TV Collector's Estate

[StellarTV]

I just recently learned that a local Sacramento TV collector, Ernest Vann, has passed away. I met him when he picked up a Spartan mirror-in-lid set which he purchased on ebay that I was selling for somebody else.

I delivered the set to his house. He was infirm at this time, barely mobile, and only communicated via email. The entire 3 bedroom house was full floor to ceiling with 1940s and 1950s black and white TV sets; multiples of many such as GE locomotives and Pilot TV37s. There was barely room to walk in the entire house, with the living room only having enough room for a couch and a tiny walkway to it.

He commissioned me to restore a few TV sets; namely a 12" Zenith Porthole Tabletop and a blonde Stromberg Carlson TV12 (with a dumont chassis) saying "I want a few TV sets actually operating before I die."

Last I spoke to him he wanted me to come over and pick up another couple of TVs. Emails have gone unanswered and finally started bouncing. Looked up the obituary, looks like he died in November.

http://obituaries.advocate-news.com/...&pid=169113821

It alludes vaguely to a 'large collection' which the heirs intend to donate to an educational institution. Which one I wonder??

Just wanted to share this. I know there is a lot of good quality stuff in his collection and the family may not know what it all may be worth.

RIP Ernest Vann.

[Einar72]

Have you offered to help the usually clueless estate-sale people?

[Robb]

Originally Posted by Einar72

Have you offered to help the usually clueless estate-sale people?

...Borderline mentally disabled.

[zenith2134]

..one time I was at an estate sale which was being run by one of those 'estate sale organizations'. I managed to find a mint condition Admiral Solarcolor 18" in the upstairs room. The man told me"I should be paying you to take it outta here!", and then the second guy stepped in and said,75 dollars take it or leave it.
I left it.

[decojoe67]

More than once I went to one of those "digger" type estate sales where people bring flashlights and scour the house. I would find something cool, go to the people in charge, and be told "Oh wow! - where did you find that?!" and then proceed to put it aside saying it's not for sale! Glad I could help undercover it for them - not!

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

More than once I went to one of those "digger" type estate sales where people bring flashlights and scour the house. I would find something cool, go to the people in charge, and be told "Oh wow! - where did you find that?!" and then proceed to put it aside saying it's not for sale! Glad I could help undercover it for them - not!

Just like real estate developers, lead you on, get some free advice, then shut you out.

[StellarTV]

Originally Posted by Einar72

Have you offered to help the usually clueless estate-sale people?

Oh noooooo.... honestly I doubt if estate sale people would have any function there. All that's in the house are TV sets, a computer, kitchen table, couch, and kitchen stuff. Sounds like they're just donating the mass of it to some institution.

I would certainly not mind helping them with some advice but the sheer mass of everything in there is not something I want to deal with. Best I can do at this time is leave a note on the door.

[rld-tv01]

At an ETF convention about four years back I was talking with several members of radio and TV museums in Maryland and West Virginia. I mentioned that I had over a 100 TVs in my collection. They both said what are you going to do with them all when you die, we can only take about 3-5 sets at any giving time due to lack of storage and the tasks associated with finding appropriate place to display. It would be hard for any institution to take over any large collection. They would probably cherry pick 2-3 to keep but the best they could do with the rest is to help auction them off.

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by rld-tv01

At an ETF convention about four years back I was talking with several members of radio and TV museums in Maryland and West Virginia. I mentioned that I had over a 100 TVs in my collection. They both said what are you going to do with them all when you die, we can only take about 3-5 sets at any giving time due to lack of storage and the tasks associated with finding appropriate place to display. It would be hard for any institution to take over any large collection. They would probably cherry pick 2-3 to keep but the best they could do with the rest is to help auction them off.

They could probably put the majority in temporary rented storage and sell them off with the proceeds going to the museum.

.

[robert1]

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

They could probably put the majority in temporary rented storage and sell them off with the proceeds going to the museum.

.

That would be a great idea. that way, people like me, who live in areas where no vintage TVs can be found, can be able to purchase one.

[Tom Albrecht]

Justin,

If you hear anything further about a possible sale of the collection, let me know. Sounds like it would be well worth checking it out!

[bars&tone]

The educational institution would probably just sell them in some type of fund raising effort. It could be anything from a kind of yard sale to an on-campus auction or consigning to an auction house.