Webley auction catalogue now online

[wgmorgan]

Lot 1174 looks interesting!

It does. Looks like the barrel is within the air cylinder, concentric.

[R. P. McMurphy]

It does. Looks like the barrel is within the air cylinder, concentric.

I wonder how much it will go for???

[wgmorgan]

I wonder how much it will go for???

No clue mate. I suppose it's too rare to be shot so will be a collector's display case-type item. I wouldn't be surprised if Troubleshooter or one of his fellow specialist collectors pay a mint for it on the day.

[Troubledshooter]

No clue mate. I suppose it's too rare to be shot so will be a collector's display case-type item. I wouldn't be surprised if Troubleshooter or one of his fellow specialist collectors pay a mint for it on the day.

It certainly won't be me, as I don't have bottomless pockets.
There are numerous items that I would love to own, particularly amongst the 'Accessories', but as I expect most items to fetch ridiculous prices, I will most likely not be bidding.
In my opinion, there are some items that should not be offered for sale but should be in a museum, particularly amongst the 'Accessories' section.

[wgmorgan]

It certainly won't be me, as I don't have bottomless pockets.
There are numerous items that I would love to own, particularly amongst the 'Accessories', but as I expect most items to fetch ridiculous prices, I will most likely not be bidding.
In my opinion, there are some items that should not be offered for sale but should be in a museum, particularly amongst the 'Accessories' section.

If you mean the following items then I couldn't agree more. It seems undignified to dispose of this sort of artefact when they should be in a museum celebrating the company's 200 odd years of world-class British craftsmanship and design:

1305 "Webley Airguns" light box display, c mid 1980′′s, 20" x 16½" for exhibition use, no electrics; plus 12 Webley & Scott promotional watches, boxed, as new; 2 Webley shotgun light boxes, plus 10 Webley factory overalls, some worn and well used.

1306 A large exhibition display sign, made of a coated plastic foam sandwich material, gold circular "Webley Venom Custom Shop" Cobra logo on a rectangular purple background, approx 60" x 48"; and a similar sign but as a circle design; plus 12 Webley factory overalls, some worn, well used; and 2 promotional stand boxes painted black with Webley logos to front. GC to VGC (some marking)

1307 2 GEC clocking in clocks from the Webley factory dating from the early 1960′′s, one in a long case 50" x 11½", and a master clock in a square style case 15½" x 17½", with opening window door to adjust days and times, with paperwork.

1309 An exhibition display sign, made of a yellow coated plastic "Webley (within pellet logo) The Famous Name in Airguns" in dark blue, approx 35" x 35"; and a factory sign "Webley and Scalemead Arms Company Showroom Offices and Reception" 60x20"; also "Showroom Offices and Reception" 47" x 13", plus a showroom exhibition metal framework in blue and yellow Webley livery, a free standing 3 piece item, each section 27" x 45". GC to VGC (some wear and marking)

[Troubledshooter]

The items I was thinking of, are Lots:1308, 1321, 1322, 1324,1327, 1328, 1329 & 1330.

[wgmorgan]

Ah yes, I didn't scroll down the page far enough. I see what you mean.


1308 A scarce early Webley & Scott "Effesca deflectais" 10" electric desk fan, patent no 451597, with adjustable angle and direction flutes via cam. Mounted to a heavy disk base, complete with a letter stating that it was used in Wakefield Town Hall up until the early 1960s. GC some wear overall. Sold as a collector′′s item only.

1321 A watercolour picture (placed on a cream background) of "The Webley Hammerless Ejector Gun" (double barrelled side by side shotgun), "known for its high quality workmanship, performance and workmanship and reliability", "ask for catalogue-Webley & Scott Ltd Birmingham". Gun is shown in open position with 2 ejected cartridges. In a glazed wooden frame, some wear, damage, picture VGC for age minor marking to backgrouns, picture approx 28" x 21½"

1322* A unique Furnace Clay application `gun′′,believed to have been made by W Greener Ltd, a special purpose tool which as the story goes "wet clay was put into the funnel end of the barrel, and this was then shot into the "leak spot" of a furnace to plug any leaks. This then helps to eliminate the necessity to break down a furnace to fix a leak". The Martini action uses a special .38 S&W blank charge to fire the `gun′′. The action is Birmingham proved. GC

