Lancaster control wheel on eBay

Hello Guys.
It is an interesting item but I can’t comment on the price as I have never dealt in Control wheels…. I wonder how much difference they would be between this original one and having new build ones made from an original example??

Guzziniel with regards to the rash comment on Lancs lasting better in Oz then maybe I was a bit quick with that one and I appologise whole heartedly…
John.

no worries, I should’ve added more smilies as my post was very much tongue in cheek (and an excuse to post a couple of Lanc pictures! 😀 )

Neil

Hi Cees,
I’m afraid this one’s behind alarmed glass. (I tried…) at the Australian War Memorial. Caption says it all really.
Cheers

(PS for the potential posters who post-before-thinking, we know it’s a HALIFAX wheel)

International Lancs…

No-one is in a position to get nationalistic over Lancaster preservation, I’d say.

Canada built them too and is responsible for the majority of survivors.

The BBMF Lancaster survived, in part, due to a mapping requirement in Africa, after being allocated to attack Japan.

The BBMF Lanc’s upper turret came from Argentina.

The AWM’s iconic G-for-George in Canberra is a proud Australian possession, but much credit goes to the builders in the UK.

The French have been responsible for helping several survive, including their own example under restoration at Le Bourget.

The IWM Lancaster at Duxford is a Canadian machine.

The IWM Lambeth nose section was from an RAAF Squadron.

Without a multi-national team, ‘Spirit of Surfer’s Paradise’, NX611, G-ASXX would never have returned to the UK from Australia. Without the Panton’s it wouldn’t be the star ‘Just Jane’ that she is now.

And hats off the 44 Sqn, the BBMF (and the MOD) as well as the CWH for putting them where they belong.

I thought I’d seen annd photographed most of the world’s surviving Lancs until I tried to ‘tick-off’ the remaining Canadian survivors I hadn’t seen – Oops! How many?

Without friends (and some enemies) we’d all be the poorer.

* * * * *

As for e-bay, aircraft bits can be (to others than us) categorised as (specialist interest) junk. Without the buyers out there, the vast majority of whom are not rebuilders but collectors, none of this would have anything but sentimental value. Stuff being kept and then offered for sale is a factor of rarity and thus financial value – thus there are no ‘bargains’ on e-bay, as it’s the proverbial level playing field, but it does help stuff move about.

If you want bargains, you’ve got to be lucky and looking elsewhere that e-bay. Otherwise pay (current) market value on e-bay.

However, Cees, if I saw a Halifax throttle box I’d PM you first, as I know you can offer it a good home… 😀

Thanks James, 🙂

I know my first reply is too harsh and I apologize to LancasterKB882 for being such an ass. Reason for this is that other sources are drying up and e-bay is the main possibility to obtain hard to find items for projects. In this way we have to compete agains people who see these items jast as collectors items and not as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to be later called a cockpit or otherwise. But that’s life so I will have to accept it don’t I. Also having deep pockes or not (the latter in my case) tends to make a difference. But the persistent ones will always win in the end, so I keep telling me :p

Cheers

Cees

ALL,

it seems this forum is developing the cyber version of a “group hug” smiles, I am glad

so back onto topic –

what IS? a fair price for the Lancaster/Lincoln wheel if it was “privately” trading between collectors here?

Does the price vary if its a Lincoln wheel rather than a Lancaster wheel?

My views for what they are worth?

PRICE – The control wheel is an icon part of the aircraft fro a collector point of view, similar to, and eslier to display that the instrument panel, but not as complex in parts etc, therefore I personally view the current price of @$1k aust (or @ 500UKPd) is more than reasonable compared to recent instrument panel sales on ebay or in aviation magazines. Obviously if it is a major “hole” in your collection, or you are rebuilding a cockpit display the wheel can reflect the depth of your pocket.

LANCASTER/LINCOLN – I like to establish the provendance of parts I collect, the same part number would mean I would class it as “Lancaster” wheel regardless of its likely use in the post war aircraft, however were the wheels “similar” but not “identical” I feel the post war aircraft would yield a much lower price as might a Shackleton Control Wheel? I think the world war two aircraft collectables will always hold a price premium over post war military or civil parts ,and ebay is only going to make the price of these parts skyrocket in the future because of the growing number of people interested in collecting these items, and their disposable incomes.

regards

Mark Pilkington

International Lancs…

No-one is in a position to get nationalistic over Lancaster preservation, I’d say.

Canada built them too and is responsible for the majority of survivors.

The BBMF Lancaster survived, in part, due to a mapping requirement in Africa, after being allocated to attack Japan.

The BBMF Lanc’s upper turret came from Argentina.

The AWM’s iconic G-for-George in Canberra is a proud Australian possession, but much credit goes to the builders in the UK.

The French have been responsible for helping several survive, including their own example under restoration at Le Bourget.

The IWM Lancaster at Duxford is a Canadian machine.

The IWM Lambeth nose section was from an RAAF Squadron.

Without a multi-national team, ‘Spirit of Surfer’s Paradise’, NX611, G-ASXX would never have returned to the UK from Australia. Without the Panton’s it wouldn’t be the star ‘Just Jane’ that she is now.

And hats off the 44 Sqn, the BBMF (and the MOD) as well as the CWH for putting them where they belong.

I thought I’d seen annd photographed most of the world’s surviving Lancs until I tried to ‘tick-off’ the remaining Canadian survivors I hadn’t seen – Oops! How many?

Without friends (and some enemies) we’d all be the poorer.

* * * * *

As for e-bay, aircraft bits can be (to others than us) categorised as (specialist interest) junk. Without the buyers out there, the vast majority of whom are not rebuilders but collectors, none of this would have anything but sentimental value. Stuff being kept and then offered for sale is a factor of rarity and thus financial value – thus there are no ‘bargains’ on e-bay, as it’s the proverbial level playing field, but it does help stuff move about.

If you want bargains, you’ve got to be lucky and looking elsewhere that e-bay. Otherwise pay (current) market value on e-bay.

However, Cees, if I saw a Halifax throttle box I’d PM you first, as I know you can offer it a good home… 😀

Oh dear!!! 😉

I started out in my original statement with “Hoping not to put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons” and it seems I have done just that!!!.

Let me clear up a few points……….Mr Pilkington, I said that I bow to your superior knowledge as a mark of respect!!, I am a young pup and still learning so when someone in the know points me in the right direction then I thank them, Your comments were taken as humourous and educative and nothing more.

To Fluffy and Guzziniel with regards to the rash comment on Lancs lasting better in Oz then maybe I was a bit quick with that one and I appologise whole heartedly, I have travelled to a large amount of museums in the UK and seen some airframes that have succumed to poor British weather and my initial thought was that an airframe in Australia would stand a better chance of longevity if stored outside.

I have nothing but swelling pride for all the great Lancasters that are preserved and understand that there is a very big preservation movement for these magnificent lady’s, Everytime I visit these gracefull creatures a donation is allways made and I hope very much one day to take my two young daughters to see ‘Just Jane’ on full song.

So to finish this off, Please, My comments were uneducated and meant no harm so have a little consideration when educating us ‘young-uns’, After all we must nurse the seeds of future preservation enthusiasts.

Regards to all,

John.

Guzineil,

Actually “Janie” is one of the four Lancasters I referred to as having been in Australia, and one of the three still surviving, (so the wheel isn’ from her) the other two are still in Australia, “G for George” and “Janies” sister the former French mark VII at the Bullcreek Museum in WA NX622 “D for Dog” and are largely intact as well.

(“Q for Queenie” brought out for war bonds and scrapped late in the war is the only local source of wheels),

We “downunder” would be more than happy to provide a safe home for any of the Lancs in the UK, (and have been trying to do so for the mortal remains of ex-sandtoft KB976/944) but I would agree the rest in “blighty” are well cared for and ensured a long life where they are.

regards

Mark P

Mark
Hopefully there condition may last better than in good old blighty!!.

these 2 seem to be ‘lasting’ alright… :rolleyes:

Neil

Fluffy,

I agree that it unlikely anyone could confirm it either way, my point was it is most likely from a Lincoln, and if it was advertised that way the opening bids and interest would be lower.

My comment about the number of lancs that have been in Australia as possible sources of this wheel was primarily to support the view this wheel is from an Australian Lincoln.

regards

Mark P

Just a quick point, how will anyone know if its from a Lanc,Lincoln & York especially as the part numbers are the same.

QUOTE “Hopefully there condition may last better than in good old blighty!!.”

John how can 3 static Lancs in Oz be better when we have a Lanc in flying condition, one that eng runs and taxis and 2 in museums although having been in S for Sugar she could do with some tlc.

John,

Im sorry if my comment was in any way taken as “being superior” it wasnt intended to cause any offence?

reference to your comment was only intended to be a “humourous”? way to introduce the fact that it may well not be a Lancaster wheel in any case and so that the concern raised in the thread of “missing” out on a rare item, or being concerned about its price might change if it was indeed found to be a Lincoln wheel rather than a Lancaster Wheel, (as the Lincoln as a “type” is valued less than the Lancaster.)

It could well be a rare souvenir Lancaster wheel brought back from Bomber Command service by on of the many Australian’s who served, but there is a lot of Lincoln parts remaining in Australia from the local production.

regards

Mark Pilkington

Hmmm…I would assume that Lincoln is more likely, but I guess that Lanc is possible too.

Mark

I bow to your superior knowledge on Lancasters, I had no Idea that four had made it to Oz and better still that three survive, Hopefully there condition may last better than in good old blighty!!.

So all in all it is not a bad thing that the control wheel was brought up in this forum as I have learnt something today!!!.

Regards,

John.

I think advice of such auctions on ebay here in the forum provides two benefits, it alerts forum members to the opportunity to purchase, and it allows everyone to see the current market value of such collectables.

As many have said above – these items are being more sought after and the “demand” will justify such prices, unfortunately that may put them out of man peoples reach, but thats at least demonstrating these items are of “value”.

the only comment I would make would be in reference to John’s view

I think it would be nice to see it come home though,

is that I think the item is already “home” as with only four Lancasters ever making it to Australia, and three of them still existing, this control wheel is far more likely to be from a post war RAAF Lincoln, not that there is any significant difference between the two.

regards

Mark Pilkington

Something is worth only what a person is prepared to pay for it.

Decide how much *you* think it is worth, put that as your maximum bid (don’t forget the postage!) and leave it as that.

DS

Hoping not to put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons!, I think that it is a usefull tool to have people raise awareness of items for sale in a forum like this.

An item like the Lancaster control wheel will only ever come up for sale once in maybe 10-15 years so when it does then there will be a global interest, I think it would be nice to see it come home though, As for the starting price at the moment it is £470 at the current exchange rate.

Not bad I think considering a genuine Spitfire control grip (minus brake lever) has just sold on E-bay for £570, I am far from a leading authority on valuation of such rare items and sometimes feel that buyng on E-bay can be a dangerous game, On several occasions I have succumbed to the ‘last minute fever’ and probably paid too much!!.

John.

Ebay auctions V.S. keeping it to ourselves…

Cees, when does it become “common” knowedge that these items are offered for sale V.S. should we keep them to ourselves? It’s a global village after all.

I cannot speak for any other forum user but this eBay item was emailed to me a few hours after I found it myself as an FYI situation.

I just thought that the starting price was quite high. In addition to my aviation passion I have other things that I find myself spending spare (or not so spare) money on. Aside from my ex-wife that is!

I collect things relating to but not inclusive of:

Global Breweries, Francis-Barnett motorcycles, Early settlers to my locality, Mk. X. Avro Lancasters, RCAF Bomber and Fighter Command, Art Deco – everything, Victorian furniture, bone china, vintage toys…and the list goes on and on and on.

Although I have many international contacts for these things, I feel that outside information allows me to make decisions regarding my purchases. Should we exclude this forum as a possible source of info? I don’t know, perhaps you are right that eBay related auctions shuold be censored…but that’s an ugly word isn’t it?

Just my thoughts.

Cheers,
Troy

A bit high on the starting price maybe?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6610102359&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Why do I have different feelings when I see e-bay auctions reported on this forum?

Suppose I was after a Lancaster control wheel and one finally turned up on e-bay, but I wasn’t hoping to put a second mortgage on my house. Now I would have to apply for that second mortgage.

I suppose people are queing now to bid for it.

“Heavy sigh” :confused:

If a Halifax throttle box turns up, don’t shout and send a PM please :rolleyes:

Cheers

Cees