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Bandito wrote:Here is a video of the Double Decker:

Well, done on acquiring these machines, Bandito. This is the first time I have seen a Double Decker in action - what a great machine! I wonder how many miles that little bus has traveled over the years?

pennymachines wrote:

Steve Hunt wrote:Due to the incredible recent response to our Auctions, and massive demand from sellers, we have made the decision to run our Vintage Amusement Auction on the third Sunday of every month from now on (excluding December).

That's excellent news for the collectors of Iron Bench Ends and Wrestling Posters.

BP

Good news indeed - how long before VAT goes onto the commission I wonder, though?

pennymachines wrote:

Steve Hunt wrote:Due to the incredible recent response to our Auctions, and massive demand from sellers, we have made the decision to run our Vintage Amusement Auction on the third Sunday of every month from now on (excluding December).

Oh.. I think that is a shame. A couple of times a year is reasonable but is there really enough stock to run a slot machine auction on a monthly basis? How will this affect the Coventry ones? Still, those who support Steve will no doubt be the first to cry foul when/if the Coventry auctions are snuffed out. I for one hope they aren't. A bit of competition is great but I do feel that this is taking the Michael.

And over to you for your considered views....

Hello youngerap, the double decker bus on the top rail eventually broke down, came off the track and got wedged under the middle bit .........
But an enjoyable machine to watch and play.

badpenny wrote:That's excellent news for the collectors of Iron Bench Ends and Wrestling Posters.

Haha that's one of your funniest remarks to date.

I know the die hard fans of the Coventry auctions will always be loyal to this special event once a year, but it's strange how over the last two years more and more of those who stuck by their morals and bypassed the Steve Hunt auctions (for reasons and grudges dating back to AAM), have now started to slip in to the old Elephant House.

I for one support both. I've always enjoyed attending the Coventry Auction, often with a larger range of decent slots and the people were regular attendees, but I have to admit these Elephant House auctions have started to grow on me, and I guess some will have a "dig" at them but, Wow what a fantastic batch of machines they've had go through the last few auctions.

My Opinion is both Auctions WILL survive, but I'm somewhat concerned that a monthly one will falter eventually.
Also, both auctions have good and bad points but just to mention a "niggle" from BOTH camps...
Elephant House drives me mad as they auction off that drivel of junk signs and (wrestling) posters in between the good stuff.
Coventry Auction, having to wait till the end to pay for that item you bid and won 4 hours earlier!

I for one won't be taking sides; both Auctions are doing a fab job in their own way, and I for one am grateful, because as I see it the way eBay are behaving, these places are our only saving grace.
Well done Coventry AND Elephant House! (and thank you!)

slotsoffun wrote:Well done Coventry AND Elephant House! (and thank you!)

I'll second that.

Wow once a month

I am surprised they did not go onto bi-monthly initially. I don't think I can afford the diesel or time every month. The risk here also is the stock will quickly dry up and affect the reputation the EH auctions are now getting. The facts are there though, Steve takes debit cards, collects your lots for a very low fee, has a lower commission than Coventry for sellers and you can eat your sandwich and get a free cup of tea. The people who go to both auctions are mostly the same faces I see and the other key thing about Steve's auctions is he is building up a reputation outside the dark secret world of traditional collectors and I've seen more and more new people going who have got into it because they were interested in the other junk people go on about. Funny thing is at least 30% of the things I buy are not slot related, as I am a true obsessive collector.

I too enjoy both auctions, but if this is happening monthly, you have to wonder how long there will be a demand for both. In any case I have not been in this game long and had always understood the collectors auctions started because the previous specialist auctions run by people like Steve which used to operate stopped happening. There are issues longer term though. I suspect the EH costs will go up, e.g. as Raj mentioned, VAT will end up being applied and eventually I am sure they will risk paying the money to allow internet bidding through the standard auction sites, which Steve occasionally advertises on..... Having done antique trading, I hated these as a buyer, although good for the seller.

My suspicions are that monthly is too frequent and as such there will still be a demand for the annual Coventry bash. Time will tell.

Oh, one more obvious observation of course - this is all being driven by the strict rules of Ebay and Gumtree, as a lot of us used to of course buy/sell mostly on these sites and now it's a waste of time.

