Lacy Scott & Knight's Collectors' Models Sale Report

From toy soldiers to live steam engines, Lacy Scott & Knight's Collectors' Models Sale, held at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on Saturday 19th May, attracted some strong entries in the various sections of this quarterly auction.

Gracing the cover of the catalogue for this sale was a picture of a 4.5 inch to 1 foot scale Burrell single cylinder traction engine with brass miniature works plate No.1856. It was built by Newcombe Griggs to a Plastow Engineering design and generally looked in good order, although its boiler certificate has expired. It sold for a hammer price of £7,600, against its pre-sale estimates of £5,000-7,000.

Moving down in size to O gauge model railways, there was a very good example of the Bassett-Lowke clockwork  LMS 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 No.5701 'Conqueror' and tender. Some touching in on the paintwork was noted but it was impressive enough to find a new home at £4,000 against its pre-sale estimates of £2,000-3,000. A repainted 'Princess Elizabeth' Pacific sold for £1,400, while a brace of clockwork LNER 'Flying Scotsman' Pacifics went at £300 and £500 respectively with condition making the difference. There were quite a few nice Hornby O gauge locomotives included in this sale, several of which came in under estimate.

Among the diecast lots, the Corgi TV and film related favourites achieved their usual success. An early version of the 267 Batmobile in gloss black with red bat wheel logo and without towing hook, sold on the hammer at £600, against pre-sale estimates of £100-130. The next lot, a 268 Black Beauty Crime Fighting Car from the Green Hornet, also took off reaching £400. Meanwhile, back on the ground, some Chipperfield Circus items proved popular with a Corgi Major Gift Set No.12 crane truck and cage, making £110, a 511 Performing Poodles begging for attention at £190, a 487 Land Rover Parade Vehicle with figures driven home at £210, and a 426 Karrier Bantam Mobile Booking Office proving to be just the ticket at £190.

A further strong area was a fine choice of Britains figures and models. It was expected that the uncatalogued 1826 boxed set for Gamages, comprising a total of 42 pieces, would make four figures and it did not disappoint at £1,150. In the agricultural field, one of the popular No.9630 blue and white Ford 5000 Tractor with red and blue Shawnee Poole rear dump combination, with steering attachment and loading spade, ploughed on to reach £300.

Lacy Scott & Knight's next Collectors' Models Sale is to be held on 18thAugust. Website: http://www.lsk.co.uk/