Why will no other turntable beat the EMT 927?

 The resurrection of this thread prompted me to take a look at current values of an EMT 927. I was surprised to find that asking prices of examples that are for sale range from about $5000 US to about $40,000 US. Samples in the latter category of course are beautifully and immaculately restored. But samples that are in the low-end of the price range don’t look so bad either. What’s up with that vast difference in pricing?

I think the low end is very exaggerated and probably a scam.  Pricing also depends on which 927 it is.  ST is most common.  There are D version with the glass platter  and F version which has two arms on the chassis, those two you don't see as many.  Then there is the R80 which preceded the 927 which very low numbers were made.  
Options on the tables also affects value,  if it has a phono either the early tubed mono phono which is desirable or the stereo tubed phono.  Then you have the SS phono which is less desirable.  If it has the groove indicator,  the quick stop for the platter, the suspension frame,  which arm,  and general condition.  
EMT's are rare but not unicorn rare.  There are many always available if you want to pay.
The great this is you can still get great support from multiple sources with parts and expertise.

Mine came out of a radio station and was well used.  It didn’t have the 139st either. 

I’m surprised that you can find them for so low a price, but maybe?  If you’re in the market, I would certainly take a look because you never know.  

The tech I used was familiar with EMT tables and rebuilding them.  But honestly they are so straight foreword any competent tech can probably do a fine job.

I’m gonna check out the link you posted from Stefano, I know he used to own an EMT 930 for awhile.  That’s an interesting thought on the tone arm differences.  

N.

Norman, What I found to be odd, when I looked on Hi-Fi Shark, was that the pricing fell into two groups: ~$5000US vs ~$30,000US (although I chose to quote the highest price, $40,000 in my recent post).  There were 3-4 tables available in each of these two price ranges with nothing in between, which is to say, nothing in the $7K to $20K range.  The high priced examples were "like new" based on photos.  Some of the ones seen on Hi-Fi Shark could be expired, meaning the tables have been sold or taken off the market.

lewm,

$5000.00 for a respectable 927 is an amazing deal.  Really, clean, lube and adjust and their ready for another 50 years.   I’m not saying that $30-40,000 is crazy, but isn’t it?  If that were pocket change to me I wouldn’t spend it on a turntable, or any other piece  of hi-fi equipment.  

The system I’m listening to today is quite a bit less expensive then the one I used 10-15 years ago, and yet today  I’m enjoying music more than ever.  Off the merry-go-round.  

Norman