Scrolling News
NEW STOCK LISTING
20th November 2024
Aviation Clothing
British
20th November 2024
Aviation Headgear
British
20th November 2024
Aeronautical
Miscellaneous
15th November 2024
Aeronautical
Instruments & Tools
13th November 2024
Nautical
Ship's Fittings
20th November 2024
Nautical
Instruments & Tools
21st November 2024
General
Militaria
View all the new stock on one page!
Click Here
7th December 2024
Bag a Christmas Auction Bargain!
Our last news update was back in September, when we advised of our flood 'incidents' experience in December 2023 and again in January 2024. We had hoped by the first anniversary our home would have been restored, but sadly this is not the case and the current estimation for completion is now end January 2025. So our initial prediction of '6 months of disruption' has stretched to more than double our estimate. "C'est la vie" and the way we see it, in our troubled world, many are far worse off than us so we are so we should just be grateful.Despite these domestic issues we are still trading and have recently updated the website listings with some tempting aviation and nautical stock that are certainly not available on the High Street this Christmas, and as I write we are packing parcels for clients in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA. But time is short, so if you do need a special gift for your loved one you need to move fast!
Likewise, can we also suggest you check out a current online timed auction that closes on Thursday 12th December. This has a wide selection of nautical stock and a few choice aeronautical pieces. Some of these we have consigned from our own personal collection, to help pay for a replacement central heating boiler, that finally expired after 26 years of faithful service. The online listing can be found at Easyliveauction. com and you can access directly via this link:
https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/55f92aa0d65977b9177a057ff83bf857/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/timed-collectors-sale-britomart-2/
By way of a preview can we commend lot 56 which is an incredibly rare BRASS WARDROON PLAQUE, for RNAS Training Establishment Cranwell, Sleaford. In November 1915, the Admiralty requisitioned land from the Marquess of Bristol's estate to form the Royal Navy Training Establishment Cranwell. The formation of the RAF as an Independent service in 1918 led to the change to RAF Cranwell. So RNAS Cranwell was only in existence from April 1916 to October 1919 so this is a very scarce survivor and could even be unique.
Then checkout lot 63 which is a superb US Navy A U. S. NAVY WARDROOM TABLE LAMP, CIRCA 1920, which is heavily constructed in nickel-plated brass with weighted base and fret-cut shade. The lot also includes a USN issue plated tray. These items were used in our kitchen for over 20 years, but sadly no place exists in our new kitchen (being installed this month) so both need as a new home.
Another scare item is lot nos 146 which is a heavy brass underwater DIVERS LAMP, which we believe manufactured by MCGEOCH & CO., circa 1930.
Next on offer, lot no 157 is a near mint set of RNAS FILTER GOGGLES that date from 1917 and come complete with a full set of spare filters, instruction booklet and issue box. These are probably the scarcest of all aviation flying goggles from both World Wars, but we manged to secure a number of pairs from a long-forgotten warehouse in Malta where they had resided, forgotten for over 100 years!
These are followed by lot 161 which is a superb brass TRINITY HOUSE SIGNAL LAMP. This is the scarcer pattern, which has a fitted sprung loaded candle and dates to 1918. These always make serious money (the last one we sold at auction in 2021 made £595) but with a very modest reserve you have the chance of bagging a genuine bargain.
And our final lot no 167 is again from my personal collection and is a classic 1945 AIR MINITRY SCRAMBLE BELL. Cast in brass, it is the type with the more desirable larger 'AM' engraving and comes compete with clapper. Dominic Winter sold a similar example last month for nearly £4,000, yet ours is on offer with an estimate of just £1,500-£2,500.
We commend these and the other 188 items listed to you, but don't dally as the timed auction must end Thursday 12th Dec 2024 from 3pm GMT. Good luck to those who decide to bid and just to repeat in every case the reserve set on our items is way below their actual market value. Forget the fabricated 'black Friday' offers and instead grab yourself a genuine bargain!
It now simply remains for me and the team here at the Oldnautibits HQ to wish all our customers and friends worldwide the complements of the season, a very Happy Christmas and very best wishes for 2025.
Geoff Pringle
7th December 2024
Read our
Earlier Blogs
Take a Look
We stock a range
of New Aviation Books
see our
Books - Old & New
Page