BIN $24,995.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTERN-TELEVISION-SCANNING-DISK-PRE-WAR-VISIONETTE-W-W_W0QQitemZ140157242844QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3638QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I saw that... Interested to see if it goes. My experience is that mechanical sets aren't quite as valuable or easy to sell as electronic ones. Also, it's a different circle of TV collectors who want them.

Charles

There's another one that looks to be in equal or better condition, starting at $499

http://cgi.ebay.com/HTF-ANTIQUE-WESTERN-TELEVISION-VISIONETTE-WOW_W0QQitemZ300151767842QQihZ020QQcategoryZ3638QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The last sales have been in the $8k range. The $22k is way out of line.

Looks like he couldn't take the competition, and ended the auction.

Chuck

Interesting how one auction of an "unobtainium" item may flush others out of the weeds. Chance plays a big role, too, of course.

Phil Nelson

It is sort of amazing that both of these sets were not in our database of surviving mechanical sets. I wonder how many more Visionettes are out there? The highest serial number is below 200, and my estimate is that 300 to 500 were made, both factory assembled and kit models. We now have 24 surviving sets documented, a very high percentage of those made.

I put a token bid on the $499 one, which immediately got upstaged. (I won't rebid.)

I agree that as soon as a weird item shows up on eBay at a huge price, a bunch more turn up right away. Look at Sony KV-5000 5" color sets; which are quite collectible... There will be a lull from them on eBay, then after 6 months, one shows up. It goes for $350, then 3 or 4 more come up right away and sell for regressive prices to $100. The the cycle repeats.........

Charles

Except with TRK-12's, of course. To quote a fellow Seattle collector: "Before eBay, those were a fifty-dollar item"

What's with the way the bidders names are showing up now? Did ebay change this again for bids over $200?

Darryl

Yeah, that's been the format for a few weeks now. The idea is it protects anonymity from spammers, yet still makes it (at most) possible for bidders to recognize each other.

Yeah, that's been the format for a few weeks now. The idea is it protects anonymity from spammers, yet still makes it (at most) possible for bidders to recognize each other.

So do I understand that only bidders can see each others' names, and those who have not place a bid cannot see? That's a heck of a lot better, if it's the case! Several times since eBay started hiding the bidders' names, I have hesitated to bid on an item for fear of driving the price up for a friend/fellow collector. In one case with an old Civil Defense air raid siren timer that I wanted, there was a package of a timer and a control receiver on eBay. Seeing the name, I contacted the other bidder through the eBay message system, we made a deal so he got his receiver and I got my timer without driving the price up for either of us :banana:

Charles

So do I understand that only bidders can see each others' names, and those who have not place a bid cannot see?
Charles

I don't think so, but I haven't actually bid in an auction in that price range since the first change was implemented. I think everybody sees the same abbreviation, in other words: k***r = kx250rider.

Like I said, *possible* at most for rivals to recognize each other, versus the impossible bidder 1 bidder 2 etc.

I don't think so, but I haven't actually bid in an auction in that price range since the first change was implemented. I think everybody sees the same abbreviation, in other words: k***r = kx250rider.

Like I said, *possible* at most for rivals to recognize each other, versus the impossible bidder 1 bidder 2 etc.

A-ha: I see that now. One question: If the bidder has a "ME" page icon (as I do,) can the other people still see (AND click on) the "ME"? As a bidder on the Western, I see my full name and I can see my ME icon, but either I can't see the other bidders' "ME" icons, or they don't have them set up.

Charles

I just went to the auction to see if I could see your "ME" page Charles, but the auction has been pulled! Looks like the seller made a behind the scenes deal :-(

Darryl

Thanks for the try... I just noticed the early ending too! I sent the seller a note to see what happened, and to inform them that the last one was asking $25,000. I HATE IT when these big-ticket items get pulled early. If I had truly intended to get it, I'd have eMailed the seller right off the bat, warning them of people trying to get them to sell and quit early at a greatly reduced price. I wonder if they got a $1000 offer and thought they'd laugh all the way to the bank for selling a nonworking B&W TV for $1000? If so, little do they know......

When I was selling a Meissner 5" prewar set on eBay last year for a friend, I got TONS of eMails from people hoping I didn't know what it was, and that I might sell it for $1000 or so, when the bidding was still young. Some of them very pushy.

Charles

*snicker*

24k for that thing?

*snicker*

24k for that thing?

Its rare. Really rare.