Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[Leovilla]

I apologise in adavance if I have broken any rules with  this post - if I have I understand it may be removed.

 I am looking to sell the collection of museum quality and prize winning models of famous world water speed record boats many of which some members on here have seen last year at North shields show.  The big gas turbine K7 Bluebird has been sold for £5000.  (all fully working models)

 Does anyone think this forum is the place to sell models that I want around £500 -£2000 each. Some are at the lower end while others are at the higher end. These are unique models many of which have been the subject of indepth article s in Marine Modelling Magazine  during the 15 years I was a regular contributor.

If the general feeling is this is not the place it will save me the time photographing and entering them in the sales section. Perhaps the moderators can comment.

 Please be a little understanding with me over this, needs must but its hurting quite a bit to have to do this.

Thank you

Ernie Lazenby

[Roger in France]

Ernie,

There is no harm in trying to sell via Mayhem, provided you comply with all the Sales Rules. Boats and boating equipment sell well here because Mayhem Members know the value of what is being offered. Even the higher price items may attract buyers.

The alternative would be one of the major auction houses (don't bother with small, local auctioneers). I believe Sotheby's or one of the other major houses have specialist model sales. They may be worth contacting, for advice in the first instance. I would be inclined to stress that your models have been featured in publications.

Roger in France
Moderator

[Shipmate60]

Ernie,
This certainly is the place to sell operational models.
BUT
Static models CAN reach a far bigger audience and higher prices for the right models.
It is a bit of a minefield right now as some prices have crashed while others manage to surge ahead.
I wish you the best for this sale but as has been said the rules will have to be followed and that will include pictures of the actual model for sale.

Bob

[Leovilla]

Thanks Roger. I have been to one auction house(Tennants at Leyburn) with the fully working model of Segraves Miss England 11. They say £2000 would be quite achievable for it given its a one off ,exact scale and a musuem piece. The big problem is the auction house fees run at around 19% of the sale price! I guess their fees are to cover the internet and overseas advertising they do for the winter catalogue sale. Bonhams in London used to do model boats but they have now stopped.

I may give one or two a try on here first and try to comply with the house rules. ( I promise)

Ernie.

[Leovilla]

Ernie,
This certainly is the place to sell operational models.
BUT
Static models CAN reach a far bigger audience and higher prices for the right models.
It is a bit of a minefield right now as some prices have crashed while others manage to surge ahead.
I wish you the best for this sale but as has been said the rules will have to be followed and that will include pictures of the actual model for sale.

Bob

Thanks Bob. The big Bluebird K7 sold for 5K without much effort.The buyer has called it a work of art not for putting on the water again.
 Its an easy matter for me to remove all the equipment from the models and say they are static but can be made operational.

Theres not much that hurts me these days but this sale is.  Hopefully they will go to people who will appreciate them. Sadly they are causing friction in the family and rather than me die and have feuds they are being sold and the money, most of it, is going into the grandcildrens trust funds.

[Bunkerbarge]

I think basically Ernie there is nothing to be lost by at least trying them on Mayhem.  With fees like you are talking about it's got to be worth your time taking a couple of snaps and seeijg what happens on Mayhem.  I don't think the rules are an issue for a second, all you need are a picture and a price, you have the number of posts so give one or two a go. 

I think at the end of the day the most important aspect is that they are going to go to a home that will appreciate them and look after them and I think you will have as good a chance of finding that here as anywhere else, possibly even a better one.

I don't know about being gentle with you, your story breaks my heart as I cannot even begin to contemplate having to sell your collectiion to prevent them falling into the wrong hands.  I think you will find a more sympathetic approach here than at most auction houses who are purely in it for the money after all.

I wish you all the best with what ever you do and hope that you can end up happy that they have funded the grandchildrens future.

Is there no way in which you can specify which model can be left to which grandchild?  They may actually appreciate the heirloom rather than the money.

