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What's Your BEST Score $$ ??

My best score ever was a pair of old ESS speakers, with the Heil tweeters & 15" woofers. They were sitting by the DUMPSTER of a condo, and I just happened to be riding my bike past it on the way home from trail riding. The manager was sitting right there, taking a breather, so I asked him what was happening to them. He just said, "They're yours if you want 'em." :D I had to have a friend come back with me in his pickup, those things were HUGE & HEAVY! I kept 'em for about 4 years, then moved into a place that was too small, so I sold 'em to my boss for $500. :thmbsp: We were always wheeling & dealing, and I knew he lusted after them. lol. :) BTW, my friend works for the Bon Marche, delivering furniture, and one day he bought a mint pair of Klipsch Cornwalls for $50! :D
 
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Big Score, Big Bucks...

EchoWars said:
Then again, I'm just jealous because I never run across deals like those!!!! :cry:

:D
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Hey EW, PRECISELY-- :lmao:

No kidding though, I sell for a living, and have the fortune of being able to offer people things they'll really enjoy, have fun with, and PRESERVE; the things I enjoy myself! I hate to see an old piece of equipment end up in the trash, it literally hurts unless it's reached it's obvious end of practical usefulness; when it's gone it's gone, let's keep it around. I'd rather give a lot of it away rather than see it hit the trash, and I sometimes do (anyone need a fax machine?). Too many times some of my best scores were literally headed for the dumpster, in perfect working condition, but perhaps the cabinet was a bit banged up, etc. I'd like to have a contract at my local dump just so I could intercept all the great stuff that no one has time to market.

I could literally stack a cargo container full of all the stuff I pass up for $5, cassette decks, small receivers, obscure reel to reels, vcr's, TT's, YOU NAME IT. But I have a minumum $$ criteria for resale, so much of it is not profitable enough for me to turn. Now keep in mind, I could sell widgets instead, but that just wouldn't be any fun and I simply don't have any PASSION for it. But when I sell a set of skis, a motocross bike, a vintage amp, or whatever else rings my bell, I REALLY ENJOY knowing the next person really appreciates the chance to bid on, own, and enjoy whatever it is I'm offering (like sending vintage German cameras to China)!

This is insider talk here on AK, like surgeons discussing the events of the operating room. Only WE can most appreciate what we do! However, on that line of thought, I NEVER give my seller ID to locals in my area, I don't want them knowing that I just sold their $50 item for $500-- :yikes: We get paid for our knowledge and research, no different than an attorney that gets paid $200 an hour because of his education! My line of work has made people happy worldwide, and not one has complained about paying too much! (well, maybe one...) It's fun hearing how others have profited in this line of interest, that makes it more fun to press on!

I suppose I could be making money pushing a pencil, but I'd rather deal in vintage audio, sporting goods, antiques, etc., much more fun being immersed in (you should see my office, ah, my HOUSE, ah, my GARAGE!). And it's really fun, no, it's a BLAST to revive someone's junk and turn it into a good time and CASH. I think of it as putting artifacts into museums, and getting paid for it along the way. But it doesn't come easy, I pound the ground looking for items; will be making a five hour drive tomorrow to round up some MORE vintage electronics!

Others are the ones doing the paying, sometimes they don't like knowing that we got it for so little. But FYI, my main system is still mostly stuff that I paid retail for 25 years ago! And when this G-22k's done it may take the place of my main receiver, and it won't be cheap!

I think the most fun and the reason for starting this thread is the thrill of having the knowledge that someone else lacks, having it pay off for the people who most appreciates what it is; US :thmbsp: . One man's junk is another man's treasure, sort of like the peasants picking up the droppings from the mill and making treasure of the remnants. Putting value back into something others thought to be valueless.

I won't apologize for that!!! :bigok: I'll let you know if I score anything great tomorrow!
 
Not audio related (unless you include listening to an AM only Wonderbar tube radio in the car), but I scored a set of four U.S. Royal Air Ride tires in near perfect condition (for 50+ year old tires).

