Heads Up: Dubbo MV museum up for sale

Ian Fawbert · #1 11-10-06, 07:48

From Mike Kelly's post on the F8. I figured i might as well post it here, as if its on Milweb its common knowledge to the rest of the world anyway!

http://www.milweb.net/arcade/dubbo/index.htm

I had hoped that this day wouldnt come for a few more years- by then i would probably have some money to buy some of the things i was really interested in!

Does anyone know any details about things- price etc?

The one thing i dont understand- why was it so poorly publicised in australia? First thing i knew of it was in the latest VMVC magazine- and if i remember right, even then it didnt say the whole thing was up for grabs.

I hope for our sake that MORE of australias history (matilda Frog, LVT;s, neptune, bren gun carrier, staghound etc etc) dont get packed up in a container and shipped off to sit in another museum overseas...

Ian.

(and now what am i going to do when i go to dubbo! i exhausted the disposal store last time i was there!)

Hanno Spoelstra · #2 11-10-06, 11:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Ian Fawbert
Does anyone know any details about things- price etc?

The one thing i dont understand- why was it so poorly publicised in australia?

See Military Museums in Australia.

H.

Howard · #3 12-10-06, 09:16

I just contacted the vendor who has reported that the Cab12 sold prior to auction for $10,000. Wholy Smoke!
Cab 13 Blitzes & carrier still available.

Keith Webb · #4 12-10-06, 11:41

He's looking at more than $6k each for the CMPs and around $22k for the carrier, based on the price for the Belfield example.

ron · #5 12-10-06, 12:03

Hi Keith,
That carrier that is for sale was the one that I bought about 1970 I paid $330 for it and it had about 110 miles on the clock I bought it from Tongala,its a Vic rail number 3798,and I still have the plate here,
Regards,
Ron,

ron · #6 12-10-06, 12:19

This was the day I received it, there is an image already posted title Vic rail 3798
Regards.

Ron,

ron · #7 12-10-06, 12:23

Here is a pic of the plate off my old carrier,
Regards,
Ron,

Darrell Zinck · #8 12-10-06, 14:50

Hi

I see they have a Staghound.

Anyone have any idea what condition it's in?

Any pics?

regards
Darrell

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #9 13-10-06, 00:06

Mmmmmm Ron
It would be nice to see the Carrier & plate back together.
Bob

Ian Fawbert · #10 13-10-06, 07:33

While i didnt speak to Barry personally, a mate did. He found out the following- he's a trustworthy guy.

Staghound is sold- to Oz.
Carrier attack is sold- To Oz- SA apparently- Bob, what know you?
Diamond T transporter is going overseas
LVT's- 15k each- though no engine and one missing the trans.
Jeep and trailer 16k, (not worth this much in my opinion).
Other stuff i am not sure on.

If anyone interested, in my opinion, the best buy would be the late war, Ford CMP ambulance. it is ORIGINAL as the day is long- still has door straps! All she is missing if 4 wheels. Body is pretty good- weather has taken some toll, but the dry dubbo climate has helped preserve her.
According to Barry, its is exactly the way it came out of the army however many decades ago- with stretchers in the rear and all.

I have some pics of it if anyone is interested.

Cheers,
Ian.

Darrell Zinck · #11 13-10-06, 12:48

Thank you, Ian.

regards
Darrell

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #12 13-10-06, 23:44

I think I know where it went, however I'll have to contact the possible owner first to preserve privacy.
Bob

ChrisG · #13 20-10-06, 09:49

Hello, long time reader, first time poster....

I went to visit the owner recently when I first heard that some of the vehicles may be up for sale.

He explained to me that he was basing all of his prices on hammer sale prices at the recent Melbourne Tank Museum auction!!!!...He wanted $19,000 for the carrier. In my opinion there were some significant differences between vehicles in the collections to try and compare prices.

If he wasnt going to give me a realistic price I wasnt prepared to even ask what he wanted for otehr vehicles.

Although it may be an international market for MV's I tend to think it is a little out of hand.

My 2 cents.

Keith Webb · #14 20-10-06, 10:13

John Belfield chose to engage a major international auction house to handle the sale.

There was a concerted advertising campaign leading up to the sale, and there were many buyers and dealers from overseas attending.

All this equals strong competition at auction which is why the Belfield sale was so successful.

I just don't think it's realistic to expect the same competition for this collection, even if the exhibits were of a comprable standard.

By the way welcome, Chris. Where do you hail from?

ChrisG · #15 20-10-06, 12:41

Hi Keith,

I live on 2000a of bush in the Central West NSW (near Dubbo)...very nice but oh so very dry, although we had some of that wet stuff fall from the sky today.

Hope it keeps up for the weekend.

ron · #16 23-10-06, 10:03

As it was in 1970

sth65pac · #17 24-10-06, 12:21

I Dunno if you're all aware but the Goodridges (of Jeep fame at Walcha) are having **their*** Auction on in Tamworth 4th November...which will be SIX Jeeps and 350+ lots of spares... It was in the LAND newspaper last week....or use MARATHON SPARE PARTS as a guide to googleing!

Also the Dubbo Auction is 11th of November and I expect that the reserves will be high if they exist... BUT to freight from Dubbo on a CMP is gonna cost you about $1500+ to Sydney! To the melbournites it would be $2.5k! try

http://www.monksrpc.com.au/bwWebsite/

for a full listing!

