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Cliff's Column
.........................Posting No. 86.......December 2009
Dear Friends, worldwide,
The months pass all too quickly and I have pleasure
in sending you my new half-yearly list of all available stock. All previous lists
are rendered out of date.
This is a 'Consolidation' list, as it brings
together all available stock, comprising that which is left over from the
previous list (published June 2009) and the several supplements which I
issued between July and November 2009.
I am not actively seeking new stock but will acquire whatever comes my
way. Although trying to wind-down my
activities I will keep a 'toe-in-the water' with an occasional list.
Many interesting items have been acquired and sold
'between lists'.
I also refer my 0-gauge customers to the list of
available spare parts, This small
secondary business is responsible for taking up much of my time over the past
five years.
General Observations
I now attend toyfairs only occasionally, as a result
of increased motoring costs and the diminishing returns. Problems with my
eyesight also deter me from travelling un-necessarily (although I remain
quite 'legal' to drive!) .
Within these pages...
A nice small collection of Hornby 0-gauge was
acquired over the last few months - sadly (or fortunately!) good quality
stock does not remain available for very long. Many customers now turn to more modern
products for their 0-gauge requirements (ACE, Corgi, Darstead etc.)
By contrast several good items of Dublo were
acquired in the interim period, again,
much of it has been 'snapped up' before it could be published on this list.
o new Tri-ang 'Minic' vehicles have come my way, but
as consolation I have three excellent boxed sets of slot-cars - one superb Scalextric
digital set and two very nice \Minic Motorway' sets
The Catalogues & Literature page will be updated early in the new
year
Hints and tips
An early response is recommended if any item is of
interest, but you may still find an
item has been sold or reserved prior to your call or letter.
As customers can view the contents of this website
throughout the 24-hour day I can receive orders soon after their
appearance.
Get-togethers
The HRCA Thames Valley Group now regularly attracts 80
or more guests each month. Meetings are held on the 2nd. Wednesday of each
month. I do not personally attend
regularly. I also organise occasional
meetings on an ad-hoc basis purely for celebrating the Hornby system. These
will be listed as 'Binns Road meets'.
My own 'Reading Vintage' toyfair continues to
be perhaps THE BEST for vintage toys only. The next event will be our 38th. and will
be held on Sunday 21st. February 2010, with the usual number of over
150 trading tables and many exhibitions already booked. This time we will wekcome back Dave Peasant
from Leicester with his excellent Hornby 0-gauge layout. The usual contingent
of Hornby Dublo, Meccano, Bayko and
slot-car exhibitors are also booked.
. The event is held at
Reading's Rivermead Centre which has good facilities and is about 1 mile from
the railway station. (taxis available, or buses most of the way)
The Big issue.....
Events under the 'Big Southern' masthead continue,
with an evening toyfair at Petersfield (Hants).four times per year and a
special ’trains-only’ event each December in Fleet, Hants (see
Toyfair dates page).
Keeping in touch
I plan to update the web pages at half-yearly
intervals and anything acquired in the intervening months will appear on the
'Latest Stock' page. Please contact me at any time if you wish
to dispose of items, or if I can help you in your search.
Are you signed up?
I recommend membership of the following
associations/societies to those of appropriate persuasion:
- The Hornby
Railway Collectors' Association
(HRCA).
- The
Bassett-Lowke Society (BLS)
- The Train
Collectors Society (TCS)
(for
any make of toy and model train).
- The Bowman
Circle
- The Bayko Collectors' Club
If you would like details of membership please ask
me for a form or the name of the appropriate contact.
Minimum order value
Because of the time involved in packing parcels, I
am obliged to adopt a minimum mail-order value of £10
Please.....
allow
time for me to deal with your orders. I
employ no staff and can deal with one thing at one time only!
I try to despatch parcels within a few days of
receipt of order/payment, but please allow up to 21 days before making a
follow-up enquiry. Each premature enquiry tends to slow up the whole process!
The small print.........
The placing of an order against this list indicates
your agreement with the Terms and Conditions of Sale. If you wish to consult them, a copy will be provided on request. Please make sure that you read and
understand them from time to time.
and finally (before turning the page)
I look forward to hearing from you in response to
these web postings and I hope I may meet many of you over the next few
months.
The main pages will hopefully be updated in
mid-2010, with interim updates via the 'Latest Stock' page.
With every good wish
for the forthcoming year
 Cliff
Maddock
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