Doc
 
Dr. Strangelove said:
Not audio related (unless you include listening to an AM only Wonderbar tube radio in the car), but I scored a set of four U.S. Royal Air Ride tires in near perfect condition (for 50+ year old tires). Doc
Click to expand...
So...what do they go on?
 
Wow Nice ride.

The Tech center is like 1 1/2 miles from me; when were you there??
 
2002 for the Historic Motorama, 2003 for Eyes on Design and the Corvette 50th, 2004 for the Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook.

I probably will not be able to make it to Detroit or Flint with the car this year.

However, I still have an item on display at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights.

Doc
 
EchoWars said:
If ya'all are bragging about buying something for $5 or whatever, that's cool, but adding the 'I sold it for $5000', while that's a nice windfall, you're missing the whole point of this hobby, which has nothing to do with profitting.
Click to expand...

So what if I used the $5K to buy some killer Mac pre/power combo? Or maybe one or more sets of really nice speakers? I'd say selling counts if you turn it into more collecting!

Previous points about staying afloat are also valid. And that also determines how soon you can pick up more stuff!

My best scores --

I've mentioned these before, just not under a thread dedicated to scores. Just have yet to beat these deals:

1. Late 60's model TEAC real-to-real in good condition (only some paint splatters on the wood cabinet) - FREE!!!

It was a prop in a display for a laser video store. Ironically, the display was actually mocking vintage audio with the caption "Does your audio system still look like this?" Well, the store eventually went out of business, and they left the tape deck sitting in the display window!! All it took was a nice, heavy rock, and...

Yes, I'm kidding. Actually, the property owners happened to have their office right across the parking lot, so I inquired about it. The rest is history!

2. Phase Research (former name for Clements Audio) Model R loudspeakers. I Already owned a pair of these excellent little speakers, that I bought for $700 in the mid 80's, which was pretty much book value back then even though they typically held their own against speakers costing twice that. I caught an auction for another pair on e-bay with blown surrounds last year. Won them for $38, excluding shipping. The pair shipped for $120 (perhaps a little steep), but with new surrounds they were as good as new! I'm pretty sure the only difference from my existing pair was that there was less break-in on the new pair. They sounded very nearly the same, just a tad brighter; not quite as much bass. Close enough that I was pretty confident no-one had messed with the crossovers.

Two days after the auction some guy e-mailed me, informing me that he'd be interested in buying them if I should "get tired of them". I politely informed him that it wasn't likely to happen in his lifetime or mine!

I've heard that PR's do tend to turn into good scores if you can find them, because most people don't have a clue about them. Used bluebook isn't even all that high, from what I recall. Maybe $60.
 
asynchronousman said:
The Bon is officially Macy's now, you know. The downtown Boise sign was donated to the Historical Society Museum.
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Doh, you're right. They called it Bon Macy's for awhile, here in Seattle, lol. I never shop there, so I didn't pay much attention. I guess that was a few years ago that my friend got his Klipsches, but it doesn't seem like it. Nice car, Dr. Strangelove! :thmbsp:
 
Hmmm, I'd have to say....

Although not vintage (black plague), I was riding my bike on a windy day in march about 2 years ago. I was riding through a neighborhood about 3 miles from where I lived, I frequented the area. So, I had rode towards the South on my way there, but the wind was coming from the North, making it very difficult to pedal. I decided to ride my bike down a road which ran Northeast (a street that was never part of my route in past expeditions) when I saw it: A Pile of Kenwood 1986 components at the curb. I grabbed the CD player under my shoulder and rode all the way home as fast as I possibly could. I said to my mom when I got home; "there's this house throwing away stereo components, please drive me there so I can go get the rest". So I went back, and collected; the tuner, cassette deck, integrated amp, BOTH speakers, and all of the cables were there too!! One for my record books (although not vintage, I take what I can get). I still remember where the house was: At the corner of Lafayette and Warwick streets.

