A Difficult Day at Work

I spent today imaging items for a Timed Bid auction which will go live on Monday (check out http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/search-filter/auction-catalogues?AuctionType=3 at that time). I managed to get everything I needed to do done in spite of the fact that my work computer was functioning at about the same level as the West Indies batting had been when I listened to commentary from the cricket world cup before setting off for work!

The items covered a variety of categories. This set of Royal Doulton plates was the very first lot I imaged today…

??????????While these could appeal either to pottery enthusiasts or lovers of railwayana, they were beaten for breadth of appeal by lot 2085, which has stamps, postal history, medals and art (at least) covered…

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????This French medallion (lot 1502) came out well…

??????????I finish this eclectic selection of images with some stamp album lots where I decided rather than photographing whole pages to focus on smaller quantities of stamps…

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James and Sons February Auction and NHS Action

The auction was a great success – for more detail and some images see the word document that I created about it yesterday. I also detected a good omen for the Great Centenary Charity Auction when a silver poppy commemorative coin sold for above estimate…

The  poppy coin (1)
The poppy coin (1)
The poppy coin (2)
The poppy coin (2)

JAMES AND SONS FEBRUARY SALE

And this is a jpg which will be the featured image.
And this is a jpg which will be the featured image.

Talking of commemorative coins, lot 640, the British public libraries 150th anniversary coin went to yours truly for £15. Lot 875 also fell to me for the same price, and combined well with a leaflet advertising the North Norfolk Railway for a composite image…

The coin imaged in a way not open to me until it was my property.
The coin imaged in a way not open to me until it was my property.
A public library montage featuring the only one of the public libraries I regularly use to have any architectural merit.
A public library montage featuring the only one of the public libraries I regularly use to have any architectural merit.

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3 sunset shots taken through the windows of an X8 heading back from Fakenham
3 sunset shots taken through the windows of an X8 heading back from Fakenham

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North Norfolk Railway route map
North Norfolk Railway route map

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Reverse
Reverse
Obvious
Obvious
Lot 875 - railway buttons
Lot 875 – railway buttons
A close up og one of the two British Railways buttons!
A close up og one of the two British Railways buttons!
"Railway Montage"
“Railway Montage”

I received my pack from 38 Degrees for tomorrow’s NHS action in King’s Lynn tomorrow. It came with yesterday’s post. The A2 window poster is on display above the High Street – a look up from directly outside Debenhams might catch it (here’s hoping). I end with some images from the auction room, none of which have yet featured in my personal twitter account…

This is a wall decoration in a Fakenham coffee shop.
This is a wall decoration in a Fakenham coffee shop.
The James and Sons banner.
The James and Sons banner.
The banner and the TV kindly lent to us by Hughes Electrical
The banner and the TV kindly lent to us by Hughes Electrical
Lot 782 set out for display.
Lot 782 set out for display.
James and Sons regular auction venues
James and Sons regular auction venues

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All three of these tables were quite light and easy carry (even with the very small one having a full set of cutlery stored inside its top), and even better all three sold.
All three of these tables were quite light and easy carry (even with the very small one having a full set of cutlery stored inside its top), and even better all three sold.

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Some copper pots and a large coin cabinet
Some copper pots and a large coin cabinet
This warming pan failed to sell.
This warming pan failed to sell.
I am not sure as yet whether it was a museum or a dramatic group (for a production of Cinderella) but somebody bought this spinning wheel.
I am not sure as yet whether it was a museum or a dramatic group (for a production of Cinderella) but somebody bought this spinning wheel.
The display case full of medals is a regular sight at James and Sons events, but lot 4, an essay VC, was pleasingly unusual.
The display case full of medals is a regular sight at James and Sons events, but lot 4, an essay VC, was pleasingly unusual.
Yet more copper!
Yet more copper!
This very large quantity of very small cutlery did not sell (there six boxed sets as well as this newspaper wrapped one).
This very large quantity of very small cutlery did not sell (there six boxed sets as well as this newspaper wrapped one).
The James and Sons advertising board
The James and Sons advertising board
The Prince of Wales Suite at 5PM on Auction Day.
The Prince of Wales Suite at 5PM on Auction Day.

Imaging, Database, the-saleroom.com New Style and Some Thoughts on GE2015

There is a natural split in this post between the first three aspects and the fourth, and this will be accentuated by placement of pictures.

