Auction with vintage radios and TV's in November.

[radiolot]

Been three and a half-year break but I'm back to directing auctions of Mechanical Music and Technical Apparatus. Next sale 2nd November at C & T Auctioneers in Tunbridge Wells. Quite a few pre-war radios and one telly in at present, more to come. As always, I'll give a linked specific list when the catalogue in live. Keep the date free as I hope to have another plugging in ceremony.
regards
Laurence Fisher (Radiolot)

[radiolot]

Hi folks,

Bit more in since last post, including a very large component lot to top up your workshop drawers! A lot more welcome in, so feel free to call/email me.
I can't promise a large room full of Catalins or 900s, but it'll be fun I'm sure. One piece I really want to get in is a HUGE 1950s EKCO neon sign still up on a wall in south London. The bad news its about 70 ft up and I don't have a long enough ladder. Anyone out there got a cherry-picker by any chance...
cheers,
Radiolot (L. Fisher)

[radiolot]

Quick update - I'm having to close entries (unless VERY good) of radios into this upcoming sale due to the quantity now in. Television and television items still being consigned however until the 29th September.
Some good gear in and catalogued - link to cat will be out middle of Oct.

Thanks
Laurence

[radiolot]

Thought this would happen... I've now closed entries of Television as well as Wireless for this 2nd November auction.

There's more than enough now.
Over 60 lots. Writing and layout planning catalogue now, with all lots to be shot for cat' and web cat', so lots to do. Bare with me, I'll post that link as soon as I have it up and ready.
Big thanks to all who have put in - there is with this sale something for everybody, literally.
cheers,
Laurence.

[radiolot]

I bit ahead of time this week, so the sale is now live on the web through The Saleroom. Here is the link, with television and radio the first 53 lots, phonographs, gramophones after that and musical boxes thereafter.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...e-id-srct10040

Paperback catalogues out from Monday (a small batch will be taken to the Museum in Dulwich where the cover price will be going straight to the museum).

Enjoy.

Best regards
Laurence

[Radio Wrangler]

Oooo - Errr?

Lot 26 appears to be a Cossor 339 scope AND and AVO VCM MKIV and a Mullard HSVT

but the estimate is £50 to £80

I can see that's likely to exceed the estimate by rather a lot!

David

[radiolot]

Ahh, David, you've found one of the 'carrots' in the sale - good! Just bare in mind there are just a small pile of cards with that tester, not the full casefull. The os' scope is nice, I got a trace when I braved plugging it in to see if it had any life.

[Radio Wrangler]

The Mullard HSVT, though a useful machine isn't worth a lot. Avo valve characteristic meters, especially the MKIV usually fetch more than ten times that estimate in working condition. Clean, working, examples fetch a few thousand pounds on internet auctions.

However, the coil in the meter movement is famously easily burned out and direct replacements which look original aren't available. There is a very big difference in value depending on whether the meter is known to be intact.

AVO VCMs have acquired a cult following amongst people who are 'into' valve audio both for hifi and guitars. Many of these people don't have much understanding of electronics, buy a valve tester (and the cult says the AVO is the absolute best) plug a valve in and get playing with the knobs. They don't expect it to be damaged by any knob settings, now that would be bad design, wouldn't it? and this thing is supposed to be the best.... An analogy is that the world's best car (whatever that may be) still doesn't stop you driving it into a wall. So AVO VCMs fetch silly prices, far, far above their real worth, and a significant number are damaged beyond what can be restored to original condition.

David

[radiolot]

Well said David, they can be top-bill when all running perfectly. These have been sat for a while in a dry room, although jolly dirty.
As always, a handshake, screwdriver and AVO 7 awaits anyone wishing to investigate any lot in the sale. Hope you can make it to the viewing.

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler

Oooo - Errr?

Very appropriate

I'm on holiday that week, a day trip to Tunbridge Wells could be interesting.......

[radiolot]

A4 illustrated paperback catalogues will be out and on sale via the House office from Monday.
As a token, the first 5 people to PM me with their name and address will receive a complimentary copy.

Laurence

[radiolot]

I'm taking a stack of paperback catalogues to Eileen at the BVWT museum in Dulwich tomorrow, so anyone visiting there can buy one for the cover price of £12 - which will all go to the museum.

[radiolot]

There has been a lot of enquiries about lot 3 (the HMV 900 television) and the top question being the metal back of the CRT being off in the picture. Don't worry, we do have it present and correct - I just removed it that day for the purposes of photography, and all four bolts are there too.

[Herald1360]

Had an enjoyable day out in Tunbridge Wells today. Couldn't afford the valve testers (!) but did get myself a nice Marconi C10A with bonus Ferranti unidentified and a GEC extension speaker and one of Gerry's fun pieces- a WADAR Jewel set.

Radiolot tried to interest me in an unsold Dougal but the moths in my wallet weren't convinced.

[radiolot]

Nice to see you yesterday Chris - one of only four radio-people who actually came to the sale to view properly and say hello.
The HMV 900 just set there, lid open, in the centre of the room, unnoticed and unsold - unbelievable.
Especially when being on the very day of the 80th television celebrations.

I won't be doing anymore of these auctions if that's the future, that's for sure.

[dave walsh]

That does seem very surprising It must be a first in recent times, or maybe ever? I was expecting you to be swamped.

Dave W

[Radio Wrangler]

I expected you to see the Avo valve tester lot pumped up a lot by audiophile interest, but I suppose pre-war TV is a very much more specialist field. I know what they fetch when they sell, but the number of people in the market for one must be rather small.

I would have liked to have been along, but there wasn't anything I was actively looking for and it would have been a very long round-trip from Fife. I've got a perfectly nice Taylor valve tester, and TVs aren't an interest. A Revox B252 is what I'm looking for!

Thanks for letting us all know about the auction, I'm just saddened that it wasn't more lively.

David

[Station X]

Originally Posted by radiolot

The HMV 900 just set there, lid open, in the centre of the room, unnoticed and unsold - unbelievable.

I thought about it for a few minutes, then saw how much the buyer's premium was!

[radiolot]

Wish it could be low or nil, but have more overheads. At 18% plus vat (20.8% in total) its still 4.2% lower than Bonhams (MB-L sale etc.)
Bottom estimates aren't always the reserve - several lots were no reserve.

It's ironic that those who bid via Saleroom etc have to pay an extra 3% to that site for the privilege but prefer to do that than come to the view and not pay it...

[Sean Williams]

I think you really must want to own a mirror lid set, most modern ways of living will struggle to accomodate one.

I would like something that early, but cannot justify ownership, based on space, responsibility of preservation, and to a smaller extent these days, cost.

I am surprised it did not sell however, was it being offered without reserve?

I've been to many auctions where stuff that should not sell flew out the saleroom like mad, where truly desirable stuff struggles to make a bid - I guess that is the fickle nature of auctions.

I wouldn't let one setback put you off though.