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Tight Lines

Swapmeets

The concept of the 'swapmeet' has very different connotations, depending in which countries they are being held. In the UK, they are almost entirely composed of dealers and traders, with a smattering of collectors trying to move on some of their surplus engines. In the States, the 'Collecto' is much more about displaying collections along with rare and exotic motors that most are unlikely to have seen and certainly not own. A similar situation existed in Europe with large model Expos being organised that showcased and displayed all aspects of modelling. For all sorts of reasons, they had died out in Europe until last year when an Expo was held in Switzerland, the annual swapmeet in Bern and this February an 'International Swapmeet' in Germany, the first since the heady days of the International Modelbaus in Dortmund and those that Holger Menrad used to organise in Aachen.

Although there was some trading at both these events, they were more about showing collections and rarities to other enthusiasts, as well as promoting modelling activities. To this end at the Swiss Expo the Swiss Model Car Club put on a large display with members holding seminars and doing presentations to the visitors, explaining the sport whilst showing off the cars in order to attract more people to tethered car racing. The FEMA President, Michael Schmutz has made it quite clear that the sport must promote itself at every level in order to thrive.

The Swapmeet near Stuttgart provided another opportunity to further the cause of tethered car racing with the SMCC again having a huge stand that continued the work, but also had a considerable amount of commercial items available. Michael Schmutz, Philipp Meier and Otto Stroebel were on hand all the time to provide information and display their combined enthusiasm for tethered car racing. This concept was adopted with an equally imposing presence by the RGS and HMC clubs and members. Horst Denneler had a large display of cars, old and new, with many of his products, as well as a selection of items for sale. For most, the star item was the indoor, table top, tethered car track. Yes, real indoor IC tethered cars. The track has been in existence for a while but not seen recently. Thomas and Manu Finn had it in operation for much of the day with tiny, Cox powered cars running round so fast that the cameras had difficulty keeping up with them.

As well as the tethered cars and exotic engines on show, there was an entire collection of racing motorcycles, all with a backdrop of vintage and modern diving gear, the stock in trade of the company that loaned the building. This type of event is so unlike the British standard swapmeet that the possibility of holding a similar Expo at Buckminster in 2025 is currently being investigated.

Michael Schmutz posted nearly 80 photos from the event, whilst Christoph Zaugg was sending photos in real time, so thanks to Michael and Christoph, here is a selection from what was termed the 'First International Swapmeet'.

 
Foyer Tethered cars and spares   Meteor repro. Original Speedwell Case of delights
The 'ultimate' 10cc motor Multi cylinder exotica SMCC display. Ooh, those boxes
Philipp Meier explains Horst Denneler HMC dispaly Turned round 3.5cc Class 3 motors
World's fastest Movo Just because they could Tasty DOHC V8 What's this?
Display cases of rarities A DOHC V8 from Rolf Luther Standard Movo
Thomas and Manu Finn with  mini track Cars from Horst and Wolfgang Bakelite cars
Finn 5cc and Runkehl LORU Paul Otto Stroebel Latest 'Passione' Picco 10s
Old and new cars from SMCC Vintage twinshaft FEMA President Michael Schmutz

Benefits of exhibitions for public relations work
Philipp Meier

At the beginning of 2023, I heard that a large modelling exhibition was planned in my village. As I am a member of the local aviation group, I asked whether it would be possible to showcase our hobby. The aim of this exhibition was to present all branches of modelling, land, air and water. The professionalism of the organization (promotion, sponsoring etc.) resulted in an exhibition of the highest quality of exhibits.

On Friday evening before the exhibition was opened, there was a vernissage at which the president of Breitenbach, sponsors and other representatives of the modelling clubs were present. At this opening Lauri Malila was honoured for his title as world champion in F1A free flight and me for the title as vice European champion. We are both members of the MG Breitenbach and were delighted to have our achievements recognized by the club. Daniela and Michael Schmutz were also honoured for their titles as representatives of Switzerland at an international competition.

Michael and I spent 2 days at the show with only a few minutes for a break to eat and drink. At the end of the weekend we had received only positive feedback from the organizer and visitors. The cars on show, from vintage cars to the current record-breaking vehicles, were certainly profitable.

We have had the same setting at the International Model Engine Swap Meet in February 2024, which was basically presented to a special audience. Our model friends from the RGS and the HMC supported us at this meeting. Always with the intention of promoting our hobby. Due to the positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors, a follow-up meeting is already being planned for next year. I can highly recommend this meeting, the exhibits shown, the exchange of information and the concentrated knowledge were extraordinary.