Among the various things I have been doing over the last couple of days are producing and uploading the last few images for the January auction (this Wednesday, starting at 10AM, Fakenham Racecourse or online via http://www.the-saleroom.com), and working on the database.

The process for adding new images to an online catalogue on the-saleroom.com has been greatly simplified. Where previously one had to email or wetransfer late images and hope that they got uploaded, one now has the capacity to edit directly, including replacing images. The process can be done by clicking and dragging from the folder in which your images are stored at your end into the space for images on the-saleroom.com. Personally I found the new system a joy to use. Now to mark the change of tack in this post here are some of those images…

25 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? 90 90a 90b 130 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? 387On the subject of the rest of this post, the forthcoming General Election, one should first of all remember that it is not one single contest, but 650 separate contests, each decided on a first past the post basis. The second point is that for everyone except the rich another five years of Cameron as PM will be an absolute, unmitigated disaster. Fortunately, I am saved any great difficulty in my own constituency by the fact that the only candidate with any sort of chance of dislodging the current Tory MP happens to be someone I would be happy to vote for anyway. Jo Rust (Labour) is a Unison Rep, was involved in the successful campaign against the Saddlebow incinerator, was one of those who helped We Are Norwich to make the EDL feel as small and insignificant as they were. The contrast between the incumbent and the challenger is particularly marked when it comes to the NHS – Unison Rep versus shareholder in one of the companies who stand to benefit from the carve up of the NHS. If you are in Northwest Norfolk and want to see the back of the Tories make sure that on election day you get to the polling station and vote for Jo Rust.

A couple more images to finish off – these are of lot 778, which will probably go under the hammer at approximately 2:30PM on Wednesday.

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Two Days at James and Sons

Yesterday at James and Sons was devoted to finishing the imaging for the January auction (Jan 28th 2014, Fakenham Racecourse). It is in the nature of last items to be imaged that they are not the most interesting, but there were some good ones in there…

This is one of five images of lot 324
This is one of five images of lot 324
This is one of five images from lot 325.
This is one of five images from lot 325.

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The next four images are of lot 601
The next four images are of lot 601

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This is lot 736 - the map is in the frame at right angles to the normal orientation.
This is lot 736 – the map is in the frame at right angles to the normal orientation.
The next five images are from lot 780. a giant scrapbook full of beer mats
The next five images are from lot 780. a giant scrapbook full of beer mats

???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????Today however was a much more varied day. The morning was devoted to the heavy work of clearing the alleyway behind the shop (our neighbours in Fakenham who I won’t name had failed a fire inspection). Thereafter a new advertising board to replace the clapped out and out of date one was constructed (I did some of the selection and layout work, my colleague Andrew then assembled it) – I have a picture of it laid out ready for construction and one of it standing in the shop window, both of which I have tweeted out to my followers on @aspitweets…

The new advertising board, ready for assembly.
The new advertising board, ready for assembly.
The new advertising board in the shop window.
The new advertising board in the shop window.

The imaging for February only involved four lots, but some needed multiple images as you will see below…

The first four images are of Lot 1 in the February auction
The first four images are of Lot 1 in the February auction

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The next two images are from lot 103
The next two images are from lot 103
This postcard album is lot 102 in the February auction.
This postcard album is lot 102 in the February auction.

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Lot 101 for February warranted no fewer than eight images.
Lot 101 for February warranted no fewer than eight images.

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All Set For Auction – Plus Next Year’s Auction Calendar.

Today has been devoted to making final preparations for tomorrow’s auction at The Maids Head Hotel, Norwich. To view a full catalogue and/ or sign up to bid online click the following link: http://goo.gl/TgVNCi

I also have dates and locations for all next year’s auctions, which I have already circulated on twitter via @great_auction and a retweet courtesy of @aspitweets. A bit of colour in the form of some catalogue cover scans and a jpg version of the auction calendar…

Auction dates 2015 New Style

And this is the jpg version.
And this is the jpg version.

Cover Cover1 Cover2

Auction and a Response to ClivveW

The catalogue for James and Sons sale this coming Saturday at the Maids Head Hotel, Norwich is available for viewing at http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-2901714

Today I have both managed to complete the information gathering for our last sale on 29/11/2014 and get the database ready for our next sale this coming Saturday. As part of this I am able to share with you descriptions and images of the lots that did best in relative terms at our last auction. Some of the images included as part of this are not my work. I will mention in the captions I provide when images are not mine.

