The Marney Collection

The Marney Collection preview catalogue

part of the Clocks, Watches & Barometers Sale

Friday 3 October page 1

Important Information 1.

Buyer’s Registration Before bidding please obtain your personal buyer’s number from reception. Please note that some form of Personal Identification will be required to confirm your address details.

If you become a regular buyer at the Diss Auction Rooms permanent buyer’s numbers are available.

2.

Buyer’s Premium A Buyer’s Premium of 15% is payable on the hammer price (VAT is charged on the premium).

3.

Value Added Tax i Lots indicated with the symbol “i” are sold inclusive of VAT in the hammer price. Your invoice will show the element of VAT. 4.

Payment We require settlement of purchases on the day of sale. If you have bought on a written bid we ask you to arrange immediate settlement upon advice of your purchase.

4.1 Payment by Cash Either during or at the end of the sale enables immediate collection of lots, cash payments in excess of £5,000 are not accepted.

4.2 Payment by Cheque Cheques will be cleared before collection of goods, or a Bank Reference supplied before the goods are collected.

4.3 Payment by Credit & Debit Cards Either during or at the end of the sale enables immediate collection of lots. Visa & Mastercard credit cards accepted, subject to 1.5% (+VAT) surcharge. Payments exceeding £1,000 can only be made by the cardholder in person.

4.4 Online Bank Transfers These may be arranged for larger transactions 5.

Ways of Bidding 5.1 In Person If you are attending the sale then you can bid in person. Ensure that you have the attention of the auctioneer during bidding and upon purchasing either show, or advise the Auctioneer of your buyer’s number.

5.2

By Written Bid If you cannot attend the sale then please complete a written bid form indicating the price you wish to bid to. The Auctioneer will faithfully execute your commission bid, starting the bidding at a low level and using your written bid against other bids and any reserve price that might apply, to acquire the lot on your behalf at as low a level that other interest allows. In the occasional situation of another bidder holding the bid equal to your top bid the auctioneer will place one further bid on your behalf.

Written bid forms must be received no later than 30 minutes before the commencement of the sale. This service is offered free of charge but without responsibility. If you are successful with your written bid we will normally telephone you with details of your purchase after the sale.Where we cannot make contact we will invoice you a.s.a.p. We will ask you to make immediate settlement and early collection of your purchases.

5.3

By Telephone Telephone bidding is available to buyers willing to pay, at the very least, the publicised guide price. This service needs to be arranged prior to the sale with the specialist concerned. We will then contact you a few minutes before your lot is due to be offered. Again, this service is undertaken free of charge but without responsibility and we strongly advise you to leave a covering bid.

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5.4 Via Website Go to twgaze.co.uk and click onto “remote bidding”.

6.

Auctioneers Opinion We are pleased to provide e-mail images of items with a guide price over £50, time permitting, for your assessment. If required we will give the auctioneers opinion as to the condition including any damage or restoration which is immediately apparent. We can give no guarantee on authenticity, completeness or concealed restoration.We strongly recommend your personal viewing of the item. If purchase is subsequently effected- viewed or not viewed- full liability as to the price, condition, authenticity and suitability is that of the purchaser. The auctioneers opinion is not a warranty.

7.

Reserves & Guide Prices Where items are offered for sale subject to a reserve price, it is our policy to reflect the reserve price at a level no higher than the lower end of the “guide price”.

8.

Catalogue Description The Auctioneers undertake that reasonable care has been taken to produce catalogue descriptions that are accurate and reliable but these are necessarily matters of opinion only and not to be taken as statement of fact. Although in some instances damage or restoration is noted, generally imperfections are not stated and prospective buyers must satisfy themselves on the condition and accuracy of description of each lot prior to bidding and to act upon their own judgment. In particular: Pictures, bronzes etc: Only descriptions commencing with the forename(s) and surname of the artist are in our opinion the work of that particular artist. Any other forms of description are given without warranty as to the origin, authenticity or signature of the artist noted.

Books, Jigsaws & Games: Condition and completeness are not generally noted. Buyers are to act upon their own judgment as to whether the lot agrees with the description.

