I'm a great grand-nephew of a deceased audio industry executive and
after the recent death of my grandfather, a retired investment banker
and a close personal friend of this audio industry executive, we
discovered some new-in-the-box Marantz electronics and a new pair of
KLH-9 electrostatic speakers that have never been unboxed in his attic
at his compound in the Catskills.

The sales receipts indicate he purchased this equipment in the 1960's in
New York City and we are at a loss to understand why he never unboxed it
and set it up, unless it had something to do with a divorce he was going
through at the time.

Here's what we found in my grandfather's attic:

1 Marantz 7 tube preamp - The box has never been opened.

2 Marantz 9 power amps - The boxes have never been opened

1 Marantz Model 10 (not a 10B) tuner - the box has never been opened

2 Marantz wooden cases - one for the preamp and one for the tuner, both
in unopened boxes.

1 pair of KLH-9 electrostatic speakers - The boxes have never been opened

1 Thorens TD-124 Turntable with an Ortofon tone arm and an Ortofon SPU
phono cartridge still in it's original box, and an Ortofon step-up
transformer for the cartridge. The Ortofon tone arm has never been
mounted on the Thorens turntable so we believe the Ortofon SPU cartridge
has never been used.

All the boxes are in mint condition, no scuffs or water marks, and all
the original printing is clear and legible. The original packing tape,
although dry and brittle, is still sealing the boxes. However, the
boxes are rather dusty.

Sotheby's has rather eagerly offered to take this off our hands, and,
they did seem to think that we would most likely sell this equipment to
an Asian buyer.

We'd rather sell this as a complete system to a serious collector in the
US. However, we will break up the system for the following
non-negotiable prices and will ship to you at your expense using the
carrier of your choice:

Marantz 7 preamp: $ 25,000

Marantz 9 power amps: $ 45,000/pair

Marantz 10 tuner: $ 20,000

KLH-9 speakers: $ 30,000/pair

Thorens turntable,
Ortofon arm & SPU
phono cartridge &
Transformer: $ 10,000

The cabinets for the preamp and tuner are included with each unit.

We'd prefer to sell this system as a package. So, for someone who
wishes to purchase everything, we will sell everything for only $125,000
AND we will have it delivered to you via a Brinks security vehicle with
guards anywhere within a 12 hour drive of New York City.

We will require a reference from the president of your bank before we
schedule the delivery trip. And we will ask Sotheby's to run a
background check on you so we know you are a serious customer.

We will require payment via a certified check from your bank upon your
acceptance of the system. We will also need the name of the nearest
airport to your location that can accommodate a 4 engine Lockheed
JetStar private jet.

You will have the right to open the boxes and ensure you are getting
what you are paying for and that everything is cosmetically unblemished
other than normal ageing and oxidation. The attic this equipment has
been stored in is both heated and air conditioned and the home was
continuously occupied by the servants when the owner was not present.

However, since the boxes have never been opened, we can neither
guarantee nor warrant the electrical condition of this equipment.

We also require that an officer from your bank be present during this
transaction. Our attorneys will accompany us as we will need to present
you a formal bill-of-sale for estate settlement purposes, and we will
require you to have a notary present so the bill-of-sale can be notarized.

Please respond to this board and not to me if you have the financial
means and are interested in acquiring this one-of-a-kind historic system.

These prices are not negotiable.

If we do not sell this equipment here in the US we will let Sotheby's
take it to Asia and auction it there because we will net the same or
more if we choose this route. We'd just like to see this system stay
here in the US if possible, but we are also capitalists and Sotheby's
has assured us this pricing is most realistic, particularly in Asia.

Also, please refrain from e-mails complaining about the pricing:
Sotheby's is quite confident given the strength of the yuan and the fact
the boxes have never been opened they can easily exceed these prices if
this system in auctioned in Asia.

Stereophile, a music lover, not the magazine

We now have the audiophile equivalent of the Nigerian scam.

I especially like the way the "seller" wants proof that the _buyer_ is
legitimate.

Note also the reference to the Marantz 10 tuner. If memory serves correctly, the
10 preceded the 10B, but I don't remember how it differed. This is no doubt the
seller's way of convincing us he's "legit."

We now have the audiophile equivalent of the Nigerian scam.

I especially like the way the "seller" wants proof that the _buyer_ is
legitimate.

Note also the reference to the Marantz 10 tuner. If memory serves correctly, the
10 preceded the 10B, but I don't remember how it differed. This is no doubt the
seller's way of convincing us he's "legit."

If Sotheby's is willing to auction it in Asia for those prices, I would
suggest doing so. For pieces of that caliber, they often have lower seller
fees and charge a buyers premium. Those are impressive pieces, but if you
expect to get ABSOLUTE top dollar, without giving up the percentage, you
need to put out a bit of real effort. You need to set up a decent web site
with pictures of the pieces, and all your documentation. I would also
engage a selling agent for a set fee of the selling price (seems like 6%
would be fair, because this is the value of a real estate deal). There are
several reputable gentleman here, or do a google and find someone in your
own neighborhood.

But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
anonymous email service, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

If Sotheby's is willing to auction it in Asia for those prices, I would
suggest doing so. For pieces of that caliber, they often have lower seller
fees and charge a buyers premium. Those are impressive pieces, but if you
expect to get ABSOLUTE top dollar, without giving up the percentage, you
need to put out a bit of real effort. You need to set up a decent web site
with pictures of the pieces, and all your documentation. I would also
engage a selling agent for a set fee of the selling price (seems like 6%
would be fair, because this is the value of a real estate deal). There are
several reputable gentleman here, or do a google and find someone in your
own neighborhood.

