The Mellotron Group

I think the going rate for a restored and upgraded Mellotron is $5,000.00  
to $5,500.00. Right now, it might be somewhat less. If the machine has a  
significant provenance that makes it more value to someone, so be it. It might 
 fetch more. I don't think setting a high price has anything to do with 
greed. I  think it has more to do with not understanding the market. Right now, 
getting a  good price, or even a fair price on eBay is difficult. It is a 
depressed economy  and there are fewer people with sufficient disposable 
income to pay top  dollar.
 
Fortunately, I don't need eBay sell a Mellotron. 
 
The machine being discussed looks to have a cabinet in decent shape. It  
looks to me like is has been repainted at least once. Anyone who purchases an  
unrestored machine after looking at photos is stepping into the great 
unknown.  There could be dozens of hours of work and a considerable investment 
after the  purchase to make the machine play as it should.
 
There are probably a ton of Tron owners out there who think their  machines 
are just great. They are, to them. Through the years that I have  been 
working on them I always thought that they were just great. They all played  
well once worked on. But over time I have come to redefine when a Mellotron is  
really at its best. I have yet to see one come into my shop that was even  
close.
 
I was just amused by the price and description of the Tron on eBay now. Not 
 upset or disturbed in the least. The market allows what the market allows. 
If  someone pays the asking price it will be because that  Mellotron is 
worth that much to them. So if the seller  gets his or her price, that benefits 
anyone else trying to sell one.
 
I just don't think that there is a snowball's chance in hell that it will  
sell. The market sets the price... the reality becomes self evident.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 6/14/2010 12:28:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
MAinPsych@aol.com writes:

 
 
 
 
In a message dated 6/14/2010 7:15:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
atm655@verizon.In a messag

You don't have to buy the fucking thing!
Can you blame the guy for wanting to maximize his  price?
 
Tony



 
 
Tony,
With that logic, I should have gotten at least as much for my  restored 
#908.  I think this goes a bit beyond maximization,  crossing over into fantasy 
and wishful thinking (and likely just plain  greed).  But who knows -- a 
guy recently wrote me to say he bought an  ex-Pappalardi m/c (just how many of 
these DID he own?) for $5400.  Barnum  had it right; there's one born every 
minute.  BTW, I have a bridge  in Brooklyn that you might be interested 
in...
 
Frank