My favorite Vintage score was my KD-55J cassette deck, courtesy of my house wiring teacher. Price? A VCR....(you guys know this story already)

good times.
 
surfdoc37 said:
Hey EW, PRECISELY-- :lmao:

No kidding though, I sell for a living, and have the fortune of being able to offer people things they'll really enjoy, have fun with, and PRESERVE; the things I enjoy myself! I hate to see an old piece of equipment end up in the trash, it literally hurts unless it's reached it's obvious end of practical usefulness; when it's gone it's gone, let's keep it around. I'd rather give a lot of it away rather than see it hit the trash, and I sometimes do (anyone need a fax machine?). Too many times some of my best scores were literally headed for the dumpster, in perfect working condition, but perhaps the cabinet was a bit banged up, etc. I'd like to have a contract at my local dump just so I could intercept all the great stuff that no one has time to market.

I could literally stack a cargo container full of all the stuff I pass up for $5, cassette decks, small receivers, obscure reel to reels, vcr's, TT's, YOU NAME IT. But I have a minumum $$ criteria for resale, so much of it is not profitable enough for me to turn. Now keep in mind, I could sell widgets instead, but that just wouldn't be any fun and I simply don't have any PASSION for it. But when I sell a set of skis, a motocross bike, a vintage amp, or whatever else rings my bell, I REALLY ENJOY knowing the next person really appreciates the chance to bid on, own, and enjoy whatever it is I'm offering (like sending vintage German cameras to China)!

This is insider talk here on AK, like surgeons discussing the events of the operating room. Only WE can most appreciate what we do! However, on that line of thought, I NEVER give my seller ID to locals in my area, I don't want them knowing that I just sold their $50 item for $500-- :yikes: We get paid for our knowledge and research, no different than an attorney that gets paid $200 an hour because of his education! My line of work has made people happy worldwide, and not one has complained about paying too much! (well, maybe one...) It's fun hearing how others have profited in this line of interest, that makes it more fun to press on!

I suppose I could be making money pushing a pencil, but I'd rather deal in vintage audio, sporting goods, antiques, etc., much more fun being immersed in (you should see my office, ah, my HOUSE, ah, my GARAGE!). And it's really fun, no, it's a BLAST to revive someone's junk and turn it into a good time and CASH. I think of it as putting artifacts into museums, and getting paid for it along the way. But it doesn't come easy, I pound the ground looking for items; will be making a five hour drive tomorrow to round up some MORE vintage electronics!

Others are the ones doing the paying, sometimes they don't like knowing that we got it for so little. But FYI, my main system is still mostly stuff that I paid retail for 25 years ago! And when this G-22k's done it may take the place of my main receiver, and it won't be cheap!

I think the most fun and the reason for starting this thread is the thrill of having the knowledge that someone else lacks, having it pay off for the people who most appreciates what it is; US :thmbsp: . One man's junk is another man's treasure, sort of like the peasants picking up the droppings from the mill and making treasure of the remnants. Putting value back into something others thought to be valueless.

I won't apologize for that!!! :bigok: I'll let you know if I score anything great tomorrow!
Click to expand...



I could not have said it better myself. Even though I don't sell anywhere near full time, I sell vitage gear (and other stuff) mostly because I know it and love it. In an ideal world, I'd keep every cool piece of gear I found for myself. In fact, I've been thinking how hard it would be to sell a nice Mac or Fisher etc. if I were to find it. What I usually do, is clean it up, play with it for as long as I can and either sell it at some time for the needed family funds or sell something I don't like as much (or two or three depending on how much I could have got for the gear I like).

Regarding the Tannoy, there was no info on how much a black would go for. I really could not put that nice driver into a cabnit it deserved with a matching stereo partner. For me selling it was an easy descision. Not like a Fisher 800 or Mac 1700 (that I could and would have used with my Klipshc Fortes). I figured I'd get about $1000-2000 for it based on newer Tannoy silvers and reds I'd seen on the bay. I almost put a buy it now for $1700! Thank God my wife talked me out of that. :yes:

What really gets me is this: The lady I bought the speaker cabnits from was getting ready to call Salvation Army to haul them away. I shudder (irregardless of the profit), of what they might have done with such an ugly and near broken cabnit. I am as glad for having sold it for big money as the fact that someone who really appreciates that old driver now has it to match his formerly mono mate.