In summary of the two events, without the visual support of a video sequence it was difficult for interested visitors to get excited about our hobby. A moving image/content is an eye catcher, if there is sound it is even better. It's also positive if you can put a vehicle in someone's hands = look and feel experience. Also engines and accessories such as a 10ccm cable for the look and feel.

At the end of the day, however, you shouldn't expect that a new member signs up immediately. However, together with the new media content on Youtube, Facebook or live streaming, it will help many people to have a first point of contact with our hobby.

Everything begins with an initial effort. The question "what is the outcome of such an effort?" should not be the first question asked. Otherwise, each of us can buy a shovel and bury our hobby. Most important is the follow up on people who have shown interest in our sport, whether online or on an exhibition. Links to our website or your local website and contact details of someone who can help to do the first steps into our sport, have to be provided and a personal invitation to the next race will go a long way. 

In retrospect of the two above-mentioned events and numerous other activities, like giving presentations about our sport in other model engineering societies, it can be summarized that it is worth every effort. Not only could we promote our sport, the people you meet with their expertise like for example surface treatment, 3D metal printing, etc can also benefit you finding more speed. 

Wotzit.
Any ideas please?

The first request comes from 'Colin' whose late uncle built this engine in the early years of WW2. Sadly, he was later killed so no more information about it is known. Was it following a commercial design or entirely scratch built?

The second motor looks very much more like it was derived from a commercial design, a set of castings or even available as a completed engine, Any clues as to the origins of either of these please to otwmedia0@gmail.com thanks.

What do you do with it all?

We have often commented in various Pylons over the trials and tribulations of selling off collections (and hoards), and now we see that it has been raised as a thread on the Barton Forum. It is a problem that is never going to go away so we have put together some of the options and attendant pitfalls that can arise. We are often asked to advise in such situations and there is no clear cut answer as so much depends on the individual situation, yet over the life of OTW we have been aware of, and even involved in the disposal of at least 12 major collections, of which four could legitimately be described as 'eclectic hoards of stuff'.

A word of caution though, tax rules and inheritance rules are very different across the world, so we can only be specific about the UK, but even here the goal posts have changed significantly in the last year and are due to the election here will change again, and not to the benefit of those involved either.

There are two clear situations where collections are to be disposed of, firstly when the owner wants (has) to downsize, rationalize or raise some cash. The one advantage is that they usually have time on their side so can pursue whatever avenue will produce the best results for them. The more complex is where the avid acquirer has passed on and a family member or members find themselves the owners of a huge collection of assorted 'stuff', or an unconnected executor is tasked with sorting and disposing of it all. Even worse is as has happened recently on a couple of occasions where an unsuspecting distant relative is lumbered with it all as the person in question died intestate.

First of all the situations that can arise. A spouse becomes the legal owner of everything, no problem, it is theirs, and no immediate pressure, unless they want to raise money or 'get rid' in which case there is no tax liability until they come to dispose of it, as there are clear rules as to what can be sold from an estate without incurring charges but this does not include collections. In every case, the assortment of 'stuff' would have to be included in the estate for probate, giving it a finite value, probably way below its real value increasing the CGT liability?

A single legatee is in exactly the same position, again the relative luxury of no time constraints as they are now the owners. Where it gets very complicated is when the estate has to be divided between more than one person, by either a legatee as an executor or an unconnected third party executor. Human nature can be very fickle when family inheritances are involved, and most want as much as they can get as soon as possible.

So, what are the options? Well, one suggestion on the forum was that the collector has told his children to put everything in the recycling bin. This they may well do, unless they become aware of the potential value of what they are scrapping? We have mentioned before the mother and daughter who put an entire collection of several hundred engines in the bin so that the daughter could have the fitted cases. Would they have still done it if they knew what they had potentially been throwing away? We have met two large scale hoarders who have told their children that it is all theirs to do with as they like, but as none of them have any interest at all in engines, it was suspected that they might well end up in the skip? Again, if its yours, you can do what you like with it, but if two or more people involved then there might be objections to this route. After all, even a modest collection now can be worth in excess of £50,000 and who keeps receipts or is even totally honest about how much they paid?

From there on it becomes a numbers game, just how big and varied is the collection or hoard? The problem multiplies rapidly as the numbers, variety (and potential value) goes up. There has to be a note of caution as well as what follows does depend on the honesty and integrity of those involved, which sadly, has not proved to be the case on occasions.

