I cannot find any information on the value of Fischer Record players. The company began making pianos and that is the only current info I can find. What is this worth? Where can I find more info about it?
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I am only seeing some of the newer model Fisher record players that are not in a cabinet or even have the old arm as the one you have here. These newer units are selling for around $75-100. What I would do is go to an old stereo forum and post images of this unit there. I know the cabinet is in very bad shape and does need some work to get it looking nice again. You did not even say if this unit is working or not. All of this will determine the value of your unit.
This little baby is called a Fischer Talking Machine. I have never seen one in person, only read about them in passing. It is VERY hard to find much as you have seen. The one piece I found just mentions them with a single reference that they exist:
If you do a find (control F on your keyboard and put the word Fischer in the search bar) you will see the reference in the document--very brief.
If this was mine, I would contact the company, which still seems to be around, and ask if they would buy it back for their museum....I have sold items back to the makers in the past and sometimes realize tidy sums doing so...plus it always feels good (like good karma and juju)! Here is what I believe to be their website:
There are not a lot of any brand of "talking machines" around of with the exception that I seem to come across the Victor/Victrola periodically. Sadly with that one--I was trying to sell it for a client and at the time (about 3 years ago) I could not give it away because there were a glut on the market at the time and the one I was selling was not in the best of shape.
This one is clearly less common so it may be of more value--it is hard to tell since I have never seen one in the wild (and I have been a reseller for 50+ years) and I can't (and I have a lot of sources) find any examples of one that has been listed or sold in ages.
I can tell you generally rare does not always mean high value...but sometimes it can if there is someone with a sentimental attachment to it OR if someone has one and wants a replacement for parts (which is very common). There are also so many variables when trying to sell/value--like condition, if it works, if it has any smells or damage, and where you are located.
If the company won't give you an offer (start high and negotiate of they are interested and be sure they include shipping by freight that they pay for and arrange), I would recommend finding a reputable local to you--auction house and see how they could help you sell it. If it was not so old and fragile, it would be fun to do an eBay 7 day auction and see what the market would bear for it, the shipping would be the issue as freight is very expensive and I am personally not familiar with how to arrange for it, which is why I suggest let the business do that for you.
Please post back what you decide and what you learn!! I am fascinated and will keep this bookmarked for my reference guide and tools!! Thanks bunches for sharing!
Very little information is available about the Fischer company that made phonographs and most of the information available is about other members/relatives of the Fischer family.
One such is the J & C Piano Company which was located in New York.
I found information in a small print article that stated the J & C piano company was never affiliated with the J.A. Fischer Company (located in Philadelphia, Pa) that dealt with the phonograph business.
I do not believe you will find any way to value your phonograph without asking very knowledgeable people who deal with antiques all the time. Personal, hands-on appraisals can be very expensive so I would suggest you post your pictures and questions to several online sites to see how much information you can gather for free before you take it to a shop for information.
There are several forums that may be able to help even if they suggest going somewhere else for assistance.
You will have to join a group before posting.
Post pictures and also provide your location as well as any history you have available about where this machine has been.
Reddit always has excellent responses but can be a little confusing to new members but if you can't figure something out just ask the administrators for help.
Post to all if you can find time.
www.reddit.com/
forums.stevehoffman.tv/
forum.talkingmachine.info/
You can also ask for a free appraisal from big name companies.
www.whatsellsbest.com/
You can find a lot of information about J.A. Fischer but some of these links will be duplications.
worldradiohistory.com/
I did find a 1939 parts catalog on eBay.
www.ebay.com/
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