Rod Bellars collection

[Wayne Henderson]

Another fellow did the mock up of the Pheasant, he got ill and sold off a lot of gear. He was doing a replica about 20 years ago as there were no known examples about.

[Ron Pier]

Has anyone thought about the fact that these are probably live firing weapons. If that is the case, the bidding surely can't be open to everyone?? Ron

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

Another fellow did the mock up of the Pheasant, he got ill and sold off a lot of gear. He was doing a replica about 20 years ago as there were no known examples about.

Thanks for the clarification

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Has anyone thought about the fact that these are probably live firing weapons. If that is the case, the bidding surely can't be open to everyone?? Ron

Typically anyone can bid, if succesfull you will have to prove you can transport/own them.

[Mike Cecil]

Live firing ... in Australia???!!! Not likely.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

M3 Medium / Grant I is interesting as it seems to be rather complete - even though it is split up over several lots.

NOTE: This unit was complete however has been disassembled by the collector with relevant parts being advertised in this auction. Lloyds Auctions have attempted to provide images of parts relevant to this unit however are not representing that the tank is complete. Lot Number 1016 in this auction is the removed turret and parts to match this tank. We are continuing to source matching parts.

Lot 1003 is the hull: https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotD...31&lid=3330164

The corresponding turret is Lot 1007 (not Lot 1016 as indicated by Lloyds Auctions). The turret hatch is Lot 1014. There is a set of tracks and a gun shield in the auction too.

Original US registration number is USA W-3010491, if read correctly.

[Ron Pier]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Live firing ... in Australia???!!! Not likely.

Mike from all the posts and correspondence I saw from Rod, I got the impression his stuff was all mostly live, and with continual battles with the police and authorities??? Ron

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Original US registration number is USA W-3010491, if read correctly.

Joe DeMarco added this info and shared a photo of Rod:

Yes, that looks like the one that is up for auction.
Rod found the corresponding Serial Number 3856 stamped inside where the dataplate would have been.
He also reported the Brit WD Number from under the paint layers as T-25746.
His Lee would have been accepted at Chrysler in June 1942.
Counting heads, I think it would have been one of the last Chrysler Lees built with working doors.
It was shipped from the US and would have arrived in Australia before the end of 1942.

Rod was a tremendous source of info, although his texts were somewhat elusive as they were unpunctuated, stream of consciousness and peppered with Aussie slang. It took me a while to figure out that "dog's bowls" were ventilators.

Our friend Jim Goetz visited him.
Here's a photo. Rest in Peace, Rod.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Lot 1005, described as a Chevrolet ......... it is actually the sad remains of a Guy Quad Ant FAT.
A lot of the descriptions leave a lot to be desired.

Yes, It's amazing to see that it's listed as a Chev in stead of a rare Guy Quad.

Lot 1010 is also entertaining "Home made wood furnace, steel".....of the exploding kind, me thinks.

https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotD...1&pgn=1&pgs=15

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Interesting axle... wasn't Philippe looking for one of these?

"WWII axle and wheel assembly, Wheel hub is approximately 475 mm"
https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotD...31&lid=3330195

[Bob Carriere]

Hi again Hanno.......

May be a long shot BUT....... could some one look for casted numbers midway of the axle between the flat of the H shape beam....... OR it may be stamped on either side near the curved area.......

That is an odd ball...... maybe related to the Aussie 18 inch rims????? PS....maybe a British vehicle...... the 8 wheel nuts look larger than usual with the end very squared off flat..... does anyone recognize the rear axle from the webbing on the gear cluster????

Bob C.

[Tony Smith]

I see the auction closing dates have been pushed back 2 weeks! That's one more payday to shovel into the hole.

[rob love]

I would imagine that all the auctions still at single digits might have scared them.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some media coverage:

https://www.forces.net/news/uncovere...tion-militaria

https://youtu.be/T-FDBWyzj3U

[Gordons]

Amazing amount of WW 11 equipment up for sale at 12 different auction postings from private collector, Lloyds Auction site, between Feb 19th and 25.

Bofors MK 4 current bid $14,000, Bofors Mk 11, $3900.00, Limbers Mk 1 maybe early 1941, bid $1000.00

[Gordons]

few additional limbers

[rob love]

This was discussed in another thread. Shipping for even small parcels out of Australia can be crazy, never mind the export requirements for military goods.
For the large stuff, it should be a great auction for those who are in Australia, although the auction house has now posted some warnings that proper licenses are required to take possession of some of the items.

If this were in Canada, my bank account would be depleted and my credit maxed.

[rob love]

With the auction now in progress, I am overall impressed with the prices realized by the auction house. Seems like many bidders like to do the sniping thing, although I wish they would not be going up by $10 once they trip the 21 second countdown clock. The extra time really ads up.