Once a month is a bad idea... from the slot machine point of view. Truth is they have made enough money of late to be able to afford to try this. What will happen in my view is the auctions will be a success but where at the moment the ratio of machines to other non slot stuff is ...let's say 70% - 30%, the number of machines and slot items will drop quite quickly to 20% - 80%. Other collectables will become the bread and butter of these monthly auctions very quickly.

Wow treefrog, such wise words and you are right it is always good to see new collectors coming to the fore. Yes, we can thank Steve for that too. The next stage is to get them buying MMM and opening up a whole new world to them. Time for some MMM and Coventry marketing at the next EH auction. I am sure we can all share in this happy fest!

Ps What have wrestling posters got to do with slot machines?

treefrog wrote:Wow once a month

Oh one more obvious observation of course, this is all being driven by the strict rules of Ebay and Gumtree as a lot of us use to of course buy/sell mostly on these sites and now is a waste of time

I think it may also be being driven by the relatively recent upsurge in prices leading to a lot of machines coming onto the market. I guess people are (not unreasonably) looking to make hay while the sun shines and, as long as the sun continues to shine, the auction houses will prosper. I just hope that, when the bubble eventually does burst and the market slows down, such venues as the Coventry auction will still be around.

On a personal note, this same upsurge does effectively price me out of the hobby. I am not willing to part with my hard-earned in exchange for inflated-value low-end machines and I cannot afford the better and more interesting machines. C'est la vie!

I regret keeping this pointless thread rolling, but a couple of truths so we can all get back to reality.

Be certain that the Coventry Auction organisers welcome competition, and have never attempted anything to scuttle EH auctions or even interfere with their events or future planned events.

treefrog wrote:... has a lower commission than Coventry for sellers and you can eat your sandwich and get a free cup of tea. ...

What? ... are you seriously saying it's more important not to pay for a coffee and a freshly cooked bacon cob? I'm sure your comment is tongue in cheek as it's hardly a hurdle to open your flask and scoff your nosh in your car, which at Coventry will be right outside the front door.
Mind you TF I too have experienced rolling around in a van trying to recover my packed lunch from nine stone of Wolf who is rightfully convinced you've got your priorities wrong and you need refocusing. I used to tell people that I wasn't fighting my dog I was struggling to separate us.

Anyhoo... as for commissions, hands up everyone who's convinced that should Coventry cease S. Hunt will maintain his current rates.

We don't care what he does, nothing affects our business, because we haven't got one.
Now stand in his shoes, look at the view and decide how you'd like to change what you see.

If there is less competition than currently exists then it's the buyers and vendors pockets that will be effected.
You'll pay more to sell, more to buy... there'll be listing fees etc.
You'll compete with Internet bids and end up playing against inexperienced buyers with deep pockets who are assuming the same lot you are after is as genuine as the catalogue (with its careful photo and weasely words) doesn't show.

However you'll know it's true condition and value, but look on the bright side, you won't have to queue for so long at the end because, either you've bought nothing or if you have most of the other buyers will be Internet and have already paid plus commission and 3rd party website commission and card commision and VAT.
That sounds like a fun day out to me and no mistake .... No Sirree!

JC and I will do our best to stop that happening but ultimately it's down to you guys and nobody else.

See you all November

BP

Missing you already. Beautifully articulated by the way You have a way with words.

.

Does anyone know what the Mills Horse Head Bonus made?

I have it down as £1700.

The Mills Horse Head had been chrome plated as was the Mills Castle Front.

Over Restored, thought so from the picture,
Why do some go through all that hassle when buffed aluminium looks so much better?

Results with pictures now in the Arena.

I have read with interest the comments about the monthly auctions at EH. I have to agree with the comments about good items and their availability. I have attended both Coventry and EH - both have good machines but one wonders how long this will last and also when the prices will peak. This has happened over the years at Railwayana auctions. Some have gone, others are struggling to find good items. At one point you could go to one a month, but there is only so much money out there. It will be interesting to see what happens. Prices have been very up and down but the real quality items still make good money. For the real collectors, as opposed to the investors, it doesn't mater if it's worth a fiver or five grand - it's part of your collection and it's to be enjoyed.