Must be highest price ever for a Gem

[phonoman-antique]

This must be the highest price ever paid for a Gem.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... NA:CA:1123

Why?

[gramophone78]

This must be the highest price ever paid for a Gem.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... NA:CA:1123

Why?

Not really. At one time a maroon Gem would sell for over $2000. A maroon "E" for much more. This seller always gets good $$ on this sales. As always, his pics and description are first class. Seems a lot goes to the Asian market. Good for him.
By the way, many members have posted like this about one of his sales. Therefore, he must be doing something right.... .

[Steve]

Therefore, he must be doing something right

Indeed he is! I think the key to his consistent success is buying items in great original condition and then showing them off to their full potential. Not many sellers offer items at this consistently high level or bother to show everything in great detail. The chances of disappointment are slim and all potential buyers know this. Why more dealers don't have this approach astounds me. He certainly doesn't bother buying rubbish like all of our UK dealers do today and then try passing it off as something worthy of restoration or sometimes worse (Frankenphone assemblages).

I have bought (somewhat expensively)from this dealer and was very impressed with his attentiveness to the small details, packing and general commitment to seeing the transaction through with the minimum of disruption, fuss, inconvenience to the buyer. In my case, a parcel was returned to the States because it exceeded the import value limit for assessment under the antiques tax declaration scheme. The parcel was sent back to the seller and he repacked it into a new parcel after checking all the contents were still intact and undamaged, and sent it back again with a lower value content, all at his own expense. Indeed it's a wonder I ever received the complete machine after all that messing about.

Now back to this Gem - looking at it, it is as near to perfect as any Gem I have ever seen. The enamel, transfers, woodwork, polish, labels, correct flawless horn etc and overall completeness exceed any other examples I've ever encountered and I've seen literally hundreds of them! I note the inclusion of the original oil too. This is simply a true GEM and rare in this spectacular condition!

I don't know WHERE he finds his stuff but good luck to him. This machine like all his usual offerings was stunning and the buyer can be assured that whatever they might paid for it, they probably have one of the best examples in the world. That's a difficult commodity to value.

This seller gets my highest commendation and congratulations to the buyer of the GEM!

[Steve]

BTW, this wasn't even the highest price GEM sold by this dealer let alone anyone else: he got $1995 for another similar item in November last year!