The second part of this post is a response to the following tweet (I did not think I could do it in 140 characters):

Clivve@ClivveW 4h4 hours ago

The killing fields in Cambodia is why I have no time for atheism.

As briefly as possible: this was an atrocity committed by an atheist not an atrocity committed in the name of atheism. This is in direct contrast to the almost innumerable list of atrocities carried out not merely by religious people but in the name of religion.

Now for those images (and a PDF file – I have taken care that no personal details of anyone are included)

This is lot 13 - the first item to do significantly better than expected
This is lot 13 – the first item to do significantly better than expected

347a 347 ???????????????????????? 344a 344

This is the last image that is not my work.
This is the last image that is not my work.

295

Again, not imaged by me.
Again, not imaged by me.
Another of the ones I did not image.
Another of the ones I did not image.

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The next three images are of the sewing machine which astonished us all be reaching £140
The next three images are of the sewing machine which astonished us all be reaching £140

Bragging Rights

This item is another not imaged by me.
This item is another not imaged by me.

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In going above estimate this item also went out of my reach.
In going above estimate this item also went out of my reach.

592 581

This was one of the items I did not image .
This was one of the items I did not image .

352

We were delighted when this sold - and it going for above estimate was a bonus. The weight of this item meant that we had specified that the buyer had to collect.
We were delighted when this sold – and it going for above estimate was a bonus. The weight of this item meant that we had specified that the buyer had to collect.

Imaging for November Auction Nearly Complete

Yesterday at work was once again entirely devoted to imaging, and by the end of it the imaging for our November auction (Saturday 29th, Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse) was nearly complete. On Tuesday I will be in position to temporarily abandon imaging and work instead on the stock and auction sides of the database so that I the auction runs as smoothly as possible. My Twitter following continues to grow at a spectacular rate, and currently stands at 342, having overtaken that of @great_auction.

I have some decent images from yesterday for you…

261 271 272 273 276 278 279 280 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 294 295 296 299 304 305

These proof coins are sealed in plastic which is set into the lining of the case.
These proof coins are sealed in plastic which is set into the lining of the case.

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These next two images are of one of several old Ordnance Survey maps going under the hammer. I chose this one because it features "Dinosaur Coast"
These next two images are of one of several old Ordnance Survey maps going under the hammer. I chose this one because it features “Dinosaur Coast”

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Local interest..
Local interest..

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A tough day at James and Sons

In between unloading the van, sorting stuff for tomorrow’s fair and loading that stuff on to the van I did manage to get some imaging for the November sale (29th Nov, Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse) done. My first batch of imaging was d0ne with scanner as it consisted of tax discs and log books, then late in the day I did some photographing of a variety of interesting items. Here are the highlights as far as I was concerned…

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This hydrometer was fun to image.
This hydrometer was fun to image.

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Just to demonstrate the amount of editing necessary post scanning for best images this is what the unedited scans of a set of six discs look like!
Just to demonstrate the amount of editing necessary post scanning for best images this is what the unedited scans of a set of six discs look like!

674

Log books do not image particularly well, but I include this one as a sample.
Log books do not image particularly well, but I include this one as a sample.

Starting the November Imaging

Another busy day at James and Sons. I have done some database work, and also started imaging lots for our next auction, which will take place on November 29th. Although I am still stuck with my old camera, I still managed to produce some decent pictures. The lost I imaged today were an interesting mix…

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Final preparations for auction

James and Sons October auction is tomorrow, starting at 10AM. A full catalogue can be viewed at: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-2901719

Today we were making final preparations, making sure that everything we needed was at the venue (The Prince of Wales Sui

te, Faklenham Racecourse), and answering late queries (the latter yielded me some decent photos as well).

All is set for a good sale, with some large bids already in.

Meantime enjoy a sneak preview of some of the lots…

 

The whole of Lot 7 (diamond ring in bag) .
The whole of Lot 7 (diamond ring in bag) .

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Potentially interesting for the chocoholics among you.
Potentially interesting for the chocoholics among you.

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The next three images highlight different aspects of the same medal.
The next three images highlight different aspects of the same medal.

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This helmet has already attracted several substantial bids
This helmet has already attracted several substantial bids
These two Chinese medallions (next four images) have attracted considerable interest.
These two Chinese medallions (next four images) have attracted considerable interest.

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