000 -- http://www.antiquesselma.com/productpag ... page11.htm

While I can understand why a collector might want a phonolamp, for me it's more of a "get-what-I-really-want" type phonograph. If I came across a nice one on Craigslist, for instance--for a few hundred dollars--I'd snap it up and turn around and try sell it at a substantial profit, and then use the proceeds to "get what I really want." (Ahh, who, the hell am I kidding? I'd probably end up spending the money on something frivolous such as rent, or food, or bills, or....)

Phonophan79 · by **Phonophan79** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:41 am

If I recall correctly, I have seen (altho of course the lamp is electric) both wind-up and electric phonograph units in the lamp. Would either influence the value?

by **Joe_DS** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:37 pm

I thought I'd pass this along for what it's worth -- Fairy Phonograph Lamp, Rare Circa 1920's - $16000

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/clt/362646208.html

$16,000.00

Judging from the photos, I think the lamp has been rubbed down to its copper base plating, but I'm not sure.

Neophone · by **Neophone** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:23 am

Joe,

WOW! A wee bit pricey

It looks very familiar. I can't say for sure but I do think that one was offered for sale within the past year or two. That bright copper seems very familiar.

Regards,
J.

Record-changer · by **Record-changer** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:29 pm

The one I saw was the Capitol. It had the base like the first picture, and the shade looked like the one in the second picture.

Barry Kasindorf · by **Barry Kasindorf** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:00 pm

I have several, one of each of the major types. They do go for btw $1500 and $3000 depending on condition. I would sell other phonos to get one of these. I think they are very unusual. I think the Capitol Fairy LAmp is the most weird, but the B+P phonolamps are nice. They are all electric motors. I also have a Modernola phonolamp but it is a older full sized wood phonograph with a lamp ON it.

chevymud · by **chevymud** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:13 am

Well im fairly new to this and i just wanted to know, could any of you give me an idea on what one of these could go for. just by chance my son was up in a crawl space in this house we just purchased and found a phonolamp. it is the coolest thing i have ever seen. it is missing the shade on it tho. but it was made by the Electric phonograph Corporation, New York and the other name plate says thorpe electric motor with compensator, operates on DC/AC any cycle, up to 120 volts. Any information would be greatly appreciated. It is showing its age but it has all of the designs on it that look like they maybe gold leaf, the needle looks brand new. You may send me an e-mail on this.

thanks again,
chevymud_68@hotmail.com

Guest · by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:24 am

Hello all. I just got a Phonolamp and would like to know it's name and value. It's like the one on an ebay-Germany ebay store right now. It has a large round footed base and a huge horn going straight up to 26" off the floor. Above that, there's a lamp harp but no shade. There's relief faces and scrolling decoration on the base. It's all metal and the metal is in pristine condition with no dents, cracks, scratches, marrs, etc. The metal's surface has been redone in a fine high quality semi dark bronze finish. The machine runs, although a little too fast. Where the speed control? The switches are there and turn on the bulb inside, too. The arm inside says Phonolamp and Electric Phonograph Corp. It's a very clean and fine looking piece... The one on the German ebay store had it's metal polished to a shiny brass. It has a shade. He wants $5,900.00!

Guest · by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:59 am

Hello again. To follow up, compared to the brassy one on ebay Germany, I believe my Phonolamp is larger. Mine has more faces-in-scrolls on the base. His has two. Mine has seven. And his asking price is $5,400.00. His shade looks new, too. I also want to know it's value so I can sell it. I would entertain offers. I am in Pa , west of Phila.

Barry Kasindorf · by **Barry Kasindorf** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:29 pm

The phonolamps are different fromt eh B+P phonolamps.
I have sold mine btw $1500 and $2000 depending on condition .
If you send me a piciture privately I can tell you more about it.
-Barry

Guest · by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:06 pm

Tell me you email address and I'll send you some photos. I was thinking of putting it up on eBay, just starting at $1000 with no reserve, but if this guy is asking $5,400 for a small version of mine.......? I signed on to the site here, but I used an email address for a different computer I won't get to for a day or two. I'll talk to you privately then if you want to wait.

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