9.

Collector’s Electrical Items Electrical items noted as “collector’s electrical items” within the catalogue are sold on the strict understanding that though originally intended to be operated by mains electricity are sold untested, without warranty or any guarantee as to serviceability or working order. These items might not comply with current statutory requirements and are offered for sale solely for display purposes or historical interest. The items are not suitable for connection to mains electricity unless they are checked and warranted so by a qualified electrician.

10. twgaze.co.uk A visit to our website offers: online catalogues, auction e-mail lot alerts, keyword search facility for your particular requirements, remote bidding procedures, results & forthcoming auction calendar.

11.

Auction Results Results for all sales are published on twgaze.co.uk on the day of the auction.

11.

Selling by Auction Our valuers are pleased to offer sale and valuation advice without obligation. Our extensive range of sales combined with targeted marketing and our leading website assures opportunity of full realisation, from single items to entire house contents, trade stocks etc.Transport is available.

We pride ourselves on early payment for lots consigned to the Diss Auction Rooms, we aim to settle by cheque posted on the day of sale.

12.

Valuation Department For the purpose of insurance, probate or family division, our qualified and experienced valuers will be pleased to assist.

The Marney Collection Preview Catalogue - Friday 3 October I am very pleased to welcome you all to the Diss Auction Rooms to be able to witness a fine collection of scientific instruments that we have been instructed to sell on behalf of Patrick & Terence Marney from their late father’s collection.

Built up over several decades of expertise and experience, working with barometers & clocks over such an extensive range, Patrick and Terence worked in the business of restoring and repairing these complicated instruments with their father and in their own business.

Such an important collection is rarely seen and will not likely be on offer again for some time. So if you are searching for that elusive barometer for your wall, this delightful and rare collection will have something for you.

Oliver Allen Sale Organiser

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William Marney (1922-2013) William grew up with his mother, brother and three sisters in Islington, North London, where life was hard and surviving without a father due to an industrial accident was not easy. He was a bright lad and enjoyed school and boxing, but had to leave at 14 years old to help the family.

He began his working life in 1936 as a mercurial barometer maker/improver with F. Darton & Co. of St. John’s Street, Clerkenwell, who were founded in 1834. In 1939 he moved to Negretti & Zambra in Islington where he continued to work on barometers.

In 1945, after serving five years with the RAF as an instrument repairer, he went to work for F. Marson of Clerkenwell Green, one of the few companies specialising solely in the restoration of antique barometers. In 1951, William Marney joined forces with Peter Garner and formed Garner and Marney Ltd in premises at Clerkenwell Close, EC1.

During the next eleven years, which included moving to Turmill Street, EC1 in 1956, the company specialised in the complete restoration of antique mercurial barometers (approximately 1500 a year) and the sale of fully restored antique mercurial barometers.

In 1962, when Garner and Marney moved to Southgate Road, the need to preserve the history of barometers encouraged William Marney to extend the company’s activities.

With his team of expert craftsmen using their vast knowledge and experience, they started to produce authentic copies which led to Garner and Marney producing the finest and largest selection of exclusive hand-made reproduction antique mercurial barometers (ranging from 1700 to 1860) to be found at the time.

Another section of Garner and Marney was the manufacture of reproduction antique material and replacement parts for longcase, lantern, bracket and skeleton clocks, mercurial and aneroid barometers, all of which were of the finest quality covering an extensive range.

During the 1960’s for the best part of 8 years William helped Nicholas Goodwin with the research of his book “English Barometers 1680-1860”, later to become the defining reference book on barometers.

In the 1970’s knowing the plight of struggling craftsmen to find affordable workshops he with six other craft/businessmen formed the Registered Charity Clerkenwell Green Association to help craftsmen and women. Sadly in the early 1980’s when William’s wife Mary was very ill he retired to Tiptree to look after her until she died in March 1987. But for many years he never lost the will to speak his mind and ruffle a few feathers from time to time.

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The Marney Collection preview catalogue Friday 3 October 10.30am Saleroom 2

www.twgaze.co.uk

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