Canterbury Auction Galleries auction: 6-7 Feb '18

[coppinpr]

The restriction in paragraph 1 shall not apply to measuring devices that were in use in the Community before 3 April 2009...
The restriction in paragraph 1(b) shall not apply to: (a) measuring devices more than 50 years old on 3 October 2007;

I think that quote is from the 2015 guidelines and refers to the 2007 law with its amendments. The 2007 law was totally removed in May 2017 and replaced with a totally new law in June 2017. This new EU law is so badly written (now there is a surprise) it's not clear what it means. The N.A.G have circulated a memo to all Jewelers who are members saying that in their view the sale of even old mercury products is now against the law, but it's true the law is ambiguous in many areas and has been referred back for clarification. By the time that gets done we will be out of the EU anyway so I guess nothing will change anyway.

[sweetmeats]

Just a few notes on the auction: the vendor is well known to me and I'm certain all machines will be in full working order with keys. The L'Eclaire was bought from me many years ago and plays on French 25 centimes, the ones with a hole in the centre (I can supply some if needed at 25p each).

The Rippler is a repro. The Turf Champ is original. I saw it before it was restored. It was in poor condition, but basically the same - the Ruffler & Walker plate is a red herring and probably added in the 1960s when sold secondhand. This and two other Turf Champs came in a parcel of machines bought from an operator 15+ years ago by a now deceased dealer. I understand part 2 of this collection is to be sold in 2019 at these salerooms.

[coppinpr]

Thanks for the info, very helpful.

[treefrog]

Suspect sellers of machines will be reasonably happy with results today. I went down for the ride, but bid on nothing. The machines were not raw enough for me...in the sense untouched rather than rough.

I reckon more than 50% of the items are going to France, there were multiple bidders from there. Makes sense now why this place is a good placement to attract the continental money....

I did pickup the below bandit yesterday, more my thing, so have something to play with I have two Mad Melons now and only the second one I have seen for sale in 10 years.

[pennymachines]

Full results now in the Arena.

[aristomatic]

Thanks for posting results.
The L'eclaire is a fine looking machine, only ever seen one close up and that was maybe 10 years ago. Seemed a low hammer price in relation to some of the other items?

[coppinpr]

The prices for a lot of the items seems to reflect that bidders were taking the 24%+VAT on top into account The real winner, as usual, is the auction house.

The seller of the shooter walked away with £668.80. The buyer paid £1138.72 (if he was in the room, over £1150 if he was not). The house made a min of £394.60 (more than half of what the seller got) and VAT man got £78.32.

[pennymachines]

I would not have been surprised to see L'Eclaire go a lot higher, even taking into account the total cost, but it seems there are few collectors in the UK with a passion for such stuff. I think if it had been a British shooting game of similar vintage there would have been stronger bidding. I wonder if, as TF suggests, it went back to France.

[aristomatic]

I agree the figures can look outrageous when you consider what the seller walks away with net compared to what the auction house takes, however it still looked to me on the low side in comparison to some of the more usually seen items, however I never enquired about it or viewed it so it may have had a condition issue?

[gameswat]

The L'Eclair was a nice complete machine, mech is fairly basic so not a lot to ever go wrong. Tried to interest a local friend in this but no idea yet if he ended up bidding?

[radiochrissie]

Have just pm’d you Treefrog.

[aristomatic]

It's one of those machines that would look good as a standalone decorative piece in the house. My Mills QT must pass that test too as it's the only machine allowed in the house and not kept in storage.

[badpenny]

Strewth! You're actually allowed in the house?

[coppinpr]

You must read more carefully BP, it says the machine is allowed in the house not him.

[banditboy67]

I have two Mad Melons now and only the second one I have seen for sale in 10 years.

Nice machine......
If you get bored of it any chance of buying it?

[widget2k4]

I guess you don'tnt know treefrog? He gets bored with nothing lol so don't get your hopes up.

[treefrog]

It is true I suffer from hoarding syndrome, but did let go 30 to 40 machines in the second half of last year, some I still have withdrawal symptoms on.....

I even sold about 5 Aristocrats, which having mentioned a million times is my favourite maker.....so it is certainly possible it will happen again in the future....I was ever so glad when one nice Kingsway at Coventry did not reach its low reserve I was selling, so I could take it home again...

[badpenny]

I'm still waiting for a certain Sega Hi-top I used to own to come up for sale ...............