Melba Gramophone base sold in Surrey

[Garret]

A Melba gramophone base sold in Surrey today for 950 GBP plus minimum 30% premium. John Nicholson's.

[jamiegramo]

Thanks for the update! We were discussing this so very interesting to hear,

[Garret]

You're welcome. It's no bargain, but whomever bought it will certainly have no problem restoring it.

Also, why are British auction houses so terrible, both to the consignor and the customer? The five GBP estimate was a joke; if they had even put a photo in Google lens image search they would have sen what they have. Moreover, when I called and asked for more photos, they indicated initially that pickup was only available before Tuesday, and they gave me a lot of trouble before finally sending extra photos. Crazy.

Garret

[jamiegramo]

Yes it sounds to be fairly typical of British auction houses. They want as little work as possible for the most amount of commission.

Did the extra photos reveal if any of the brass columns had survived? The missing columns was the biggest problem I saw.

[hameleer]

Hi Garret,

Could you possibly show us the extra photos you received from the auction house.
Thanks.

John

[Garret]

Hi Garret,

Could you possibly show us the extra photos you received from the auction house.
Thanks.

John

Done.

[Sidewinder]

A bit expensive when compared to last years bargain in Exeter? Kick myself for missing it!

melb.png (55.41 KiB) Viewed 7762 times

[epigramophone]

A bit expensive when compared to last years bargain in Exeter? Kick myself for missing it!
melb.png

An experienced G&T/HMV collector friend inspected that machine and told me that the pictures flattered it.

[Steve]

I followed this travesty of an auction. I vote these guys get the Golden Turkeys Award for 2025. We've a long way to go yet but surely even with the incompetence of UK auctioneers knowing no bounds, no one will beat these people!

First off they advertise something they know nothing about, do not understand or even care to look up but only a day or two before selling it! No Google Lens in that cowshed of a building, obviously. No advance warning to the larger public.

They photograph it covered in dirt.

The auctioneer offered live Internet bidding with a/v content. However, the sound was third world atrocious. He sounded like he had a peg on his nose and was reading train times through a platform PA system. Did anyone hear what he was saying?

Talk about lame auctioneering. Where did they find him? I've never seen a less charismatic, interested or committed auctioneer in my life. He started everything at £5 unless there were pre-bids but then more or less asked for £10 and if bids weren't coming tapped the hammer rather limply down at £5 without further adieu! Where was any attempt to get the crowd interested or motivated and to work bids from people? Where was the typical "...fair warning, make no mistake, I'm selling at £xxx" followed by a proper hammer thud? It was AWOL, that's where.

Then we have a lady in the saleroom whose every move, twitch, bra adjustment, sigh, yawn and anything else was amplified at top volume through the online platform. If their broadcast system is so 1980's and cheap, please get the lady a silent mouse and tell her to keep very still.

Don't these guys know about "quiet" mice, tablets or pens? The constant clicking of her mouse drove me mad. It sounded like she was bidding. Maybe she was playing Pacman!

Finally, the doughnut headed comments like "no, we have no idea why this is so much", in response to the Melba's opening bid, shouldn't surprise any of us but makes me wonder what really goes through their heads? They are selling for commission and presumably want top prices in order to be successful. They do nothing to help this but then seem thunderstruck if something actually makes more money than their ridiculous estimates.

I'm sure the buyer will be most sorry to have offended their sensibilities or disturbed their sleep.

[jamiegramo]

I followed this travesty of an auction. I vote these guys get the Golden Turkeys Award for 2025...

He sounded like he had a peg on his nose and was reading train times through a platform PA system...

Then we have a lady in the saleroom whose every move, twitch, bra adjustment, sigh, yawn and anything else was amplified at top volume through the online platform...

Don't these guys know about "quiet" mice, tablets or pens? The constant clicking of her mouse drove me mad. It sounded like she was bidding. Maybe she was playing Pacman!

It’s very difficult to know where to start with this dreadful assessment of the auction other than to have a good laugh, which I did!