[Leovilla]

 Thanks for the kind comments.   Sadly Ii did have a will drawn up leaving certain boats to each of the two grandchildren with my sons as trustees only to find my daughter in laws don't want the responsibility of looking after them if anything happens to me and my wife and we are now well into our sixties. Neither of my sons are interested and if I left them to them they would get sold not long after I pass on!  Regretfully I concluded the best thing all round is for them to go to good homes and the money can be used by the grandchildren in the future. I could of course kept them for a bit longer but we may need to down size soon and there would be no room for them.
My vast collection of books on the history of the world water speed record/high speed boats is about to be broken up and sold via the Speed record club. Same reason as for selling the models.

I'll get over it life moves on.

[barriew]

Ernie,
One of the members on here - Positive - sells some of his models through www.charlesmillerltd.com. I believe they have specialist auctions - maybe worth enquiring although I guess the commission rates will still be high.

Barrie

[essex2visuvesi]

I hope Vintagent doesnt see this thread or he'll have the wife, kids, pets etc in hock before you know it lol

I think the books would definately sell on here

[Colin Bishop]

I don't think this is an uncommon situation. When someone passes on, their heirs frequently do not share or value the interests they have had and collections they may have built up. They don't want to give often scarce houseroom to large items just because Dad/Grandad used to like them. It's quite understandable really. So better that the items go to somewhere they will be appreciated and not left to deteriorate or be sold at below their true value. The money can then be put to use more relevant to the recipients such as paying University fees or starting a deposit for a house etc. Leovilla, I think you are being very realistic. You have derived much enjoyment from your possessions and so can others if they are suitably disposed of.

When I pass on I would hope that maybe a couple of my models will survive on the basis that 'Dad made that' so it has sentimental value (I have some of my Dad's paintings on the walls for the same reason) but I wouldn't expect my daughters to keep all my clobber as a memorial in the loft!

Colin

[Bryan Young]

Oh dear, Golly gosh, Crumbs..and all that sort of thing. To read this thread really brings home with a bit of a thump how transiaent we all are. Here's me, now a little over my Biblical 3 Score and 10, but thinking I'm immortal. But truth to tell, this (for want of better words) "getting rid of stuff" has been a bit of a mental problem for awhile now. Son, daughter in law etc. etc etc. aren't in the least bit interested in my "toys for the boys" hobby. Like Leovilla, some of my models are (really) worth quite a lot...but the bottom line is just how much is someone prepared to pay. A few months ago I was watching a TV thing that was auctioning off some model ships. There were 4 really museum quality WW2 destroyers/frigates (static ones). All 4 went for £125 (total). The buyer looked ecstatic, and the seller must have been in tears.
So I very much share Leovillas' concerns.
Forget the time, trouble and all the other things that go into making a "saleable" model, buyers want something "on the cheap". Therein lies the root problem. It's not a nice thought to think that so many years of work could be treated as just another trinket to be sold on for some financial gain. Like Leovilla, I'd like my models to go to a caring home. But how to do it is the pertinent question.
As many readers of this Forum will know, I have, over the years, built and sailed about a dozen largish model ships. They have to go, somewhere...but where? Sorry for taking up your time. Bryan Young.

[Colin Bishop]

Depending on your objective there is more than one way to dispose of a model. Getting the best available price is one and whatever it sells for at least the buyer did want it! The other method is to donate it, maybe to a friend or to a museum in which case there is no monetary reward but a chance that the model will continue to be appreciated. In both instances the builder/owner has control of the process as opposed to the situation where they have shuffled off this mortal coil and somebody else is left to make the decision.

The options may be stark, but they are perfectly clear.

Colin

[Philipsparker]

I picked up a Puffer a few years ago from a charity shop for £40 - it's a superb model and worth many times what I paid for it. Now it has a good home but things could have been very different.

Check out the entry and photo on my blog: http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-happens-to-your-models-when-you.html

Phil

[w3bby]

You mentioned the Speed Record Club, it may be worth advertising the models for sale through them as well.

Whilst an auction house does have fees, a well known house will attract a larger and international audience and is more likely to obtain top prices for your models. This potential audience is not likely to be reached via this or any other forum. I would suggest including the drawings and all other relevant research with each model to make the package even more attractive.

Your other potential selling channel would be through E-Bay, again reaching a larger international audience. Others here may be able to give you a better idea on the advantages and disadvantages of this method.