UK : Lots of test gear in Peaker Pattinson December collective auction

[woodchips]

PP doesn't deliberately store stuff, I have known lots to turn up in 5 cobsecutive auctions, each about 2 months apart, if it doesn't get the required price.

They have also just completley refurbished thier auction place, insulated now! Was a bit manky before, but you have been to Ramco, remember the site at Croft? What about the sales by Anchor Surplus?

I suppose that selling china and jewellry is easy, it is, test equipment, and machinery, is something else altogether. How do you check a digger to see if the track gearbox is ok? Got caught on that one.

[tggzzz]

Whether it is deliberately or not is, of course, irrelevant.

I was under the impression they were improving storage, but the barn needs more than a little work before it is suitable for electronics and similar.

My parents stuff had very little china and jewellery. I used to spray mothkiller on some items frequently. Their living room seriously creeped out one or two people with weak constitutions, and ambulance staff had heard about it and used to ask whether they could see it

Daughter went into one bric-a-brac shop, got talking with the owner and discovered that he had spotted one of their items in the auction. Their gharial now has a Tek 465 CRT on top of it, like a distorted mirror image

[veedub565]

The auction house storage isn't necessarily the best, although last time I went they had built a new barn to keep stuff in which seemed better than before.

It isn't always their fault though. The companies that owned this equipment originally don't always care about it very much. I've been to places where expensive RF gear is setup and used, basically in a shed. And the kit is full of dead flies and corrosion, the fans are seized. This then eventually gets binned off and sent to auction....

The company selling it have an overinflated opinion of what it's worth reserve price. And people pay top dollar for it, condition unknown.


I'm interested in the test port cables in this current auction, but there's no way of knowing if they are any good or not without testing them. They could be complete scrap.

It's a bit like gambling really, only bet/bid what you are prepared to lose.

[tggzzz]

The auction house storage isn't necessarily the best, although last time I went they had built a new barn to keep stuff in which seemed better than before.

It isn't always their fault though. The companies that owned this equipment originally don't always care about it very much. I've been to places where expensive RF gear is setup and used, basically in a shed. And the kit is full of dead flies and corrosion, the fans are seized. This then eventually gets binned off and sent to auction....

The company selling it have an overinflated opinion of what it's worth reserve price. And people pay top dollar for it, condition unknown.


I'm interested in the test port cables in this current auction, but there's no way of knowing if they are any good or not without testing them. They could be complete scrap.

It's a bit like gambling really, only bet/bid what you are prepared to lose.

Just so. All we can do is employ every means at our disposal to bias results in our favour.

Good luck w.r.t. your cables.

With PPA, one trick I use is that after I've won something I really like, I bid higher on more items that I might like. That amortises the travelling costs.

[reef.pi]

...
With PPA, one trick I use is that after I've won something I really like, I bid higher on more items that I might like. That amortises the travelling costs.

Do you happen to realy like some Agilent DAQ board?

[tggzzz]

...
With PPA, one trick I use is that after I've won something I really like, I bid higher on more items that I might like. That amortises the travelling costs.

Do you happen to realy like some Agilent DAQ board?

Yes, but not sufficiently to pay any money for it

[veedub565]

Well I won the test port cables I wanted. Fingers crossed they are ok, but being HP means they are at least 25 years old which s a long time for cables, I've seen ones much newer than that become intermittant. Or you get some gorilla overtightening the connectors... And I've seen they way people treat expensive 1mm connectors, and the disgusting state they are in. Hey ho, we shall see

Also won the R&S RSP step attenuator, we have a couple of these at work and they are really accurate. The connectors are on the rear which perhaps makes it less desirable, but isn't really an issue for me. May be possible to convert it back to front connectors.

Then I got carried away with the 8751A, E4423B, and one of the 3400A's   

I don't even need a 1Ghz ESG I've already got an 8341B and R&S SMG. Also got an 8753C and an 8510C, although the 8753C with it's s-parameter test set is a bit of a pain to drag out and setup every time and then it doesn't remember the screen colors... I'm thinking of ditching the 8753C and replacing it with the 8751A (if it works). 5hz to 500MHz is ok and then the 8510C will cover anything higher than that.


So I'll be having a trip down there at some point over the next week. I'm midlands based, PM me if I can help anyone with collection.

[tggzzz]

Gorillas have always been around, but at least manufacturers didn't feel the need to compromise on plasticisers.

Welcome to the rathole  and good luck

[veedub565]

Welcome to the rathole  and good luck

Ohh I definitely need help for my test equipment addiction      I get to play with all sorts of expensive, top of the line test equipment at work, for free! better I get paid for it. Then still want my own to play with at home. I don't understand it 

[tggzzz]

  I get to play with all sorts of expensive, top of the line test equipment at work, for free! better I get paid for it. Then still want my own to play with at home. I don't understand it 

Oh, having been in that position, I understand that syndrome only too well!

[reef.pi]

...So I'll be having a trip down there at some point over the next week. I'm midlands based, PM me if I can help anyone with collection.

I have only got 3 items, one from the BBC auction and two from the collective one, do you think you can collect and post them to London? (At my expense. of course)

None of them is really big and heavy, an Agilent switch module, a Keysight 34921A and few DVS Centarus 11 capture cards.

Thanks.

[veedub565]

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