Memphis Estate Sale--lots of photo stuff

nexus757 · Aug 16, 2013

A friend sent me a link to this estate sale this weekend in Memphis. I'm not associated with it in any way, but looks like a fair amount of darkroom equipment, cameras, lenses, paper, film, etc. Also 16mm movie films and equip., if you're into that. Might be worth checking out if you are in the area: http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/482685.aspx

ambaker · Aug 16, 2013

I'm about 2 1/2 hours from Memphis. I see that it is a commercial estate sale company. Not necessarily bad, but hate to drive that far and find they were pricing the camera gear at the top of the price range. Or that the cameras needed a lot of attention.

But my son lives in Memphis, so maybe I can con... err get him to take a look.

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pbromaghin · Aug 17, 2013

Holy Moly, this guy had his s**t together in the darkroom. I'd love to buy all of it. Nice sinks. I can only hope my estate sale looks like this when I die. But it won't. It will be a disorganized disaster area.

clayne · Aug 17, 2013

Not that I'm saying don't do it, but does anyone feel a slight sense of morbidity buying a recently deceased fellow printer's stuff? I guess another way of thinking would be that he'd rather it see it go to people who will value it rather than junk it.

TheToadMen · Aug 17, 2013

clayne said:
Not that I'm saying don't do it, but does anyone feel a slight sense of morbidity buying a recently deceased fellow printer's stuff? I guess another way of thinking would be that he'd rather it see it go to people who will value it rather than junk it.

I think that when I died and someone bought all my camera and darkroom stuff, for once my wife finally would also get something out of it

clayne · Aug 17, 2013

Since a lot of people make money in estate sales it's interesting to think about just how much value is lost through death. Granted, these aren't gold bars we're talking about... But I'd imagine resale during estate sales isn't anywhere close to 1-by-1 sales on eBay and the like. Someone is making money, that's for sure.

ambaker · Aug 17, 2013

On my way to Memphis to check it out.

ambaker · Aug 17, 2013

Nikon F3 HP WITH Nikkor P 105 2.8 lens. They want $249. Battery is dead, so can't test, no guarantee, no return. So think I'll pass...

They want $3 a roll for film that expired between 1999 and 2008.

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clayne · Aug 17, 2013

ambaker said:
Nikon F3 HP WITH Nikkor P 105 2.8 lens. They want $249. Battery is dead, so can't test, no guarantee, no return. So think I'll pass...

They want $3 a roll for film that expired between 1999 and 2008.

A little bit high but the lens is 100$ easy leaving one with a 149$ F3HP so if it works I'd say that's not too bad a deal. The film should be 1-2$/roll IMO.

ambaker · Aug 17, 2013

The sale continues tomorrow, and they said they would be interested in offers tomorrow on what doesn't sell today. So using some of my points to spend the night in town.

Lots of large size photo paper in a freezer and a fair amount of film. They have an enlarger 35mm/med format. But they are asking $1450 for it. Not happening on my budget.

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clayne · Aug 17, 2013

1450$ is of course wishful thinking.

I think you need to start dictating what you'll pay rather than the other way around and combine things into package deals. Unless that film is slide film there's no way it's worth 3$/roll. Even then it's a decade old. Educate them on this and not to go off eBay prices because that's obviously what you're doing. eBay prices don't count here because showing up in person means you're saving the time of listing all of it, fees, buyer coordination, etc.

KennyMark · Aug 17, 2013

Dream refrigerator (the contents at least)

Awesome rugs

Too bad that most of the movie film will be purchased by someone that will toss the film and sell the reels for wall decoration at a flea market.

Really wish I could be there. The last half of the last day is typically a good time to bargain.

Bill Burk · Aug 17, 2013

ambaker said:
On my way to Memphis to check it out.

I immediately thought of this song... for some reason thought it was Memphis he was walking to... but you get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjX1vFk384s

I wish you well and hope you return loaded with a lifetime of value...

ambaker · Aug 17, 2013

There is also a Contax G2, but no lens. But perhaps the lens sold earlier.

There was an amazing amount of old movies, in both 16mm and 35mm. Projectors as well. The movies took up most of the garage. Almost broke down and bought the Commander Cody serial in 35mm. Some of the stuff was nitrate and was starting to turn to powder. The garage reeked of that vinegar smell.

A man who was buying one film, said that his friend was coming to make an offer on the whole lot. They were asking $20 a reel.

No way I am paying $3 a roll for out dated film.

But, if nothing else, I got to see it.

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Bill Burk · Aug 17, 2013

Buy one of his arches prints. Clearly you know, a photographer's film, cameras and possessions are mere objects that can be gotten anywhere.

But his prints are probably the most priceless, irreplaceable objects in the lot!

clayne · Aug 17, 2013

Does anyone know who the owner of all this stuff was?

Bill Burk · Aug 17, 2013

clayne, My gut instinct tells me the photographer is much like any of us here... A passionate hobbyist, not necessarily famous by any measure.

Dennis S · Aug 18, 2013

The real bargains do not happen until they realize at the end that they have over priced themselves. $1450 is a bit overboard but there are a few Saunders easels on the baseboard. If it doesn't sell, a person at the end of the sale may pick up some great deals. That is the best time to have a few extra $$$'s . I have a connection with a person who does estate sales and at the end I get products for 25% of the asking price so he doesn't have to get storage which is pricey here in Vancouver.

ambaker · Aug 18, 2013

Missed out on the Nikons. They were gone when we came back today. Did pick up the Contax G2, and a large amount of frozen B&W 120 film. Everything from old Verichrome Pan, to 2008 vintage Ilford.

There was a massive amount of enlarging paper in a freezer. Sadly, no way I could do justice to all that. I don't have a setup to do 20x24. Sale continues tomorrow...

Photographer's name was John Roberts. Not a name I am familiar with, but perhaps someone here knows the name.

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Memphis Estate Sale--lots of photo stuff

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