SCAM : Universal Record Lathe - eBay

[black belt]

Someone here probably wants this...listing looks odd though :/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Record-Lathe-Turntable-Western-Electric-era-/322322143963?hash=item4b0be59adb:g:K-gAAOSwnbZYIm8l

[rsimms3]

Scam scam scam. That has been listed at least 30 times by a variety of scammers over the past few years. Usually it's an old account that someone hacks to list a litany of things trying to catch folks and steal their personal information. It is absolutely not allowed to publish your email to solicit direct offers outside of the usual channels on eBay.

[black belt]

Yeah, that was weird with the email. Leaving this up so others can beware. Flagged the auction for fraudulent selling practices.

[powerstrip]

i know where one of these is being hoarded...the design always reminded me of a scully meets a singer sewing machine. it looks amazing, i imagine it may even perform quite well.

who out there has ever operated one of these?

[powerstrip]

and ok fine, understanding these are a lot of fake auctions, take a look at this one while you are at it!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1926-Western-Electric/322322142407?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39823%26meid%3Da43538404aa54d6eb2a462853d0deb4a%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D322322143963

when did this auction take place? and where is this machine right now? it's incredible................

[tricks]

...same seller...browse through "seller's other item". 10 pages of items for sale ... around 176 feedbacks... high quality products of any category at a bargain price... too good to be true. most ridiculous scam I've ever seen, hands down!

[Gridlock]

Gorgeous machine though. Look at that fxn cast iron. Thing must weigh 200 lb. But hey, what's a scully weigh? Neumann? I'd like a read on how much all our crap weighs and who's got the heaviest setup

[Soulbear]

Hi There,

i know where one of these is being hoarded...the design always reminded me of a scully meets a singer sewing machine. it looks amazing, i imagine it may even perform quite well.

who out there has ever operated one of these?

The Late Author of this book looks to be operating not one but five of these beauties!!

Bob.s Book.jpg

Have a look at Jamesfabels post :- UNIVERSAL RECORDER - PROFESSIONAL here on the Forum. He's done a Superb Restoration of a "Universal"
Regards Soulbear

[powerstrip]

Good eye Soulbear, you are correct

where is that thread listed? I cannot seem to find it...

I was always under the impression, that photograph was taken inside of RCA, I wonder why they would not be using RCA lathes as well?

It's entirely possible that one I saw, as well as the one in the photographs, came from the same room.

[Stevie342000]

Good eye Soulbear, you are correct

where is that thread listed? I cannot seem to find it...

I was always under the impression, that photograph was taken inside of RCA, I wonder why they would not be using RCA lathes as well?

It's entirely possible that one I saw, as well as the one in the photographs, came from the same room.

The search function is your friend, it is I think in the Newbie section, there are not that many threads on Universal recorders, they are not common, impressive machines but not common.

The simple and logical answer to why did RCA not use their own make of lathes, would in my opinion be that they either used a Scully or a Universal lathe because RCA could not make it better or more importantly cheaper, so why bother?

I am pretty sure that that photo is not RCA, it tells you in the book where the photo was taken, if you have a copy to hand take a look.

[misjah]

Just wondering how this scam would work? I mean you buy thru ebay/paypal so you would just get your money back if it was a scam no?

[powerstrip]

..The search function is your friend, ..

yes understood, I actually cut and paste "Jamesfabels" into the user search and it was not working.

I am a bit familiar with universal recorders, I have always wondered - were they a branch of the universal film company?

Anyway though, let's ask back to what misjah was saying - I doubt ebay gives any card information to the seller in the end, so how would a scam like this work??

Interesting, though, that we are caught up viewing these items at random. perhaps they can just tell that they are superior craftsmanship and are worth money on international trade markets so they are guaranteed to draw some views.

[Soulbear]

Hi There,

where is that thread listed? I cannot seem to find it...

http://lathetrolls.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6629&p=43011&hilit=universal#p43011
I think you'll find it there
Regards :DSoulbear

[rsimms3]

Round 2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Record-Lathe-Turntable-Western-Electric-era-/142177420173?&_trksid=p2056016.m2516.l5255

And to answer an earlier question, how does the scam work? In the description the scammer asks that the buyer contact them if they want to submit an offer outside of the eBay auction basically fishing for people who want to get a good deal ahead of the bidding. If you bid through eBay and pay, you'll never get the item and you'll have to go through the challenge process to get your money back which may take 2 weeks. In the past descriptions have read that the buyer must email before bidding in an attempt to engage anyone who is interested, which is absolutely against eBay guidelines. Other clues include thousands of auctions for a wide variety of items, repeated listings with the same exact pictures, an email address listed in the body of the auction using a picture (none of the description is typed into the listing itself), and it's a 24 hour auction.

[black belt]

Should we have an established thread listing confirmed scams?

[Soulbear]

Should we have an established thread listing confirmed scams?

We've got one and it's called the "Caveat Emptor" Section
Caveat Emptor - "the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made"
Regards Soulbear

[Matt]

I own the one that was listed on eBay 2-3 years back. Wonder if they are using the pictures from that sale to list a fake ad?