Buying and Selling – timtrager.com

Discover the Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina – The Ultimate in Automated Violin-Piano Music.

Stop! Before you buy a violin playing music machine, have you ever heard a beautifully restored Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina? Your answer is probably no. This is especially true for many coin-op collectors. Other violin playing machines are mere novelties when compared to the Phonoliszt Violina. The Hupfeld Violina is known for beautiful and well arranged music. The piano has a much broader range and plays with reproducing piano expression. The violins [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:09:03+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Musical Instruments, Restoration|Comments Off

Auctions of Mechanical Music

It pays to have advice before you buy at an Auction especially if you are new to these items. I am here to educate you. It is so easy to get caught up in the auction atmosphere. Let my years of experience and encyclopedic knowledge work for you on these items. Shorten your learning curve by consulting with me first before you buy so that you do not make a costly [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:06:16+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off

Are all Mechanical Music Dealers the Same?

No! What is most important is knowledge of the item, its history, and its condition. Not every dealer has a firm foundation in the mechanics and history of a piece of mechanical music or has worked in a prominent restoration shop as I have. Their lack of expertise will result in you making a bad purchase decision. Not every dealer understands music and is a trained musician as I am. I [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:05:43+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music|Comments Off

Where is the Smart Money Being put These Days? In Hard Assets like Mechanical Music!

Since Wall Street entered its recent frothy ups and downs, people have been moving their money into hard assets from gold to antiques like mechanical music. So you have parked your funds from a 401K into the bank. Why not have some fun and profit and buy a mechanical music machine? And what a better way to enjoy the times than with a happy sounding mechanical musical instrument that will not [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:24:54+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off

What qualifies you as an expert?

<h2>What qualifies you to be an expert on mechanical music? </h2>For over 30 years I have been actively involved in all aspects of mechanical music as a dealer, restorer, historian, lecturer, and consultant. I maintain a large respected archive for my business. I have written articles for the Journal of the Musical Box Society International and have served on their publication committee. I have written e-articles for MMD, the Mechanical Music [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:24:30+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments, Restoration|Comments Off

Do you have more to sell than what’s online?

Do you have more mechanical musical instruments available than what you show in your photo gallery of items for sale? Always! I am always being asked to sell mechanical musical instruments. Thus the collection sales inventory is constantly changing. If you don't see something you are looking for, don't hesitate to e-mail me with your request.

By tim|2018-06-05T04:49:36+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off

Is mechanical music affordable?

This depends on your annual income. Generally mechanical music IS affordable! Most beginning enthusiasts can afford a player piano, a gem roller organ, a small monkey organ, or a table top disc music box. Price is generally a function of rarity. Remember, however, that price or rarity has nothing to do with enjoying piece. An inexpensive common foot pumped player piano can give you hours of enjoyment as can a Gem [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:09:58+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off

Can I make money with a mechanical instrument without selling it?

Yes. You can rent a band organ, calliope, or monkey organ to festivals, store openings, parades, and events. Not only are you enjoying your instrument, you are the life of the party and you are getting paid for it! Typically you can charge $400.00 and up for such events. Not only that, you can also sell recordings of your mechanical instrument to the eager and interested public! Nickelodeons can be put [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:08:06+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off

Should I buy a reproduction mechanical musical instrument?

For the most part, a reproduction mechanical music machine is NOT an investment. Do not be lulled into complacency by a cheap price. Very few reproductions go up in value or hold their value. Also you have to be very careful in your research of such instruments. Many reproductions are built poorly. They simply are not up to the quality of the original instruments. Beware of instruments that are heavily converted [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:11:00+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off

Buying from Internet auction sites

What do you think about buying mechanical instruments from Internet auction sites? Caveat Emptor! or Let the buyer beware! I have watched items being sold on internet auction sites for several years now. I have seen many items that are over-described with reproduced or missing parts and displayed with poor pictures. Also some items are NEVER meant to be sold and are used as lost leaders to attract the viewer. Then [...]

By tim|2018-06-05T06:22:00+00:00February 9th, 2014|Buying and Selling, Mechanical Music, Mechanical Musical Instruments|Comments Off