Also interesting to see things which I have purchased over the past years for my 25 pounders usually going for significantly more. And the available limbers in auction no 2 are now starting to realize more respectable prices. Heck, the 16 drawers in the limbers will usually fetch about what most of the limbers are currently at, so it will be interesting to see the closing prices.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

M3 Medium / Grant I is interesting as it seems to be rather complete - even though it is split up over several lots.

Lot 1003 is the hull: https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotD...31&lid=3330164

The corresponding turret is Lot 1007 (not Lot 1016 as indicated by Lloyds Auctions). The turret hatch is Lot 1014. There is a set of tracks and a gun shield in the auction too.

Well that’s great, the auction house states “ **NOW INCLUDING TURRET AND CANON**”. But what the auction house actually includes is a Staghound Armoured Car turret. I cannot fathom why they do not include the M3 Grant turret that’s up for auction as that would enable the buyer to put the tank back into a proper configuration.

And oh, the bidding stands at AUS $97,000 with 6 days or more to go.

NOTE: This unit was complete however has been disassembled by the collector with relevant parts being advertised in this auction. Lloyds Auctions have attempted to provide images of parts relevant to this unit however are not representing that the tank is complete. Lot Number 1016 in this auction is the removed turret and parts to match this tank. We are continuing to source matching parts. This tank was driven by the collector onto the drop deck trailer for transport back to his property.
Top 73mm cannon and assorted parts for reinstatement are now included in this allotment.
9th Feb updated the 73mm top gun assembly and mounting parts have had photos uploaded which will be included in the sale. Items specific to this Lee Tank, will be included in the sale when the purchaser collects this item. This will be done in conjunction with a Lloyds Staff member.
**** It is worth noting that a new/unused DC3 9 Cylinder Radial engine as used in this Lee Tank is available in auction Part 13, Lot 217 ****

[Bob Phillips]

ON a similar note, the radial engine offered for sale looks like an early C1 engine with the cast aluminium cooling fan. It is absolutely not the type used on a DC3 and I can hardly understand why a reputable auction company would not have put a little more effort into doing their homework before offering goods up for sale. A similar thing occurred at the Littlefield auction where all manner of mixed vehicle parts got lumped together in job lots.

[rob love]

The auctioneers are not lifetime collectors, and sell everything from soup to nuts. I see the same thing at a lot of the lesser gun auction houses.....it does no favors to the consignors.

I do see where on some of the lots, the auction house changed the listing as a result of someone more knowledgeable sending in a correction. But in many cases, the potential buyers will leave the mistake, hoping to ward off other buyers.

I think the guys who will do the best are the ones who could actually go to the auction house and see what is in the bottom of some of the box lots.

If the problem with the turret was pointed out to the auction house, I have no doubt the Staghound turret would get moved out of the M3 listing. But it would appear the M3 turret is doing rather well on it's own, so hard to say if the turret listing would disappear and move over to the tank.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by rob love

If the problem with the turret was pointed out to the auction house, I have no doubt the Staghound turret would get moved out of the M3 listing. But it would appear the M3 turret is doing rather well on it's own, so hard to say if the turret listing would disappear and move over to the tank.

You're right, that Grant turret does rather well on it's own at AUD $37,110 at the moment. Rod's relatives should be happy, the sale of his collection will bring in some good earnings.


Source: https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotD...31&lid=3330168

[Andrew Rowe]

So what did the Carrier sell for?, I see they do not list the prices once the total auction has closed, so if you do not write them down at the time you miss them. I saw it had got to over 53K including buyers premium , but still had 5 hours to go, Cheers.

[rob love]

I was also disappointed when I looked at the previous nights auctions to see the prices disappeared. Although from a different country and hemisphere, it is still a great reference for prices.

[Andrew Rowe]

Will just have to be a bit more clever on the next ones!.....or stay up past my bed time to view!

[Andrew Rowe]

I see the Carrier flare boxes sold, 22 of them for about $90 each , I wonder if they will be shared around the Carrier owners? Carrier sold for about $53 500
including Buyers premium, fairly rough, non runner though. Cheers.

[rob love]

My math says that with the 16.5% premium, the boxes were a little over $111 each.

There must be dealers involved. There are a lot of smaller lots of those boxes....pairs or in batches of four at these auctions that would be more suitable for the average man.

Could also be someone who likes to have trading material for down the road.

I bought one of those boxes from David Gorden years ago when he had them on his site. By the sounds of it, they were from Rod Bellars. My intent was to either gut the box to complete my Cdn box, or else modify that box's fasteners to match the Cdn mounting. But it still remains untouched...I don't have the heart to do it.

[Andrew Rowe]

We use to buy those boxes off Rod for $2 each back in the early 90's ......so I guess you got to add inflation on nowadays! Cheers.

[rob love]

M3 went for $246K, the staghound went for $50K, and the M3 turret went for $39110. I took a screen shot of this portion of the auction just before the prices disappeared in case anyone wants to know what the other vehicles went for.

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by rob love

M3 went for $246K, M3 turret went for $39110.

Wow £150k ish... did that include the auction fees?