Deceased estate disposal: Are you an executor for a deceased estate?
A solicitor, lawyer, or family member of someone who has left behind a collection of valuable antique and vintage fairground items?
Do you need collection disposal advice? Selling off or liquidating a collection?
Collections can include amusement rides and fairground attractions, fairground organs, steam engines and other related items such as smaller collectibles, fairground art, ephemera, artefacts, and memorabilia.
Where to start – and solutions you’re looking for
You find yourself at the point when you need to take steps to dispose of a collection but are not sure how to go about it.
Knowing the right people to ask for expert advice and services, with the proficiency, capability, logistics, and connections to fulfil this need with ease –
This is the solution you’re after. And this is where we can help you.
Choosing a safe pair of knowledgeable hands goes a long way in relieving the stress of navigating such a specialist field of vintage collection, especially at such a sensitive time for the family concerned.
Littleboy’s takes care of everything for you.
And we have large, secure and fully insured premises to house collections while they’re being carefully disposed of, making deceased estate disposal a less arduous undertaking. Packing and transport are also handled by us, so for executors, solicitors, or family members there is little to organise in this regard.
The key things you are faced with asking at this first stage are:
- Who really knows about fairground collections? Who are the go-to people?
- Who understands the disposing of a collection and liquidation process, or deaccessioning of items, and can caringly guide and manage the process from beginning to end?
- What is the value of this collection? Who can provide accurate valuations?
- How do you go about selling a fairground collection: where to start? What is the route to market? And who is networked to the right buyers around the world?
- Where can a large collection be housed safely, and how do we get it there?
- Who can assume the burden of responsibility in seeing the whole process through, and communicate effectively with us along the way?
Get in touch with Littleboy’s Vintage Fairground Restorers and Sellers who can fulfil all of these needs for you.
“Not only do we help build collections, we also re-home them at premium prices when the time comes.
And for deceased estates, we recover these assets and return them to our fully insured showroom for disposal.
We use a diverse range of specialist transport and removal staff, including people who understand how to safely dismantle and transport such items safely and securely”, says David Littleboy, owner and director.
A fairground collector’s passion
As a family member of a serious collector, you will have known and likely experienced first-hand the passion and commitment that has gone into building the collection!
Sometimes, it is hoped that a collection can be disposed of as one lot, thereby preserving the care which went into assembling the collection.
There is great value in keeping a collection intact, as another of our articles discusses, but this is not always possible or desirable. A professional vintage fairground specialist like Littleboy’s, proficient for over twenty years in the collection and restoration industry, can skilfully guide you along the best route to take.
Things to consider with deceased estate disposal and liquidation of a collection:
Has there been succession planning?
Hopefully some kind of succession planning for the deceased’s collections are included in the estate’s will. Collectors often wish for their collection to be disposed of in an appropriate way after their death. Some people collect because they genuinely appreciate the items concerned, while others collect as part of an investment strategy for their wealth. Or some do both.
Even if succession has been considered, it can still be a challenge to know where to begin seeking professional and expert advice and valuations on such specialised collections. Professional services sought in this instance would be appraisal advice, as well as valuations for probate and insurance if this forms part of settling the estate. And importantly, collection disposal and liquidation.
Selling via auction vs. specialised experts
Sometimes, disposal by auction is considered and a company is approached to handle the transaction. Such auctioneers have little specialist knowledge of this specialist subject, so that valuations are not accurate or on trend, descriptions incorrect and valuable features not highlighted. Similarly, a sale takes place on one day and one day only, so potential purchasers must be ready to make a purchase at that time.
Selling through us gives access to possibly the largest database of worldwide connections so items can be targeted to those with a known interest in that particular subject.
Does this sound like what you are looking for? Then we’d love to help by getting in touch.
Valuation for specialist fairground collections
If rounding boards, gallopers, fairground artwork, barrel organs, living wagons, waltzers, juvenile horses, carved peacocks, carousels and steam engines all sound like an ensemble of extraneous fairground items and rides, they are all the things we know the history and value of!
To this we bring our in-depth knowledge of renowned collections and fairground history, which few can rival.
Heritage fairground dynasty names, and high ticket valuables is amassed in our own niche market of fairground collector, restorer enthusiasm and expertise over the decades.
Documenting Collections
When the disposal and liquidation of a collection begins, a full inventory of the items must be undertaken. Sometimes, certain items become the subject of more detailed research, to establish their provenance. Such additional information can significantly increase the value of individual items or the entire collection.
Coveted nostalgia that is increasingly hard to source
The funfair has been one of the staple events of British childhood since the 19th century. With the arrival of horse-drawn carts, steam engines, organs, wagons and rides marked the beginning of the spring months.
So it goes without saying that owning a vintage fairground collection comes packed with nostalgia. But they are also becoming increasingly difficult to source, with many being coveted as works of art from a time past. All of this adds further value to the fairground collection that is being disposed of.
Speak to us about the full one-stop shop management of deceased estate disposal of vintage fairground collections, evaluation, and liquidation of your collection. sales@littleboys.co.uk
