Sloping Off - December 2005
Club Auction Night
Wednesday 2nd November
Our November meeting was something new this year. The usual tabletop sale has been replaced by an Auction format, and this was the most successful meeting for some years! With about 30 people in attendance (I stopped counting after 25 as they would not stay still!) plus about 70 items for sale, the bargains were there for everyone. When only half the items were in the room, Trevor and I were bemoaning the fact that nobody had thought to bring a camera! Everything from small electric motors to gorgeous models (aircraft variety!) were available.
Our former Chairman Mike Weedon was in attendance, with the sad duty of selling some of the modelling property of a flier who has passed away from cancer. At the request of the family, the proceeds of this sale are being donated to Cancer charity. I think there must have been in excess of £500 raised from these items alone.
Other bargains were an IC helicopter that was worth at least £300, a lovely Spitfire, and an almost unused OS 46 motor, all of which went for a song! Most sellers seemed happy, let’s not forget that many modelling items, if left unused, will deteriorate and become worthless. So clearing out the old stuff makes room for the new, and may give someone else a chance to enjoy a bargain. Towards the end of the evening, after the major items had been sold, some of the boxes of stuff from the sale by Mike were sold as a “Pick and Mix”, where you could choose what you wanted and make Mike an offer. The prices here were very reasonable, I bought 3 servos, an Rx and a couple of decent Rx packs for £20! These items were not recorded in the auction paperwork as we had not anticipated so good a turnout and were running out of time! Perhaps next time we should seek more clerical assistance!
Certainly at least one person took full advantage, with at least £235 spent, he had to go to the Cashpoint machine to get more money half way through the sale! I’m not mentioning names, his other half may see this article!
The recorded total was £835, and if you add the many items that were sold in the “Pick and Mix”, which included several Receivers, servos, chargers, and batteries, the total was probably in excess of £1000.
Thanks to Ken Spokes, who assisted with logging items in, Tony Cousins, who logged items in and recorded the details and Terry Antell, who arm wrestled bids from people! And also to all those who attended, whether they bought, sold or supported and cheered on those who were bidding.
Terry Sullivan
