Reproduction VB Checklist

[Waterloo1815]

Apparently he took a limited 3 year commission. I don't know what that would have involved, but nothing to do with the SAS I would guess!
Regards,
Leo

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by wardog

Seemingly Thomas is ex army. Regards, Paul.

Originally Posted by Waterloo1815

Apparently he took a limited 3 year commission. I don't know what that would have involved, but nothing to do with the SAS I would guess!
Regards,
Leo

His background is very confusing :

Born 1975 , became Director of SAS in 2006 having some ten years experience by this time.

So , "his ten year experience" included seven years in the Bath saleroom of Phillips Auctioneers and he then spent three years "working the South East".

But this was after he had got his degree ?

When I started as a porter, I always wanted to be an auctioneer and valuer. Even though I had a degree in Fine Art Valuation, I had to start on the shop floor

That means that between leaving school and starting work at Phillips 1996 he did a degree and a three year commission in the army !

The details above come from a 2010 article in the Oxford Mail , his answer to the last question he was asked is very interesting.

Q : Is there any other job you would like to have done and why?

A : I would have loved to have done a three-year commission in the Army with 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. I spent five years in the school cadet force and loved it. I always admire the men and women in our armed services.

.

[49lassiepen]

Degree in fine art valuation -seems another noddy degree for porter or shelf stacker

[Waterloo1815]

Well, it appears he crammed a lot into a very short time span!

[Volunteer Soldier]

I entirely understand and appreciate your sentiments. But it is through Forum threads, and comments like yours, which might make a difference. I have informed this particular auction house that I will never, but never, bid with them as long as they promote rubbish.

[mike_vee]

OK , to be fair , the name Special Auction Services has been around since 1991.

In 1991 Andrew Hilton set up his own auction house Special Auction Services

So the current owners simply continued using it when they acquired the company in 2006.

.

[Peter Brydon]

Interesting comment from Bosleys.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

Interesting comment from Bosleys.

And yet , with all their expertise , they still get the basics wrong !

WW1 His Majesty's New Zealand Transports on war service badge

Non-combatants who volunteered to drive ambulances during the First World War were designated 'His Majesty's New Zealand Transports' (HMNZT).

.

[Alan O]

Although judging by their recent sales they have not read any of the OTC and CC posts and albums that i have put online!

[Peter Brydon]

A certain chubby Antiques expert has just been on tv explaining how to tell if Mother of Pearl is genuine or not.

I wonder what cunning tricks he uses to tell if military badges are genuine or not?

P.

[Volunteer Soldier]

Depends upon whether or not money is to be made.

[Volunteer Soldier]

Gentlemen, Perhaps one should feel a touch pleased with the auction results following the sale, or otherwise, of the VB badges which, in my opinion, were reproduction rubbish. The majority of badges (eleven lots) failed to attract a single bid. The lots sold seemed to attract single bids - roughly some £5 to £10 per badge. May I ask Forum members to keep a sharp look-out to see if the "bought badges" are now re-sold and by whom. I hope you will agree it would be a useful attempt in trying to protect our hobby.

[Waterloo1815]

Yes, totally agree with trying to track dodgy badges to protect our hobby, good shout.
I was checking the results of another militaria auction last week (one that I've bought many items from in the past) and there were a large number of unsold Lots. It wasn't that they were reproductions, just that the estimates were sky high, and presumably so was the reserve price. I think sometimes auction houses try to claw back losses from previous auctions by over-estimating items in following auctions, but ultimately this can only be to the detriment of both seller and auction house as less and less items will be sold. Just my opinion/observation.
Regards,
Leo

[mm1]

Hi Leo,

are you refering to the latest Wallis and Wallis sale ? I viewed quite a large part of the auction just out of interest, and couldn't believe the number of lots that went unsold. Starting prices were quite high and auctioneer was passing lots without any discretion or without starting low to get the lot started- probably, as you say, reserves must have been very high.

Mark

[Volunteer Soldier]

SAS