SAS Auction results....gulp!

[Steve]

Is the market really THAT bad now?

The prices for the HMV (Gramophone & Typewriter) Style No. 11 and Zonophone surprise me the most. It makes "my" empty Cockleshell Monarch case outlandishly expensive at £40!

[Granby]

I realize that you are in a different part of the world [different "market"] than me, but, to answer your question, yes. It's a great time to be a buyer, not a seller. I think the ultra rare or early machines are doing "okay" but not the others, in my humble opinion.

[Steve]

I realize that you are in a different part of the world [different "market"] than me, but, to answer your question, yes. It's a great time to be a buyer, not a seller. I think the ultra rare or early machines are doing "okay" but not the others, in my humble opinion.

Well that's typical really. I've only been collecting 32 years and during that time prices have increased and peaked but generally always stayed high for rare and unusual items or anything in excellent original condition, some of which I've chased and won. I've been waiting for a time when the trade is virtually non-existant ie. no dealers chasing the same items as collectors, and the prices are low but now that time has arrived, it's sadly come a bit too late for me as I'm getting a bit long in the tooth for it!

Interestingly, I note an early Zonophone has been offered for sale on here in the US recently for considerably more than the model sold here today so I guess the UK market is far worse than the US?

P.S. I do realise the Zonophone models are different although ordinarily how much of a value differential exists, I'm not sure.

[leels1]

Surprised lot 2 only went for £220!

[Steve]

Surprised lot 2 only went for £220!

You and me both!

[jamiegramo]

Perhaps without Mr Smith and Mr Hope this helps to account for the low prices? Even with the buyers premium £286 seems too cheap for the Style No.11. I find it hard to believe it would have gone so cheaply on eBay especially considering the recent Cockleshell Monarch on eBay made £591 with the repair to the horn and was also buyer collects. I think the auctioneers should have made more effort rather than dismissing everything as ‘untested’.

Some of the needle tin prices were also particularly shocking. Something I wish I had bid on. 12 different triangular tins went for just £60 hammer price. Excellent eBay lots! But of course I would have kept them.

[Steve]

Perhaps without Mr Smith and Mr Hope this helps to account for the low prices? Even with the buyers premium £286 seems too cheap for the Style No.11. I find it hard to believe it would have gone so cheaply on eBay especially considering the recent Cockleshell Monarch on eBay made £591 with the repair to the horn and was also buyer collects. I think the auctioneers should have made more effort rather than dismissing everything as ‘untested’.

Some of the needle tin prices were also particularly shocking. Something I wish I had bid on. 12 different triangular tins went for just £60 hammer price. Excellent eBay lots! But of course I would have kept them.

Yes, I agree, what exactly does "untested" mean? I know in collectors' circles we tend to view that as a dishonest trait of the "trade" to describe something which is very obviously not working. It's not as though they didn't have winding handles for each lot either! I think needle tins have had their day. I thought when Ruth Lambert passed away we'd see prices of tins crumble a bit as she was the "Queen Of The Needle Tins" and a great ambassador for anything HMV ephemera related, supplying items to collectors all over the world but HMV accessories in general are not doing too well at all. I'm sure if I'd gone for the Zonophone it would have made a four figure sum but I'm getting tired of chasing the seemingly one expensive lot in every sale.

No Smith, no Jones, no Yates, no Hope!

[jamiegramo]

Perhaps without Mr Smith and Mr Hope this helps to account for the low prices? Even with the buyers premium £286 seems too cheap for the Style No.11. I find it hard to believe it would have gone so cheaply on eBay especially considering the recent Cockleshell Monarch on eBay made £591 with the repair to the horn and was also buyer collects. I think the auctioneers should have made more effort rather than dismissing everything as ‘untested’.

Some of the needle tin prices were also particularly shocking. Something I wish I had bid on. 12 different triangular tins went for just £60 hammer price. Excellent eBay lots! But of course I would have kept them.

Yes, I agree, what exactly does "untested" mean? I know in collectors' circles we tend to view that as a dishonest trait of the "trade" to describe something which is very obviously not working. It's not as though they didn't have winding handles for each lot either! I think needle tins have had their day. I thought when Ruth Lambert passed away we'd see prices of tins crumble a bit as she was the "Queen Of The Needle Tins" and a great ambassador for anything HMV ephemera related, supplying items to collectors all over the world but HMV accessories in general are not doing too well at all. I'm sure if I'd gone for the Zonophone it would have made a four figure sum but I'm getting tired of chasing the seemingly one expensive lot in every sale.

No Smith, no Jones, no Yates, no Hope!

Please don’t make me laugh about this very serious matter!

It’s true if you had bid on the Zonophone it would have gone for more and potentially a lot more. I know if I had bid on any of the needle tin lots they probably would have gone for double. They don’t call me ‘underbidder Jamie’ for nothing.

[Inigo]

If one out of UK can judge by the new import taxes, vat and all, into Europe mainland, it is not rare. Buyers like me will think twice before ordering from the UK in these days. Only recently, for materials in an invoice totalling £230, I had to pay 35% extra for taxes, handling and the 21% VAT. Terrible....

[Steve]

Perhaps without Mr Smith and Mr Hope this helps to account for the low prices? Even with the buyers premium £286 seems too cheap for the Style No.11. I find it hard to believe it would have gone so cheaply on eBay especially considering the recent Cockleshell Monarch on eBay made £591 with the repair to the horn and was also buyer collects. I think the auctioneers should have made more effort rather than dismissing everything as ‘untested’.

Some of the needle tin prices were also particularly shocking. Something I wish I had bid on. 12 different triangular tins went for just £60 hammer price. Excellent eBay lots! But of course I would have kept them.

Yes, I agree, what exactly does "untested" mean? I know in collectors' circles we tend to view that as a dishonest trait of the "trade" to describe something which is very obviously not working. It's not as though they didn't have winding handles for each lot either! I think needle tins have had their day. I thought when Ruth Lambert passed away we'd see prices of tins crumble a bit as she was the "Queen Of The Needle Tins" and a great ambassador for anything HMV ephemera related, supplying items to collectors all over the world but HMV accessories in general are not doing too well at all. I'm sure if I'd gone for the Zonophone it would have made a four figure sum but I'm getting tired of chasing the seemingly one expensive lot in every sale.

No Smith, no Jones, no Yates, no Hope!

Please don’t make me laugh about this very serious matter!

It’s true if you had bid on the Zonophone it would have gone for more and potentially a lot more. I know if I had bid on any of the needle tin lots they probably would have gone for double. They don’t call me ‘underbidder Jamie’ for nothing.

Pleased to meet you, "Underbidder Jamie". I'm "Overbidder Steve"