Antique-shop.com
Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: edweather on September 25, 2013, 06:35:48 PM
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I currently have an item listed on eBay, and am considering possibly selling it locally an auction. Just curious what the pros and cons might be of each. It's a 19th century antique French wood carved thermometer ca.1835, 6' tall and 6" wide. I'm sure it's worth $1000, and possibly much more. The only thing weird about it is that it's 'local pick-up only' on eBay. Too fragile to ship. I have pictures if necessary. Didn't want to include a shameless plug in the form of link to it on eBay......wasn't sure if that was ok to do or not. Thanks. Ed
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Picture is necessary. Everyone likes to see what they are discussing.
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Just post the same pic you used on ebay here !! Its simple to do !! Just click on additional options at the bottom when you reply, then browse for the pic and open it, then post it !! It has been taking a while for the pics to load depending on the size so give it time !! Have you had any interest on the ebay listing ?? You can post a link for questions, just not for sales !! We try to keep the site informational only !! Welcome to the group !! Hope you enjoy it !!
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OK, thanks. The local auctioneer said that the auctions don't get going around her until mid Oct, so yesterday I listed it on eBay in the mean time. 1 watcher so far. Thanks. Ed
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There are so many different prices out there. Did you have this appraise? Is there a makers mark?
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No makers mark that I can see. Will look again. All I really can assume is that it's French, because the writing on it is in French. Last night I sent an application to Christies for an auction estimate. Might not be to their level, but figured it was worth a try. At least they will know the man I received it from. Tony Victoria is very well know in NYC. Here's the link to the eBay listing. There are 12 photos there. Thanks. ed
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271284879146?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_286wt_917
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Damaged though, isn't it ? Rubbed along the gauge / scale. Gilding rubbed, with some of that gesson type decotation has been lost.
In good condition i've have said a few hundred pounds, maybe more. Pics aren't that clear
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From what i see ...you are being a tad fanciful...with your estimation of its value....personally .....irrespective of who you got it from....i think you,ll be keeping this....furthermore ...by the looks of it..it has mercury...in it....and if so....then its really not saleable..as mercury...is classified as a hazardous metal....very poisonous...and as you are saying the tube has lost its vacuum..then there is a possibility...that mercury vapour can leak out....Now i do know that there are barometers that have mercury in them and they are saleable....but...n ot if they have a perished glass tube....if i were you i,d check...first....fo r you could end up being sued...if a prospective buyer...came in contact with the mercury..or even the remnants of it.....its very cancerogenic
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i think you are being too generous Ipcress...up here ...i could,nt see this selling....its that bad.....and if the tube is broken and even if there is no visible mercury..there will still be deposits....
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I personally think this person ripped you off !! Its not a quality as it is to bring more than a few hundred !! The provenance only says this is what it "might be" which is virtually worthless !! Add to that the fact that all the buyer would get is a piece of wood that used to be a thermometer and I just do not see it selling at that price !! If it does I don`t think the buyer will be happy !!
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I've seen ones in need of restoration still make a few hundred but as i say, the pics are too poor quality to make a firm valuation but in good condition this would certainly be a few hundred at least
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I assume that is with a working thermometer ??
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Let me get this straight,...the tag has a price of $16,000,00....that i assume is the asking price...prior to you getting it..in settlement for an unpaid bill,..of..$3800,...you of course would be thinking....yippee. .i,m going to make money out of this...but I would have asked..why is this well known Gallery owner giving me an item that has a $16,000,00 price tag..in leu of an unpaid bill of $3,500....that,s the odd thing...but..you got it.....then...20 odd years later....you come on here...looking for info..that..by all accounts you already have.....then you say you think its worth $1000...or more....if you ask me...you,d have been better taking the money in 1988.....
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I assumed the guy didn`t want to give or didn`t have $3500. to pay him !! Like I said,, he got ripped off !!
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My goodness, how much negativity and pent up frustration can there possibly be in one thread. Well......I've seen more :-).......much more.
Hey folks, I will take everything you say and evaluate it.
So, OK, let's back up a second. First of all, Anthony Victoria, son of Frederick P Victoria has a good reputation that speaks for itself in NYC antique circles. I am now a meteorologist, and at the time I and my business partner, eack picked an item we "liked" as payment for a job we did for him. I was totally satisfied with the exchange, and still am.
So I'm trying to sell it now for whatever I can get for it. Not a big deal. Not too worried about the money, but probably won't sell it for $100. Just would like to be rid of it before my six year old crashes into it.
Let's keep it light. Sorry I struck so many nerves.
Peace.
BTW, I showed this thermometer on this site a few years ago, and you guys thought it was nice.
http://www.antique-shop.com/forums/index.php?topic=5518.msg16954#msg16954
Did a whole lot change from then to now?
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Well, that was in 2009 and some of those members are not here anymore !! But, Dean Perdue and D&B Antiques only gave you a $350. value !! We are not being negative, just stating what we think !!
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Ed, you see the picture you've uploaded on Ebay of the base at the front ? Can you post that on here please ?
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Only thing I see on that pic Ipcress is a couple of stickers which I find odd !! Who puts stickers on the face of something they want $16,000. for ?? And that is just a copy of the sales tag not anything that would verify what they say !! Since all this happened in the 80`s and I am well aware of what many of the dealers were paying for items like this,, I still think he got ripped off !!
But on a good note,, now there are two watchers on his ebay listing !!
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That's the back, Mart. The front has what looks like a possible makers name
The listing title on Ebay could be better, too.Doesn't have the word French in there.
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Ipcress, the word french was in the listing further down next to Maker:
Now the word French is in the title where it should be.
Sure, here's the photo of the bottom of the front
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I was on there back then...and I still haven't had my question answered...what are the French words?
Also, the market has changed markedly since that time...and it hasn't been for the better on many items.
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The French words are related to the temperature and degrees, like 'glace' for ice at 0C, 'orangers' at 6C, for oranges....not sure why. Maybe critical temp for oranges :-) There are other French words too. Definitely French item, about the only thing I'm sure of. Also Anthony Victoria specialized in French antiques.
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Not clear enough, Ed. I need an image of those words which curve with the decoration. They're mostly rubbed out but i think i might be able to read them. An image of each side please.
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Those words are french words relating to the thermometer, not a maker mark. I can read them. if I have a moment I'll go downstairs later and check them out.
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No need to apologise....no raw nerves have been struck....we are just giving our opinions as to what we think its worth now...although it was never worth the asking price at the start....Everyone knows that many gallery owners stick a price on something....knowin g full well...if some fool is prepared to pay that..well and good...but if not...and they have to haggle down...they still come up trumps as the item...has most likely been marked up a thousand fold...or more....
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Once had a couple who returned from New York with a large decorative clock. Bought from a swanky department store with a price tag which said " Reduced " and $15,000 crossed out and replaced with $4,000. A modern copy of an extravagant 19th century French clock.
It fetched £200 at auction after the young lady decided to sell it due to space.
These stores and shops are preying on the naivety and ignorance of buyers like that.
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Guess my original question got lost in the haze. At least eBay lets you put a reserve on it, and our Syracuse guy doesn't.
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What does it say on the lower section then ?
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To answer your original question,,Ebay is always your best bet in my opinion !! 20 to 30% fee at smaller auctions hardly seem worth the trouble since like you said there is no reserve on most !! Whatever it sells for,,less the percentage,,is what you get !! You have no control !!
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Thanks for the eBay vote. Yeah, a little more control on my end.
When I get home tonight I will read everything I can on the thermometer. Probably won't be until late though. In the eBay photo I see it says 'de malade' on the right side of 17C. Malade translates to 'sick' in French. Not sure what gets sick at 17C. Will have to match it to the left side for a clue.
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It will help if you just post the pics that Ipcress wants !! He is quite fluent in several languages and can translate as it should be !! Much is lost by getting one word or part of a word at a time !!
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Perhaps he won,t have to wait the 5 years that KC has been waiting...after she asked for the same in 2009.....
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I posted the one on eBay that he asked for and then he said it wasn't clear enough asked for 2 photos. A close up of the front and back of the bottom. If I have time tomorrow I will take them. Might take a couple of days to get them though. I have it hanging in a protected place, and it's a bit of a production to haul it through the house with people around, to a place to take a decent photo. Not sure what additional help it would be to translate a couple of French meteorological terms, but if it's pictures you want, I'll try and get them. Peace. I was only translating a 'few' words to verify that it's French.
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Thanks for the eBay vote. Yeah, a little more control on my end.
When I get home tonight I will read everything I can on the thermometer. Probably won't be until late though. In the eBay photo I see it says 'de malade' on the right side of 17C. Malade translates to 'sick' in French. Not sure what gets sick at 17C. Will have to match it to the left side for a clue.
Chambre De Malade
They're significant temperatures. " Orangers " for the orange growing etc.
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Yes, thanks. Possibly an agricultural/fruit growers thermometer.
Will do a little research for what fruit gets sick (or well) at 17C or 62.6F.
Will more pictures asap. Ed
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seeing as its a French Thermometer...i,d have thought...grapes would be the obvious choice....y,know...French Plonk and all that....
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Well, thesy also use a lot of blood oranges.
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Well, thesy also use a lot of blood oranges.
Not to make Champagne ..they don,t.... ;D....what have i told you about those...G&T,s.....mothers ruin they are.....think of yer poor daughter..whom you sometimes get mistaken for..... ;)
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;D
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Yes, thanks. Possibly an agricultural/fruit growers thermometer.
Will do a little research for what fruit gets sick (or well) at 17C or 62.6F.
Will more pictures asap. Ed
No, it's not just for fruit !! ;D ;D ;D
Look at other French barometers from that period. They have similar temperatures marked for a variety of things.
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I think you scared Ed away! ;D
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That is what I wanting to know. My family has been Big in the orange industry. I suspected it was to do with that...and would like to see the pics as well. There are terms for being "sick" for the produce.
Although for generations that have been in the industry this would be a "neat" find...it wouldn't have alot of bearing on value for general purchasers. Just the fact that it is French and old is the most valid point of sale.
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The mind boggles...its a broken thermometer....that may be contaminated with mercury....yet...yo u think because it is French and old....it has value....now had it been a 1921 Dom Perignon..that had been stored correctly...in a temperature controlled celler....then i,d agree with you...but this....nope.....
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Here's the pics for the front and back of the bottom and for the mystery words. The photos with Glace, Tempere, Chambre de Malade, and Orangers I didn't post. The word on the left of the bottom looks like "Temperature" or something close, and the word on the right looks like it begins with an "S." Thanks. Ed
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I worked out Bains Ordinaires from the image, which means ordinary bath, then googled it with Chambres De Malades and found this.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thermometer_from_fr ance.jpg (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thermometer_from_france.jpg)
which lists several important temperatures found on thermometers. So those rather rubbed words you've given a close up of are probably chaleur humaine, or human heat / temperature.
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Thanks Ipcress, I will check out the link. Ed
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The link was very helpful. Pretty much identifies all the words. The only one left is the one on the bottom right. I think it begins with an 'S' and I see an 'a' in there also. Anyway, I definitely appreciate the help. Thanks again. Ed
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The link was very helpful. Pretty much identifies all the words. The only one left is the one on the bottom right. I think it begins with an 'S' and I see an 'a' in there also. Anyway, I definitely appreciate the help. Thanks again. Ed
Bottom left word is Thermometre. Bottom right is fairly important i think but its too rubbed to decypher by photo.
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Yeah. I can make out a few letters but that's about it. Not sure why you say that its ribbed though. The only spot that is cleaned/rubbed that I know of is the light area about halfway up the thermometer. The paint on the rest of the thermometer has just faded away, etc., from age.
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The word bottom rightm, rubbed off.
Nay biggie.