Microphones and Microscopes

Tennants Auctioneers once again proved the popularity of their specialist collectors’ auctions with the Scientific and Musical Instruments, Cameras and Tools Sale on 30^th September, which saw outstanding results and strong bidding across the board and a 96% sold rate.

Collectors from around the world were drawn by an interesting selection of niche lots from microphones to microscopes. The top lot of the sale, however, was a rare Victorian Jefferies Concertina that sold for £4,000 (plus buyer’s premium) against an estimate of £600-800. This was one of the earliest concertina’s seen at Tennants, and Charles Jefferies is regarded as one of the finest makers.

Two Condenser Microphones made in the mid-1970s by Neumann, one of the best makers, were also much in demand. The recording-quality studio microphones comprised a U47, which sold for £1,900 and a U87, which sold for £1,700.

A good violin bow by Gand and Bernardel Fres helped propel bidding on a lot comprising violin and two bows well above estimate to sell for £2,600, and two Gibson guitars sold strongly too. A Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar sold for £2,400, and a 2017 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Electric Guitar sold for £1,150.

The Scientific section of the sale saw a good, early travelling microscope by Dollond of London sell for £3,400, over ten times the bottom estimate. The microscope was unusually complete and still in working condition. Despite its rather damaged condition, a white glazed Leech Jar drew interest, selling for £850 against an estimate of £60-80.

The sale resulted in a total hammer price of £60,840 with a 96% sold rate for the 224 lots.

View Sale Results