MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Locating really hard-to-find items using the internet

There are now several major websites devoted to online auctions. The following text describes Yahoo's site but ebay and amazon work exactly the same. Both ebay and Yahoo have separate UK sections. Actually calling these 'auctions' may give the wrong impression; another way of describing them would be as 'for sale' advertisements where the price is not fixed. The last price offered is shown along with the time and date when the vendor intends to call it a day. You can then send your bid by e-mail and if you are the highest bidder, the goods are yours. You can find the strangest goods on these sites-all you do is type in the category of item you are looking for, e.g. television camera, video tape, etc. (you can be as specific as you like) or you can check out the vast number of product categories. These include collectibles, antiques, memorabilia and all sorts of hard-to-find items as well as more mundane items. The system works equally well for vendors as it does for buyers and there are online guides on using the system. Many vendors put a photograph of the item for sale, which makes it easy to see what you are bidding for.

Here's what Yahoo says, mainly about selling your treasures (buying is even easier!)...

• Yahoo!, the world’s favourite guide to the Internet, is launching its new UK and Ireland auction service that gives you access to potentially millions of UK and worldwide buyers in a person-to-person online market place. Go to auctions.yahoo.co.uk and set out your stall now.
• You can sell items online, from the comfort and warmth of your own home or office and there is no listing fee or commission to pay.
• You can sell almost anything through Yahoo! Auctions - the categories of goods for sale include collectibles, antiques, memorabilia, toys & games and much more.
• To list an item all you need to do is register for Yahoo! UK & Ireland Auctions.
• When you’ve submitted your item, Yahoo! Auctions immediately opens the bidding. You can set the starting price and the auction running time.
• When the auction closes, you’ll get an e-mail with instructions on contacting the winning bidder to complete the sale.
• All the information you need to get started is at the Yahoo! UK & Ireland Auctions Sellers Guide. Go to: auctions.yahoo.co.uk

Addresses of all these websites are-

Photographs of Television Outside Broadcast vehicles

The following suppliers offer postcard-size prints at modest prices. They attend most vintage commercial vehicle rallies and will also sell by mail order (state precise requirements or ask for a set on approval).

• Arthur INGRAM, 11a Pound Road, Chatteris, PE16 6RL.
• J.F. LONGBOTTOM, 45 South Drive, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3NL.
• PM PHOTOGRAPHY, Box 157, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3GJ.

Nostalgia

• A&R BOOKSEARCH, High Close, Winnick Cross, Lanreath, Looe, Cornwall, PL13 2PF (01503-220246, 01503-220965). Huge 160-page catalogue of books including radio and TV programmes and nostalgia.
• DALKEITH AUCTIONS, Box 4, Bournemouth, BH1 1YL (01202-292905). Specialising in Stamps and Postal History, Picture Postcards, Cigarette and Phone Cards, Cameras and Photography items, Coins and Banknotes, Military, Naval and Aviation items, Pop, Stage and Screen memorabilia, Autographs, Things to do with Sport and Transport, Old Toys, Ephemera, Documents and Prints, Books, and the weirdest kind of Collector's Items.
• KELLY BOOKS, 6 Redlands, Tiverton, EX16 6BU (01884-256170, fax 11884-251063). Email len@kellybooks.co.uk   Books and magazines on broadcasting, catalogues issues. Web site: www.kellybooks.co.uk
• KEN'S (Joyce and Ken Graham). 29 High Street, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, Bucks., MK16 8AR (01908-610003). Ephemera specialist, with some old radio/TV magazines and books. Closed Thursdays.
• METRO GOLDEN MEMORIES. 5425 W. Addison, Chicago, IL 60641, USA (00 1 312 736 4133). Shop devoted to old films, radio and TV shows, tapes, books, photos and so on. Mail order.
• SOUNDS ORIGINAL, 266 Northfield Avenue, Ealing, London, W5 (020-8840 5621). Opposite Northfields underground station. Selection of theme tune records, old annuals.
• VINTAGE MAGAZINE COMPANY, 39/43 Brewer Street, London, W1R 3FD (020-7439 8525, fax 020-7439 8527). Some radio and TV weekly magazines and ephemera.

and finally ...

• PALEOPHONIES (David Winter), 16 rue de Vaugirard, 75006, Paris, France. Tel & Fax: +33 1 46 33 20 17. Web site: www.paleophonies.com   Email: email@paleophonies.com   Interesting shop - open Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 7.30pm. Among many other things they are magnetic recorder specialists: wire, tape and disc.
• TOTAL REWIND - the Virtual Museum of Vintage VCRs. A great internet resource for all those interested in the history of video recorders, in and out of the home. Web site: www.totalrewind.org