Purchases From The Mechanical Music Extravaganza In Wayne, NJ In April 2014

On April 13, 2014, I attended the AMAZING Mechanical Music Extravaganza in Wayne, New Jersey.   This was the first time I attended this convention.  It was very much worth the two hour drive to get there.  This is the place to be if you want to procure an early machine for cylinders or 78s or stroll down the aisles as if it was a museum.  The admission fee was $6.  I certainly recommend the convention and I will be attending the next event this October 12.

The first seven pictures are from the convention and the remaining six show my purchases.  There is a video showing the purchases at the bottom of the page.






 
Here are two extraordinary mechanical figures.  The girl in the winter clothing (circa 1910) removes her hand from the mittens and blows kisses and the woman (circa 1915) plays the harp while her chest moves from the breathing.  If I am not mistaken, the figures were $6,000 or $6,5000 and $19,000 respectively:


 
Here is my haul.  In the following photographs, you will see a Brunswick Panatrope Exponential Type 106 from the late 1920s (1928 perhaps), an Edison Standard Phonograph Model B with a C Reproducer sold from July 1905 to the Summer 1906, a His Master's Voice Model 102E Portable Gramophone from 1952 (it was introduced in July 1931 and discontinued in 1960 ... I came to the conclusion that it is from 1952 because the serial code is B/16), 78s records, celluloid and wax cylinder records, envelopes of needles and an empty Columbia concert wax cylinder box.







 
The prices at the Mechanical Music Extravaganza were less than what one would have to pay on ebay or elsewhere on the web.  That is the irony of this convention - one can indeed get quality for less.  It is the real deal no doubt.  Another advantage to going to a convention is the ability to see and hear a demonstration of the machines prior to buying.  Plus, the vendors are more knowledgeable than online sellers who are not experienced in old machines.  Certainly some knowledgeable sellers on the web do exist and the ones who specialize in early machines should be sought out.  Many of the people on ebay and elsewhere on the internet sell junk pieces that they think are functional.

Here is the video: