I am new to the forum. I confess I joined with the specific purpose of try to find the best way to sell off my fire alarm collection. I have been forced to severely downsize my life and must part with 20+ years of fire alarm related stuff. I have, what I consider I diverse collection that I have come across in my time in the fire protection field. I would be grateful for suggestions how to present or list it and where to reach fire aalrm interested folks. I didnt see a classified section in this forum. I am not sure if it would be easier to try an let it go as a “lot” versus a piecemeal.
Getting it sold sooner is a priority. I am under a bit of pressure.
Its too bad to hear that you have to part with your collection after collecting for so long. Clearly you had a passion for it. I dread the day I would ever have to part with my alarm collection, which I have only maintained for half as long as yourself.
As mentioned by the previous poster, ebay and the flea market section on this forum would likely be your best bet, although the flea market section and the members here may benefit you better than ebay, as ebay will damand a percentage for their services and well…a lot of the people that would likely be bidding are right here anyways.
I hope I’m not being too intrusive or oportunistic, but might I ask what types of alarms you are looking to sell? I have been collecting for 10 years and work in the fire sprinkler industry and there are some older models of notification devices I have been desiring for years. I have some pics of the alarms I’m searching for, but here is a brief description of them:
-Standard Electric Time Co. horn-light. chrome finish plate with flush horn on the bottom, and a white light above with red “fire” lettering.
-Standard / Johnson Controls speaker-light. Similar to the above mentioned Standard, but with red plate and speaker that resembles a Wheelock vandal-resistant.
-Atlas Sound speaker strobe. Resembles a Space Age AV32. It has a speaker on the bottom portion, and a clear strobe above. I believe the model is SAV-3-60.
-Edwards horn-light. A large horn-light assembly with an Edwards horn and red “corridor lamp” mounted side by side on a flat red plate attached to the front of a rectangular back box.
I would be very greatful to own such devices in my collection and I would be interrested in learning about what devices you are seeking a new home for.
In this world, if this conversation was happening outside TFP and Firefly and NewAge did not know each other, it would usually stand on to who has more money to spend.
While there is some truth to that statement, I didn’t intend for it to turn into a money spending contest. I didn’t want to rush in screaming “me-me-me-me” and step on anyone’s toes. My main reason for mentioning the alarms I’m looking for is because some of them hold sentimental value to me and it has been very frustrating for me to find them. The Standards and the Edwards horn-light bring back memories from systems I grew up with in school, so its kind of a bummer to have them be one of the alarms I haven’t been able to locate.
I don’t intend to cut in front of Andrew and screw him out of something, regardless of who spoke up first. I’ll just see what the OP has planned for his collection and take it from there. After all, he’s parting with a collection he’s put together for 2 decades. I wouldn’t feel right acting like a vulture.
It fells like this truly came out of your heart. Touching . Anyway, I totally know how you feel about locating those alarms. So lets hope he has more then one to benefit both of you two or none at all.
But who knows, he may not have any of them. I don’t know why it is so difficult to find them. They’re no more than 40 years old. Its like I’m asking for a relic off the Titanic though.
For The OP ubangy, A great way to sell your collection on the forums is to make a list of all the F/A equipment you would like to sell. Remember, any sale posts must be made in the flea market section on the forums, so you could make your list their. Also, have your paypal account ready for any transfers as you will be credited the price of an alarm as-well as shipping. Sellers tip, always make sure anyone who buys an idem specifies what they what (It could be via email or even a message sent from the forums) and always make sure they pay the proper amount (F/A device + Shipping). This method of selling is greatly preferred among the fire alarm community because we usually don’t like to go through the time straining hassle of eBay (Especially on a big collection). Its awful to see a collector sell their collection but hey, when life gets ahead of you, it gets difficult to keep up with many things. Good Luck!
Thanks for your input folks. Very Helpful. I have spent a couple of days taking pictures and making a PDF file of much of my more unique stuff. Its not complete. I will try the flea market section to see what comes of it. I would prefer to sell as a lot but if there is sufficient interest I may piece it out. I just dont want the process to linger. Much of these pieces have a story about where it came from. Some I cant remember. Some just appeared on my desk…picked up from a job site or old building by a co-worker who knew I like that stuff.
Thanks again for your advice. See you in the flea market
I’ve never had a fire alarm related dream in my life that I remember, but last night I had a dream this guy had a Standard horn-light and remote light and I bought them. Maybe it was a sign?
lol.
. Anyway, I totally know how you feel about locating those alarms. So lets hope he has more then one to benefit both of you two or none at all.
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