Add that to a sale in the boondocks and you need to be realistic about prices.

The Melbourne Museum Bellfield auction was location, location, and with a large shipping port it was great for o/seas buyers.

Ian

Hanno Spoelstra · #18 24-10-06, 13:10

Quote:

Originally posted by ron
As it was in 1970

... and as it is today (source).

Keith Webb · #19 24-10-06, 21:12

I hope they give those poor soldiers a decent burial!

ron · #20 25-10-06, 12:24

Thanks Hanno,
Sure looks different, but then its over 30 years since I had owned it.
Regards,
Ron.

Tim Berry · #21 07-11-06, 23:29

Hi all. Just thought I would let you know the carrier is coming to sunny Queensland. A friend of mine has purchased it. She should be in Toowoomba soon.

Tim

ron · #22 08-11-06, 04:37

Hi Tim,
well thats good news that the old girl is coming up to Queensland, I will have to slip up there and see how it has faired in the last thirty years since I bought it,the motor was like new and so were the tracks and with luck it may have not done much work, the trouble is the motor has been sitting around all those years,any way its good to see that it has gone to a good home,
Best Regards,
Ron,

ChrisG · #23 11-11-06, 10:04

After a hot day in the sun the Dubbo Museum (well most of it) was sold today.

It appeared that some vehicles had been 'cherry picked' prior to the auction (well done to the new owner of the carrier )

It was apparent that the owner had expected bidding far higher than was reached in many cases.

Its just my opinion but I believe many of the vechiles were in some serious need of restoration .(In many different aspects)
I am sure others will argue/support the view.

Anyway for your interest some of the prices reached included;

F60 Blitz $1200
F15a $1550
(radio truck) Blitz $900
Blitz Wrecker $700

Dodge WC $5k (passed in)
'44 Willys $7k (passed in)

(Will try to post a couple of photos)
Cheers!

Keith Webb · #24 11-11-06, 10:23

Thanks Chris

Do you have a complete list of the results?

The Sigvan at $900 was good buying.

ChrisG · #25 11-11-06, 10:52

Hiya,

No sorry I dont have a complete list of results. Some others that I do have;
A mobile field kitchen $600
Ferret mk (?) $17,500
Centurion Turret $4k
2 lvt4 Buffalos 4k each (passed in)
DC3 wing $5K
Diamond T $5.9K
Vampire Jet $12.5K
and the Neptune Bomber.... passed in at $40k

Lots of other trucks including other Fords, Humbers and Chevs. I am sure someone who was more attentive than I will post results.

Sorry can't post any pictures as the forum says I have 0 bytes file size allowed.

Cheers

Tony Smith · #26 12-11-06, 05:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Thanks Chris

Do you have a complete list of the results?

The auction was poorly organised and no catalog was available. 1100hrs of the 11th day of the 11th month and the auction was in full swing, with some disrespectful mutterings from the crowd. Many items promoted in the newspaper ads and online were previously sold. I heard one P***** off buyer complain that he had come down from Qld with over $50,000 and a semi-trailer for some DUKW hunting to find that it had been sold prior.

Most good vehicles had already gone, and the Ford Blitz Ambulance was not for sale.

The Ford Radio van was a F15 with a 1960's camper van body painted green, complete with Laminex cupboards inside, but still OK for $900.

The F15A was bought by a happy "Known Person" and we will be hearing more about that vehicle on MLU, no doubt.

Studebaker US6 sold for $7100, not running.

Blitz wrecker was a battered C60S with Fowler crane. Not a Holmes or Garwood.

Some of the Museum stuff raised some eyebrows: No 36 Mills grenade $520, WW2 Despatch riders outfit, worn $650, map of "Tobruch", dated 41 signed by 2/17Bn HQ $2000.

Pic of Radio Van:

Tony Smith · #27 12-11-06, 05:53

Neptune was conducted in $10,000 bids and ran out of buyers at $40,000 and passed in:

Tony Smith · #28 12-11-06, 05:56

As an aside, the Neptune featured this logo on the side. Can anyone explain? Did the aircraft serve in Canada on exchange? Was a member of the crew Canadian? Either way, this could become a good Tac Sign for the Aussie branch of MLU!

Tony Smith · #29 12-11-06, 05:59

Well weathered but straight Chev C60L with original body went for $600:

sth65pac · #30 12-11-06, 12:11

Well I was a bidder and a very happy winner of the F15A at $1550. Postage and Handling will run to over a thousand hmm a few dollars there, but still a nice complete truck for the money.

WHY?
Very minor rust in the hatch
Very minor rust in the cab
Original early dash
Chevron tyres but perished.

It had run about 7 years earlier.

Pictures will follow in due course.

I think that the C15 Radio van was not good buying as the inside was destroyed or in very poor shape. Most of the masonite was damaged and again being a 4x2 it didn't fetch good money. (& I didnt bid on it either)

I noted that the Chev engine was not complete and some inportant parts were missing. Also as it had been displayed it was Childefied and damaged in the interior.

I noticed that it looked like it had last been in the ACT. It looked like it was a poor attempt decked out as a camper prior to becoming a display.

A few other celebreties of the CMP world were present at the very long hot auction!

Ian