Auction cataloging - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PJL · 17th Nov 2023, 9:33 pm

I have been asked if I want to catalogue a load of radio equipment and valves for a local auction (for a fee). It is from a deceased estate and is piled up in their warehouse including an outstanding collection of rare valves with some that are potentially very valuable.
Has anyone done the same and what pitfalls are there?

Aub · 17th Nov 2023, 10:40 pm

VMARS holds regular auctions, especially for silent key estates. You could try contacting them for advice. Contact details will be on their website.

Good luck.

Aub

PJL · 20th Nov 2023, 6:58 pm

As an example, I could immediately see 3x DET1 valves in the collection. I will do a filament continuity test and if OK I would guess an estimate of £100 each?

G6Tanuki · 20th Nov 2023, 7:25 pm

How much would you be charging for your efforts? I would suggest £50/hour, as that's the rate charged by the mechanics at my local small garage...

Anything less [always assuming you'll be declaring this income to the tax and national-insurance people] would seem rather unrewarding a prospect.

PJL · 20th Nov 2023, 8:43 pm

It is a difficult call...on the one hand, it is taking away the chance of getting a bargain for people like us (although this auction house has sold mixed boxes before with some going for many hundeds), and on the other hand, I am helping the auction house achieve the best price for the executor of a valve collectors estate.

I bought a cheap box of random early radio bits (only 3 valves) from them for the 3 intervalve transformers I could see but all test o/c, but a Philips valve box (hand marked PX25) contains a GPO VT104 balloon PX25 which appears to test very good. Lucky for me but not so lucky for the executors estate.

I have been offered a significant proportion of the commission although a day or two sifting through a valve collectors hoard should be fun anyway and I will attempt to get photos of the rarer valves I see on the way.

PJL · 7th Dec 2023, 10:19 pm

Just spent a day on these. There must be 50+ pip-top valves but because it is from a valve collector many have o/c filaments and some are unfamiliar early types from the US and Europe. A nice Ediswan R-type, a pair of Western 205D, a pair of DA30 and so on all have continuity...all 3x DET1'and the MZ2-200 (seriously BIG audio valve) all have o/c filaments. There are also early Mullard pip-top types that I have not seen before.

17th Nov 2023, 9:33 pm	#1
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,939	Auction cataloging I have been asked if I want to catalogue a load of radio equipment and valves for a local auction (for a fee). It is from a deceased estate and is piled up in their warehouse including an outstanding collection of rare valves with some that are potentially very valuable. Has anyone done the same and what pitfalls are there?

17th Nov 2023, 10:40 pm	#2
Aub Octode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 1,972	Re: Auction cataloging VMARS holds regular auctions, especially for silent key estates. You could try contacting them for advice. Contact details will be on their website. Good luck. Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

20th Nov 2023, 6:58 pm	#3
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,939	Re: Auction cataloging As an example, I could immediately see 3x DET1 valves in the collection. I will do a filament continuity test and if OK I would guess an estimate of £100 each?

20th Nov 2023, 7:25 pm	#4
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,467	Re: Auction cataloging How much would you be charging for your efforts? I would suggest £50/hour, as that's the rate charged by the mechanics at my local small garage... Anything less [always assuming you'll be declaring this income to the tax and national-insurance people] would seem rather unrewarding a prospect. __________________ I played a blank tape at full volume. The mime-artiste who lives next door complained.

20th Nov 2023, 8:43 pm	#5
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,939	Re: Auction cataloging It is a difficult call...on the one hand, it is taking away the chance of getting a bargain for people like us (although this auction house has sold mixed boxes before with some going for many hundeds), and on the other hand, I am helping the auction house achieve the best price for the executor of a valve collectors estate. I bought a cheap box of random early radio bits (only 3 valves) from them for the 3 intervalve transformers I could see but all test o/c, but a Philips valve box (hand marked PX25) contains a GPO VT104 balloon PX25 which appears to test very good. Lucky for me but not so lucky for the executors estate. I have been offered a significant proportion of the commission although a day or two sifting through a valve collectors hoard should be fun anyway and I will attempt to get photos of the rarer valves I see on the way. Last edited by PJL; 20th Nov 2023 at 8:57 pm.

7th Dec 2023, 10:19 pm	#6
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,939	Re: Auction cataloging Just spent a day on these. There must be 50+ pip-top valves but because it is from a valve collector many have o/c filaments and some are unfamiliar early types from the US and Europe. A nice Ediswan R-type, a pair of Western 205D, a pair of DA30 and so on all have continuity...all 3x DET1'and the MZ2-200 (seriously BIG audio valve) all have o/c filaments. There are also early Mullard pip-top types that I have not seen before.