If the new owner who has inherited goodness knows what that they have no interest in, they might just want rid, and the simplest answer is to contact existing dealers or individual and ask them to make a bid on taking everything, ie. no honey deals. The downside is that they might be offered as little as 10% of the value or even less, especially if they are totally unaware of the possible value. The dealer then has to do all the work, will probably make a hefty profit but over an indeterminate time scale, but the house and workshop are clear and there is a wodge of money. We have brokered deals of this sort and are aware of many more, sadly, at least three that we had no part in at all involved the widow being royally 'stitched up', hence our warning about honesty.

It then comes down to how much you want to be bothered, how much time you are prepared to spend, and whether your knowledge is up to the task? The simplest solution is an auction, only suitable for a finite number of items though and they will not get rid of the assorted and unidentifiable spares and bits. Bear in mind how much of the late Miquel de Rancougne's collection was consigned to a second and lower profile sale and the items that the auction house binned?  This is further complicated now by the shortage of specialist auctions and valuers, and in some cases, their insistence on a minimum value for each lot. There is also the small matter of lotting fees and seller's premium, but it does mean that they are responsible for the identification, photography, description and the entire selling process. You just sit back and get a cheque at some stage. Relatively few options now, although the BMFA does provide a good outlet at minimal cost, but they are restricted in the number of items they can process in just two auctions a year.

Otherwise, it is down to doing it yourself, if you are the main beneficiary, or enlisting the help of a knowledgeable friend, but it is unrealistic to expect them to do the work for nothing. Ebay is the most obvious route as it gives you the widest audience and will realise the best prices, but everything is down to you including the comeback if the buyer is not happy. You can of course enlist an 'ebay friend' but these don't come cheap, up to 40% of the sale. There is now a further and serious complication in the UK in that ebay, etsy and all other auction platforms have to pass sales records to the tax man as this is now regarded as 'side hustling' and rendering you liable to income tax after sales over £1800, about four good engines (or two yellow jackets) in a year. There is also the side issue of not flooding the market, say ten engines a fortnight max so a two or more year process in prospect that other legatees might not be happy with, although this will also render the seller liable to tax on the whole amount and possibly even Capital Gains Tax on top. One of our correspondents has suggested that it could take up to five years to clear what has been inherited, and that is with two of them working steadily on it via ebay and swapmeets.

The final options all involve producing a detailed list with all items identified, condition and any defects clearly noted. One Swedish seller actually produced a full colour A4 folder with every car and engine for sale, two photos of each and prices, an enormous amount of work. Once the list is complete then there is a choice, to price, or not to price, depending on the next step. Over the years we have become aware of two interesting variations, the 'silent auction' where the list is circulated, either widely or to a restricted group who are then asked to bid, the highest bidder wins, unless the seller did not consider the bid high enough or derisory as was the case with another Swedish collection. An extension of this is the concept of the 'Nazareth style auction' where the highest bidder does not win, as all other bidders are given the chance to improve their bids, which can go on for ages, time consuming and hardly appropriate if you are trying to shift 500 motors.

We are firmly of the opinion that items should be priced, which brings us to the route we favour and that has been used by a number of sellers in the last few years. Price every item, circulate the lists, used to have to be done by post but can now be online, wait to see what sells and update lists regularly. Of course, prices do have to be realistic, especially if you are looking to clear as much as possible. Like the auctions, this will leave you with a lot that there is a very limited market for, bits and pieces and the assorted detritus that can be acquired over a lifetime of collecting (hoarding). Then it is down to the swapmeet or sadly, the skip.

Swapmeets are not great for disposing of collections in one go, turning up with 1500 or even 500 engines will not endear you to other traders and neither are there enough punters to make a dent in that number, and that applies at auctions as well. A table full of odds and ends, priced to sell will clear what can be, but after a couple of goes, the skip is the only other option. When engines that are being offered for free are still in the box at the end of the day, that is a clue as to their desirability.

Ultimately, unless you are prepared to identify, describe and photograph anything up to 4,000 engines or more, deal with the sale, pack and post said number and deal with post sale problems, then the options open are very limited. Also it very much depends on the personal relationship with the engines, and ultimately who gets the cash, especially if you are a non benefiting executor or acting on behalf of more than one legatee when it can get very messy.

What does help immensely is a bit of forethought where what can be put together is, correct engines in boats and cars and everything labelled. If it is yours, then you will probably know exactly what it is and the history behind it, but if it 'aint written down then its guesswork or worse for whoever is sorting it, which can affect values considerably.

It is a sad fact that at present the quantity of items awaiting disposal is absolutely staggering, especially as some of the very largest collections are already on the market via various means or will be so in the very near future. Difficult to believe but OTW is aware of over 15,000 engines alone that will have to be sold or otherwise disposed of.

 

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