Salmon Radio 2:44
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Welcome to a spectacular behind-the-scenes look at one of the most historical events in acoustic history! In this episode of the Donley Auctions Unfiltered Podcast, hosts Randy Donley and Susan take us on an exclusive tour of the phenomenal gallery transformation inside the former Wild West Town museum. They are preparing to showcase the legendary collection of renowned author and historian Allen Koenigsberg. Whether you are a lifelong audiophile or a newcomer looking for a stunning centerpiece, this breakdown covers every single vintage marvel discussed in the episode.
Episode Highlights
00:00 - The Coffee Mug Mystery: Randy kicks off the morning with a relatable struggle—trying to track down his scattered coffee mugs across the massive facility.
00:22Â - Welcome to the Gallery: Susan officially welcomes viewers and expresses her awe at the breathtaking art-gallery-style transformation of the showroom.
00:40Â - The Big Event: Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 30, at 10 AM CT for the historic live and online auction of the Allen Koenigsberg Collection.
01:35Â - The Hand-Cranked Berliner: A close look at a primitive Berliner Phonograph (Lot 3168) that functions entirely without a spring or electric motor, relying purely on manual string-driven rotation.
02:01Â - Nipper the Dog: The team highlights iconic, museum-grade trademark pieces featuring the beloved mascot, Nipper.
02:25Â - Jumping to Conclusions: Susan jokingly explains the hilarious reason behind her workplace limp.
02:37Â - The Invention of Sound: Randy demonstrates how Edison's 1877 tin-foil mandrel technology scratched grooves to record and reproduce human speech for the very first time.
03:43 - Scientific American 1877: A framed, pristine original issue of Scientific American (Lot 3002) published the exact year Edison debuted his invention.
05:06Â - The Penny Slot Machine: A look at the rare Manhattan Phonograph (Lot 3053), an early coin-op unit utilizing acoustic listening tubes.
05:24Â - The Nickel Evolution: How the introduction of speaker horns (Lot 3054) allowed crowds to listen together, prompting operators to raise the price from a penny to a nickel.
06:18 - Hand-Painted Horns: A gallery of beautiful floral horns that music stores would custom-paint to perfectly match a buyer’s home wallpaper.
06:56Â - Cylinder Music Demo: Randy winds up an Edison spring-motor machine and plays a vibrant celluloid cylinder record, demonstrating early acoustic clarity.
10:55Â - The Starter Piece: Randy showcases a Columbia disc phonograph (Lot 3154) and shares why a secondary consignment auction is perfect for budget-conscious buyers.
12:02Â - Office Provenance: A gorgeous leaded glass lampshade (Lot 3354) taken directly from Allen Koenigsberg's personal workspace.
14:19Â - Popeye's Tribute: A spectacular, one-of-a-kind original Popeye comic strip drawing (Lot 3353) customized by the artist as a personal tribute to Allen's unparalleled phonograph expertise.
15:12Â - The Ultimate Cash Register: An antique brass cash register uniquely configured with dedicated keys for the big three: Victor, Columbia, and Edison.
17:02Â - The Matthew Brady Discovery: Expert Mike joins to discuss an incredibly rare 1878 photograph (Lot 3003) taken at Matthew Brady's studio, capturing Thomas Edison alongside Charles Batchelor and Uriah Hunt.
19:55Â - Salmon Plaid Radio: Susan spots a fun, vibrant mid-century salmon-colored radio and Karin finds one styled like a vintage picnic basket.
21:05Â - The Art Deco Bar Radio: A spectacular finale showing a sleek Art Deco console radio that opens up into a fully mirrored cocktail bar.
Ready to see these magnificent historical treasures in action? Head over to Donley Auctions to browse the full catalog, and make sure to tune in next week for an exclusive look at upcoming mechanical music boxes, nickelodeons, and band organs!
Visit us at: DonleyAuctions.com
Donley Auction Services
815-923-7000
8512 South Union Road (entrance on Marengo Road)
Union, IL 60180
Donley Auctions is a team of experienced auction professionals dedicated to creating a fun and exciting auction experience. With a rich history connected to the original Union Phonograph Show, the Seven Acres Museum, and Donley’s Wild West Town, Donley Auctions offers a diverse range of items for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. Specializing in firearms, militaria, coin-op, phonographs, cars, motorcycles, petroliana, antique advertising, architecture, coins, sports memorabilia, early inventions, and more, we are the place to get top dollar for your high-quality antiques and collectibles. We host live and in-person auctions monthly, complete with complimentary food and beverages, as well as online auctions at DonleyAuctions.com, where you can bid from anywhere in the world. Our friendly atmosphere, combined with our commitment to providing an engaging auction experience and expert shipping, makes us the go-to auction house for buyers and sellers alike. Whether you're looking to buy or sell, Donley Auctions is the place to be!