How to sell?

[Christopher WrenParticipant @christopherwren17421]

I have two teak models built by my grandfather about 100 years ago. The larger one over 5 feet long has rig and sails. What to do with them as I will be unable to store them?

Edited By Christopher Wren on 28/12/2017 17:16:06

[Christopher WrenParticipant @christopherwren17421]

What to do with 100 year old models?

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Hi Christopher and welcome to the forum.

Yours is a very sad and unfortunately not uncommon tale. Strictly speaking you cant advertise them here, but you are asking advice and I would think that is ok.

​generally the boats are not worth much unless they are museum quality. and advertising on a well known auction site is unlikely to realise their worth, or anything near it.

Personally I like the idea of giving the models to someone who will use them, possibly a club, or even to someone who may be able to realise some of their value to assist a good cause.

​Sorry, not much actual practical advice, but over the years there have been several posts such as yours and I have yet to see a follow up detailing a decent outcome. I know that when the time comes, most of my models will simply go in the bin, they are worth so little.

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I'm afraid Ashley is right. Specialist auction houses are no longer interested in maritime models unless they have some special history or provenance such as being a builder's model. You could put them into a general auction as curios but they would probably only realise a few pounds at best assuming that they sold.

Ebay is the usual route if you want to actually sell rather than dispose of them but again you will only get what someone is willing to pay which is unlikely to be very much and then of course there is the issue of transporting them to the buyer if they are unable to collect.

There is no easy solution I'm afraid.

Colin

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Hang on a minute Christopher. Those look like very nicely made models with various clues like the closeness of the frame spacing, two fastenings on each plank, the detailing and the general form. For modelling purposes there are generally much easier woods to use than teak so your grandad was certainly a craftsman of some ability.

I would say they are not run of the mill and may well attract some attention on the auction site especially with a good selection of photos. Buyer collect is perfectly normal although will put off some buyers so they could be sent by courier and the buyer pays for that too. Occasionally one sees this sort of thing in antique shops.

Living in Mallorca creates a bit more of a problem for me but if I was in the UK I would be interested.

Don't give up on then too easily.

​Tim

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

They are indeed nicely made models but that doesn't mean they are necessarily valuable.

The main remaining specialist auction house is Charles Miller

**LINK**

You could send them photos to see if there would be any interest. Certainly worth a try.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 29/12/2017 12:22:03

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

These two models fall into the antique "Pond Yacht" category, and at the London auctions such as Charles Miller, tend to fetch extremly high prices. But you must take into consideration the cost of getting them there, the cost of cataloguing them, which is quite high, and commission, which when I last sold there was 15%. If you put a reserve on them, that costs a further £150 non-returnable. It is worth sending him some images and speaking on the phone. I have always found him very approachable, and knowledgable in such things. I no longer sell there because of all these extra costs, but I think the models you have, may have a very good chance of selling well!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Further to the above, if you go to the Charles Miller site and look in archive catalogue 8th Nov, 2016. Lot 272 is a Pond Yacht valued at £800 to £1,000. It sold for £1,464! (The sale results are displayed).

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I got the latest invite to submit for auction at Charles Miller about a week ago…….he will give an honest and very knowledgeable appraisal of your models………but for the October sale, all submissions have to be in at his warehouse sometime in august from memory……google him and give him a call…….he has been doing it for over 35 years, with Christies, before his own auction house, and if worth submitting or not he will be honest with you…….I have submitted with him many times over those 35 years./ neil.

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Don't forget the non-refundable £150 per model fee though. I have known Charles for years as well, and he dealt with my model sales at Christie's, and then a few at Charles Miller Ltd, but the overheads are too high for me now! Transport costs, plus the £150 fee, then 15% commission fees and the ever-hungry income tax waiting for their cut of what is left!

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Were those pond yachts complete though? cant see masts or fitting on these ones??? Ashley

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