You guys are right about the friendship, love of vintage gear, and music being the primary and utmost most importent part of this great forum. Its a shame that I or anyone else has to ever sell any of these great peices. However, even if I did not need the cash, it seems like a bigger shame if all the gear recided in only a few hoards (no offense to the horders :D ) ; and others who don't have the time or desire to search endlessly from one yard sale to the next, would not also be able to experience the joys of vintage audio.

I think all of you are a great bunch of people. I wont make any appoligies for what I need to do to make money on the side, but I do realize that bragging (I did not intend for that), is in poor taste. For that, if I offended I do appologize. Just remember this......


Keep an eye out for old ulgy speaker cabnits. :D
 
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Okay, so it's my very first eBay deal. I'm bragging because it went flawlessly. I'd been looking for a decent tuner for as close to free as possible but coming up short. One day I stumble onto a Yamaha T-80 with a Buy It Now price of $74.99 in what looked like a fairly knocked around condition, and only one hour into a 7-day auction period. I'd done some research and found the price to be fair so I snapped it up.

It arrived yesterday in simply gorgeous shape. Packaging wasn't exactly with a velvet pillow, though. Seller had cleaned it til it was spotless, and included the original owner's manual, promotional literature, blank warranty card, station frequency insert sheet, and two antennas! This thing works beautifully and only shows the slightest of wear. All I need now is the 75ohm coaxial plug & sleeve connector because a standard F connector won't fit... so far I'm using a nail to shove the center conductor in and I forced the braid into the gap in the female rear panel connector.

I realize it's rare when an eBay purchase works out perfectly, but mine did and I couldn't be happier!

Tom
 
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Congrats. :banana: Great tuner at a good price. Same questions as above. What do you mean by 'won't fit'? Too big/small/wrong thread/etc.?
 
I wish I had a digital cam to show you. The center conductor female opening is way too big for a plain coaxial cable wire, and the female sleeve is surrounded by a black plastic protruding shell. It's the General model, with the frequency allocation switch and voltage switch. I did put a WTB in Parts elsewhere in this forum.

Tom

EDIT: Here's an Audiogon pic of the rear panel; best I could do.

http://gon4.audiogon.com/i/c/f/1107293760.jpg
 
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Out of town score...

Another day, another pile of vintage gear...

Nothing spectacular, but lots of goodies.

3 Pioneer HPM 100's
2 Jensen H-223F 12" speaks in original corner hangers
2 Jensen vintage 3-ways/4 speaks in original boxes
2 Fisher 3 ways w/12" Original grills
1 Garrard 210 TT
1 Dual 701 TT
1 Pioneer PL-50 TT
1 Fisher 440 A tube amp
1 Fisher 440 T tube tuner
1 Pioneer tube AM/FM/Shortwave tuner
1 Carver C-2 pre-amp
1 Carver TX-2 tuner
1 Akai 4400 RtR
1 Webcor tube amp/speaker
1 Teac CR-R7 tape/tuner
1 Panasonic AG 1960 S-VHS VCR
1 Variac M10 transformer
1 vintage Ford AM radio
1 vintage Epiphone EC 24 classical guitar
MORE?

Enough for now. I think worth the 300+ mile round trip! :p: Didn't have room for the JBL 15" Pro Monitors, M&K towers, Klipsch Heresy's, or 2-way radio equipment, next trip! The Fisher stuff sounds INCREDIBLE, should I keep it??? Can't wait to test the rest of it. Very curious about the HPM's, Jensens and TT's.

Price paid? Not stolen but cheap! Take a guess-- :D
 
What a flippin' score! :thmbsp: surfdoc37, I ran 2pair HPM-100's for about 6 months as my mains. Had them double-stacked. :yes:
 
Yeah!

But Bolly, I think I've seen one of OvenMaster's connectors before, even though I don't recall what it was.

What it was was not a football, I know that.

What was it?
 
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