1324 The Webley factory sign, the outside sign from the last factory in Rubery Birmingham, measuring 48" x 48", aluminium framed with printed Webley circular logo in cream and dark blue. GC (some wear, marking)

1327 A framed Patent Office registered trade mark, dated 29th September 1886, showing Greener elephant trade mark, "W.W. Greener began making guns in 1829 in Newcastle and moved to Birmingham in 1844. They were taken over by Webley & Scott in 1965". This is their original trade mark registration. Simple wooden frame, trade mark has been folded at some time, basically GC Plate 13

1328 The framed apprentice indenture of Phillip Webley when he was 14, to become a "gun lock filer" to Benjamin Watson, dated June 26th 1827, signed by himself and witnesses, and given with the consent of his father Thomas Webley. A fascinating document that states all the regulations of the day, including such rules as "Shall not haunt taverns and ale houses", "he shall not play card, dice, tables nor any unlawful game" etc. A historical document. In a glazed wooden frame, some wear. Document VGC has once been folded. Plate 13

1329 A probably unique Company business card "William Davis Manufacturer of Bullet, Shot & Fishing Net Moulds, Gun Implements, Gun Maker′′s Tools, etc 84, Weaman St, Birmingham". William Davis (father of Caroline, who married Phillip Webley) founded the business in 1790 on the site at Weaman Street. This card is the only known document relating to the firm at that time. Framed and glazed, card VGC, some wear to housing. See back cover

1330 A rare framed sepia photograph of Thomas William Webley, 12" x 15", in a gilt wooden frame, some wear, photo in GC (minor marks).

Thomas William Webley 1839-1904. Having completed his apprenticeship in 1834, Phillip Webley set himself up as a gunlock filer in Weaman Street, Birmingham and shortly began courting Caroline Davis, the girl next door whom he married in 1840. They had four sons and two daughters. Two of the sons (Thomas William and Henry) joined the family business. Thomas William was apprenticed at the age of 11 and by the time he was 20, he was practically its sole manager eventually taking over from his father as Managing Director, whilst Henry, who was a keen sportsman and excellent shot, was mainly concerned with revolvers. Under the terms of the amalgamation of W & C Scott and P Webley, Thomas William Webley was employed in the capacity of Managing Director and travelled the world on behalf of the Webley & Scott company. After a long illness, Thomas William Webley died 13th February 1904 aged 65.

[minibbb]

how much do you think a boxed senior is worth? The auction is quite near to me and I really fancy a nice pistol. Will I have to go there to bid or do they do phone bids?

[tpe]

Is there anyone from here going? I wish i could but getting there is a bit out of the question for me at the moment . But i would at least like to think there are some of the members from here going to look after the lots.

tim

[minibbb]

I may well be going, its only 20 minutes away from me!

[scgevans]

Couple of thoughts here from me;

1) Given the prototype nature of any of these I would be REALLY worried about the power setting on any gun I was going to buy!! Are W&W going to check them surely they are required to know wether they are selling an FAC gun or not .....

2) I suggest that someone sends the 'collectables' list to leeds armoury as they might have an interest in buying some - or the same list to AGS to see if they will donate some for the 'good of the sport'

3) If anyone really thought something from the collection should be in a museum I'll contribute a few quid (£10) if they have the time to round up and few donations and see what they can bag for the museum at Leeds or whereever (Royal Armouries)

Just thoughts -£10 ready to go though (x 100 odd people online = £1000) - i.e. if we had a fund bought a couple for museums and the rest went to charity I wouldn't mind.
Cheers

Stu

[E-B]

3) If anyone really thought something from the collection should be in a museum I'll contribute a few quid (£10) if they have the time to round up and few donations and see what they can bag for the museum at Leeds or whereever (Royal Armouries)

A noble suggestion but be wary of museums. Exhibits, donated or otherwise, have a habit of disappearing either officially or through back doors.