Wheatstone in auction.

Subject: Wheatstone in auction.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 04:49 AM

This interesting, and original Wheatstone concertina, comes up at auction in Glasgow, 9th March next.
Estimated hammer price, is way below what it's worth, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 06:35 AM

Be interesting to see what it goes for ! NOT of any interest to me - tried concertina years ago and its NOT an instrument for me !

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: GUEST,gutcher
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 08:35 AM

last one I saw sold at the estimated price of this one was at a salesroom in the Trongate Glasgow some thirty years back.
The purchaser reckons it would now be worth £2500.

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 09:48 AM

Auction estimates are totally misleading (I buy at auction regularly and scour auction catalogues as regularly).

They're occasionally the product of ignorance, as shown by the item descriptions and final bids, but usually they're low to lure potential bidders into taking a punt. I'd be surprised if the actual hammer price for the Wheatstone wasn't at least double the maximum estate.

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: GUEST,surreysinger sans cookie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 10:14 PM

Auction details are quite often wrong as well. Had they consulted the Wheatstone ledgers on line (which they could easily have done) they would have found that that this particular Aeola was registered in the ledgers on October 19th 1922 - more previse than "circa 1924". The ledger entry also shows provision of wrist straps as do the photos. As to pricing they are well out ... I reckon Gutcher's estimate is probably about right.

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 10:42 PM

I handled one of these long ago. Superb instrument. I offered 3 weeks wages for it, but he wouldn't sell.

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 01:36 PM

it is a mistake to buy an instrument without playing it , whatever the brand name

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: GUEST,surreysinger sans cookie
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 06:14 AM

It went for £2600 (plus 20%) in the end per the Concertina.net thread (and the auctioneers had estimated an eventual sale in the region of £2000-£3000 according to the C.net member who went along to look at and try the item out.)

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 07:39 AM

Well over 2 grand seems to me a very reasonable sum to pay for a 56 key Aeola, though there is no indication in the catalogue as to whether all the reeds are intact or if there are bellows leaks etc. It will probably need at least another grand's work on it by a reputable repairer to make it into a good playing instrument. They were the top end of the market when made and are superb ( though heavy )instruments when properly fettled.
But be warned, as Dick Miles says, don't buy it without trying it...

Subject: RE: Wheatstone in auction.
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Mar 13 - 08:42 AM

Dick's quite right - I'd be very reluctant, most of the time, to buy anything like that without trying it.

But - just now and then - it's worth taking a punt. Devotees of the "Old Pocket Watches" Mudcat thread (probably no-one here!) will know that I spotted a rare Hamilton 4992B US Navigation Pocket Watch at an auction a few weeks ago. I knew from the photographs that it wasn't perfect and lacking some components, even though it actually ran OK.

So, I bid for the watch, unseen and got it, plus a 1st WW military compass which was included, for £180 - actually £220 with buyer's commission, VAT, shipping, etc. It's costing me about half that sum for parts and repair work. When restored, it's not only a great watch, but its value is closer to £600. As far as I'm concerned, a result.

Sorry for the thread drift to one side, but you can occasionally take a risk at auction. The auctioneer's estimate, by the way, for both watch and compass, was £80-£120. Hah!