Confessions of a first time auto jumbler trader.
By Chris Coote 

(first published in the Magnetozine July/August 2019

        
I have attended numerous auto jumbles in the past, but never as a trader.  This time I was persuaded by my good friend Dave to have a clear-out of my garage and cellar as he wanted to share a stand at Buckfast with his garage clearance.  Dave and I have restored a couple of pre-war Daimlers and worked on my vintage Vauxhall 14/40 since I moved to Brixham nearly 20 years ago and we always seem to be tinkering with something workshop wise, mostly in my place! 
So to auto jumbles.  First of all read the instructions!  We got the times mixed up between 2 events so arrived at Buckfast about 9:00 expecting to have an hour to setup etc.  We got to the main traders entrance gate just before the public were let in.  The last place available to setup and park my van was against the hedge immediately by the public entrance gate between the jumble and main extension car parking area.  Thus the first stall the public came to was ours.   
We hardly had time to open the van doors before we were surrounded by buyers (mostly other auto jumble traders it has to be said).  However we managed to get tables up in between selling odd lamps etc. and so started the day.  
Lots of interest in garage equipment like wheel dollies and Dave’s pre-war headlight and electrical bits.  I was pleased to sell some Imp bits to a young couple in the middle of a restoration project, great to see that there are some 30 year olds out there who appreciate 60’s classics.  My Ford pre crossflow manifold and Weber carb went quickly but no one wanted any of my workshop manuals except a late sale to a man restoring an ex USA import MG TD, for which I had a genuine but tattered MG full manual. 
Expensive items like my steering wheels (pre-war Bluemels Brooklands and much later Momo Racing Line) had lots of interest shown, but not at the prices I thought reasonable.  Late in the day the half price 20/50 oil sold and I was pleased to pass on a selection of Austin Heavy 12/4 parts to a certain dark haired DVCC member.  Electrical power tools and silly low prices (£5 each) sold well and I managed to pass on a wide trailer board that has been taking up loads of space in the cellar. 
Shame about the showery weather, good job we took some waterproof sheets to cover up our wares with.  When the heavy rain arrived most stall holders started to pack up, obviously the first couple of hours trading are the best.  We followed suit and left shortly after 14:00 and rather damp to say the least.  Still it was a very interesting and profitable experience to be on the other side of the trading tables and I still have some stuff to shift so will probably have another go if DVCC organise another hopefully drier event.    Next time I will read the entry instructions more carefully and thanks to Chris Bowden all the DVCC characters who marshalled and organised the event.  One trader who came to see us towards the end remarked that it was good to see so much genuine old auto jumble being offered rather than the current trend for semi-professional stalls selling only new “Chinese” stock.
Chris Coote