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Auction Houses

Discussion in 'Railwayana' started by Mandator, Feb 7, 2020.

  1. Mandator

    Mandator Part of the furniture

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    Having only ever bought items at auctions and having no experience of the service they provide in selling, was wondering whether anyone on NP has first hand experience in disposing of items through Auction Houses.
    Most of my purchases were back in the 1980s to 2010 and several of the Auction Houses no longer exist. My most recent purchases were through GCRA at Stoneleigh and they are certainly professional in the service they provided but I know nothing about selling through them.
    Can anyone give a recommendation on the service they have received from the various Auction Houses they have sold through?

    On another tack what have been the outstanding moments you might have witnessed when attending an auction?
     
  2. Jon Pegler

    Jon Pegler New Member

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    Not quite an auction, but I remember the late Mike Higson had to sell a large number of his personal effects as a result of a messy divorce in the late 1960s.
    At the Tyseley open day in September 1968 he had a nameplate from The Great Bear for sale for 100 guineas.
    I suggested to my late father that it would be a good investment, but he wasn't convinced.
    Does anyone know where it went?
     
  3. Mandator

    Mandator Part of the furniture

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    That would have been an extremely good investment. At today's values 100 guineas would be worth about £2000. The Great Bear in Auction today? £30000+?
     
  4. Mandator

    Mandator Part of the furniture

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    Cannot remember the precise year (could look it up) but Mallard's smokebox plate sold for £22000, or thereabouts, at Stoneleigh. I was sitting next to the winning bidder and throughout bidding he was sweating nervously. Dunno if it was the excitement or the ever rising cost. He seemed pleased at the end and phoned his wife to say he got it, so she must have been agreeable.
     
  5. 5801

    5801 Member

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    One of my earliest childhood memories is seeing that plate on the back wall of Mike's premises (Roundhouse Books) in High Street, Northwood, round about 1967. Much later I bought many things from his establishments in Harrow-on-the-Hill and Kingston, but I never saw that plate again.
     
  6. Mandator

    Mandator Part of the furniture

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    A few years back was delivering to "Kneller House" (according to my manifest) in Twickenham. Turned out to be Kneller Hall, the Army music training establishment. The nameplate was mounted on a wall inside the Gatehouse. Used to be on the railings outside but moved. I wonder why?:)
     
  7. Ken_R

    Ken_R Member

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    No personal experience but for Railwayana, you could try GW Railwayana Auctions.

    https://www.gwra.co.uk/

    I think that perhaps [member] Breva has purchased from them in the past.

    Perhaps he will along later.
     
  8. Mandator

    Mandator Part of the furniture

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    I have looked at their site and they seem pretty professional but I as hoping someone could give me some positive feedback from their own experiences.
    Thanks for posting anyway.
     
  9. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    I can recommend GWRA - positive experiences there both as a seller and a buyer
     
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  10. D7076

    D7076 Well-Known Member

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    Bought from most over the years, if selling I would be choosing between GCRA and GWRA.
     
  11. weltrol

    weltrol Part of the furniture Friend

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    From personal experience, I would NOT recommend Staffordshire/Crewe Heritage Railwayana/Railwayana UK or whatever he calls himself these days. He has 'lost' this sign:[​IMG]

    I'm still waiting.....
     
  12. Mandator

    Mandator Part of the furniture

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    I have heard poor feedback re: this Auction House in the past.
     
  13. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I hear the one at Crewe Heritage Centre at the weekend wasn't particularly successful or well attended. 18% commission putting buyers and sellers off?
     
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  14. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    18% commission is the norm for most auctioneers.
     
  15. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    18% (which includes VAT) is the buyer's premium. There is also seller commission, nominally 10% + VAT (negotiable for more valuable consigments), so the amount of "friction" is considerable on the sale/purchaae of an item at auction.
     
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