But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
anonymous email service, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
anonymous email service, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

Sounds like one of Mr. Mind's scams, hmmm? grin

If I were buying classic equipment at that price, I'd also buy an airplane
ticket and view it in person before I'd plunk down one cent.

But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
anonymous email service, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

Sounds like one of Mr. Mind's scams, hmmm? grin

If I were buying classic equipment at that price, I'd also buy an airplane
ticket and view it in person before I'd plunk down one cent.

Mr. Tawny,

Thank you for the information. My sister is the executrix of the estate
and I will provide your information to her. I myself know just enough
to know that these pieces are quite valuable. And FWIW, Sotheby's has
recommended to us exactly what you proposed below. We just wanted these
pieces to stay in the US if that's possible.

As for those concerned about the "legitimacy" of this offer, perhaps I
was not clear enough specifying our terms: No money changes hands until
the buyer has opened and inspected the merchandise. Brinks delivers the
goods, you open the boxes, inspect the goods, and THEN you pay us, with
all the attorneys, notary, etc. present. I don't think Dr. Okasa Motubu
from Lagos would ever agree to terms like this :-)

We are only requesting the background information because we only wish
to deal with serious buyers and do not wish to waste our time with "tire
kickers." And the value of the merchandise is lessened once the boxes
are opened, hence we want to ensure we are dealing with a serious buyer
with the means to execute the purchase.

And yes, I am using an anonymous email service: I value my privacy and
there are a very few somewhat unbalanced individuals out there, some of
who even post in this and some of the other audio newsgroups. I do not
wish to engage them in any verbal jousting.

Stereophile, a music lover, not the magazine.

Mr. Tawny the talking tiger wrote:
If Sotheby's is willing to auction it in Asia for those prices, I would
suggest doing so. For pieces of that caliber, they often have lower seller
fees and charge a buyers premium. Those are impressive pieces, but if you
expect to get ABSOLUTE top dollar, without giving up the percentage, you
need to put out a bit of real effort. You need to set up a decent web site
with pictures of the pieces, and all your documentation. I would also
engage a selling agent for a set fee of the selling price (seems like 6%
would be fair, because this is the value of a real estate deal). There are
several reputable gentleman here, or do a google and find someone in your
own neighborhood.

But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

Mr. Tawny,

Thank you for the information. My sister is the executrix of the estate
and I will provide your information to her. I myself know just enough
to know that these pieces are quite valuable. And FWIW, Sotheby's has
recommended to us exactly what you proposed below. We just wanted these
pieces to stay in the US if that's possible.

As for those concerned about the "legitimacy" of this offer, perhaps I
was not clear enough specifying our terms: No money changes hands until
the buyer has opened and inspected the merchandise. Brinks delivers the
goods, you open the boxes, inspect the goods, and THEN you pay us, with
all the attorneys, notary, etc. present. I don't think Dr. Okasa Motubu
from Lagos would ever agree to terms like this :-)

We are only requesting the background information because we only wish
to deal with serious buyers and do not wish to waste our time with "tire
kickers." And the value of the merchandise is lessened once the boxes
are opened, hence we want to ensure we are dealing with a serious buyer
with the means to execute the purchase.

And yes, I am using an anonymous email service: I value my privacy and
there are a very few somewhat unbalanced individuals out there, some of
who even post in this and some of the other audio newsgroups. I do not
wish to engage them in any verbal jousting.

Stereophile, a music lover, not the magazine.

Mr. Tawny the talking tiger wrote:
If Sotheby's is willing to auction it in Asia for those prices, I would
suggest doing so. For pieces of that caliber, they often have lower seller
fees and charge a buyers premium. Those are impressive pieces, but if you
expect to get ABSOLUTE top dollar, without giving up the percentage, you
need to put out a bit of real effort. You need to set up a decent web site
with pictures of the pieces, and all your documentation. I would also
engage a selling agent for a set fee of the selling price (seems like 6%
would be fair, because this is the value of a real estate deal). There are
several reputable gentleman here, or do a google and find someone in your
own neighborhood.

But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

William Sommerwerck wrote:
We now have the audiophile equivalent of the Nigerian scam.

I especially like the way the "seller" wants proof that the _buyer_ is
legitimate.

Note also the reference to the Marantz 10 tuner. If memory serves correctly, the
10 preceded the 10B, but I don't remember how it differed. This is no doubt the
seller's way of convincing us he's "legit."

The 10B had butterworth filters and the 10 did not.

William Sommerwerck wrote:
We now have the audiophile equivalent of the Nigerian scam.

I especially like the way the "seller" wants proof that the _buyer_ is
legitimate.

Note also the reference to the Marantz 10 tuner. If memory serves correctly, the
10 preceded the 10B, but I don't remember how it differed. This is no doubt the
seller's way of convincing us he's "legit."

The 10B had butterworth filters and the 10 did not.

On 1/11/03 1:05, in article
. net, "Mr. Tawny the
talking tiger" wrote:


But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
anonymous email service, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

Mister tawney is now appointed a "Junior Scam Buster"! Keep up the good
work!

On 1/11/03 1:05, in article
. net, "Mr. Tawny the
talking tiger" wrote:


But since you refuse to acknowledge who you are, and you use a "free"
anonymous email service, it does smell more than a little "fishy".

Mister tawney is now appointed a "Junior Scam Buster"! Keep up the good
work!

That is truly one of the funniest things I have heard this week! LOL Bwine!

That is truly one of the funniest things I have heard this week! LOL Bwine!