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One's trash is someone else's treasure

I would be interested to find out what “treasures” you people have come across in your journey to audio nirvana on the used market. For me, it was in 1993 (I don’t remember if the internet was already at its early stages of development – I don’t think so), and I came across an ad in our local newspaper for a Linn LP-12. The second I read the ad, I immediately called the seller who happens to be this older fellow who obviously didn’t have the slightest clue what he’s about to relinquish. I drove to his apartment and there it was, a Linn LP-12 complete with an LVX tone arm, a K9 cartridge and the smoke dustcover – all in excellent condition. The asking price? $100!!!! While I was in his apartment checking the table out, the seller received about three phone calls regarding the LP-12 too bad for those prospective buyers but first come, first serve. Talk about someone’s trash being someone else’s treasure!!!! About three years later, I sold the table for $900! It was about this time when the digital front end was really taking off with the transport and outboard DAC options. Now, I’m back into vinyl (just recently got back actually) and have a VPI Scout Aries with JMW 9 arm and a Dynavector 10x5 cartridge. This time, my analog set up is a keeper!!!! What treasures have you come across??????
gemini

Showing 5 responses by hals_den

hals_den
77 posts
 
Blah, blah, blah. After upteen moral diatribes, I actually recalled a gem that my neighbor gave to my 10 year old self back in '74. It was a reel to reel tape recorder with a built in tube amplifier. He included a tape of pirated music which included a hilarious catchy song which also happened to be antisemitic, which I nonetheless listened to over and over again. This thing reproduced magical sounds and had a mysterious green pulsating V-guage on the end of vacuum tube thingy.
One day I discovered a way to connect my Panasonic transistor radio into the microphone input and bam! Amplification with sweet disortion. It was freakin' hot.
Another time, I figured out how to use this thing to eavesdrop on my nextdoor neigbor. That got old shortly.
Man, I miss that thing.
BTW, Mr. Gray, who was way older and wiser than I, gave me the thing for FREE!? If he had any idea how much he could have fetched on ebay, and had I the moral fiber and an ounce of wisdom, I wish I would've told him.
hals_den
77 posts
 
No Mechans, I am not Jewish but my wife is.
If I remember correctly, the chorus of the song I referenced went something like this: the rich folks hate the poor folks, the protestants hate the catholics, and everybody hates the Jews. Maybe it's more true than anti-semitic.
BTW genocide was not invented by the Nazis, and it was God who told Israelites to completely destroy Canaanites. The Israelites were tricked into making a treaty with the people they were instructed to annihilate. The battles of the Old Testament make Iraq look like a mere skirmish in comparison. I don't want to defend the Nazis, but I do understand that all humans are capable of horrific violence and having the pride to believe we are better than the Nazis.
hals_den
77 posts
 
Even though I'm not the biggest Beatles fan, I'd offer at least $15 for Gemini's Beatle collection. Shipping costs are the great unknown here. I suspect a complete collection of Japanese pressings of the Beatles has to be worth a lot more than $10.
Where are you Gemini? If you're in my neck of the woods, I'll pay cash and carry.
hals_den
77 posts
 
Please explain, Punkawalla. I don't understand your amazement, and I'd like to get along.
hals_den
77 posts
 
Despite ruffling a lot feathers of my audio flock, I feel compelled to defend my forefathers; the cavemen. Dekay's reference to the quite humorous, "so easy even a caveman can do it", ad campaign reflects a not so funny arrogance that plagues our generation. Because of the wide acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution, our generation believes we are the most intelligent species ever to roam the earth. If, however, Darwin's theory is incorrect and man was created by God and in His image, then cavemen were quite likely more intelligent than we are today. As we are many generations after Neanderthal man (cavemen), we have accummulated all the the mutations of that time. Of course evolutionists believe mutations can be beneficial while creationist see mutations as reminders of mans' fallen state.
But in an attempt to steer this thread back on track, I just recalled another couple of audio gems that begat my audiophilia. I scored a Fisher reciever with a built-in turntable around 1976 for $75. I can't remember what brand the turntable was, but I remember it had an Empire cartridge (888P). What a neat looking cartridge. That console was a big upgrade from my Panasonic transitor radio. Probably the biggest one yet in my audio history.
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