Attended this auction on Sat along with Al, Steve Burton, Simon and Carol Hadwick et al. We were all very disappointed at the poor organisation of the sale. I rang on Friday to confirm what time the Advertising Section would commence and was told 1230. I set off early from sunny Cumbria to meet up with Al and view all the lots I was interested in to check condition etc. Got there had a brief whizz round, went out to phone Al and we were told viewing had closed at 1030. Well we waited and waited. Sale finally got going after 4pm and a hastily printed sign was stuck on the door saying that the Advertising Sale started "After 3pm". It was also supposed to be an Unreserved Auction but most lots clearly had start prices alloted to them so no real bargains.

The sale started slowly and I managed along with Al to secure some early lots for reasonable prices. However with 17.5% on the hammer prices can soon stack up!

Some notable realisations 602: Cadburys Cabinet 1300, 609 Frys Vesta Case 230, 614 Frys Cabinet 1050, 617 Levers Cabinet 900, 636 Pearce Duff Delivery Van 1450, 657 Dunmore Motor Car, boxed 4100, 672 Walters Palm Knobs Toffee Tin and incorporated game 750!, 680 Victory V Motor Car Tin 3000, 773 Wilemans Foley China retailers crate with original tins 520, 802 Ideal Milk String tin, 190, 861 Frys Chocolate pair of showcards including Five Boys 450, 876 Yorkshire Relish Showcard 650, 897 Lord Nelson Keens Mustard Tin 400.

Most lots sold some good deals and not so good deals, I was happy with what I bought and met a few nice people from the site there.

Bamfords only has one toilet as another downside and its based in the middle of an industrial estate, Al, Mike Standen and I managed to find a pub to kill an hour along with some nice fellas from Bradford.

Didnt get home till midnight, one positive is that the cafe on site was quite good and not expensive.

I've got a largely marked up catalogue if anyone needs to know prices.

Tat On,

Jezmond.

Ta for thsoe words Jez

I would have so loved to handle this sale Jezmond - & do a fully illustrated catalogue to 'treasure' - along the lines of the famous archive collection of 1999. It was clear from the poorly illustrated catalogue, with no estimates, and some humungous errors, that they hadn't a clue with the material. Plus our 12% commission remains a less 'painful' add-on - just hope I can continue with that level ..... Anyway, hey ho, t'is all over noew, and part of the historuy of the hobby - to look back on, peruse n discuss over many coffees - or with Al over many, many beers - aaaaaaaaaaaaargh.

Spoke to Steve & Eileen yesterday, & a couple of others today. T'was a shame about the various aspects of shambolicness, and that silly late finish - but sounds like prices generally reiterated the strength of this field even so? It was dubbed as all with no reserve, but this was not evident sadly?

Over the years many have appreciated my resolve to keep with 'NR' (indicating 'no reserve') in catalogue description as you know exactly where you stand. Can save a wasted journey as we all know to our costs over the years?.

I do share muchos 'empathy' in the fields BBR trades in - perhaps a bit too much at times (?), but at least we try to lay everything on a plate for customers attending, postal & telephone bids. We went down the online live auctions scenario - but bowed to the majority of loyal customers who were not impressed by the dramatic slowing down of proceedings for those prolonged online delays, and lost connections, that persist with this manner (currently).

Can you email my desktop Jez & will list a number of lots I was interested in - many thanks in advance for that. (sales@onlinebbr.com).


PS: talking of the old Archive sale I am 'buzzin' about the possibility of another mega advewrtising intake - will post up here end of next week if it comes off - all untouched, fresh to market stuff - can't say too much as I know how you lot can sniff a tin at 20 paces - lol!!!!!!

I agree with you Jez. They should have run the advertising section as one sale and the Corgi etc. in another room. Too simple probably.

AB the only thing i would say is that if you had it, it would have been too spread out over a year probably. Not what everyone wants.

If you want pictures and prices realised look on www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk   It's all on there.

Out of 28 lots i was interested in, only managed to get 3 but was pleased with those 3.  There is still plenty of money out there, did someone say recession!

Buyers premiums are a rip off, and just another way for greedy auctioneers to make more dosh.

Thanks for the great report Jez
Almost like being there
Sounds like a hard day ( except for the pub bit ).

I won 2 out f the 4 bids I left , one bargain and one went high .
I  just missed the Ideal string tin ( the good one went reasonably I thought )
Also missed the Five Boys vesta , went high for the average condition , but a scarce one .

In retrospect with the huge premiums , 2 out of 4 aint bad . 

Cheers

Relics

AB It was a bit wobly and one of the white triangles on the top had a crack in it.

Alan, That sounds like a fantastic offer.

I know you say you like to offer a traditional service & keep commission low, but you'd be mad not to go online ASAP. You'd lose some income from catalogue sales, but as Al says, increased prices would more than compensate. It may not be popular with those who have the time to drive all over the place,but many of us don't. Leaving commission bids doesn't compare, I left a commission of about 1.5K on a recent Kriegsfeld cabinet,then found I had the time to bid live, & was the underbidder at 4K+.Like me,you may be a bit of a luddite when it comes to new technology, but you've got a man here in Al prepared to do the technical stuff. Maybe Al's idea needs tweaking, but it would be great to see all your goodies online, & be able to bid in advance,though I prefer live bidding. I'm very glad I didn't make a wasted trip to Bamfords, & I gave up online after a while, but many others do it well, & Al's idea just short of live bidding may be a good middle way.

If you did go for the live bidding option, your reasonable commission would compensate for the extra 3% online bidders have to find.