OK, we've all seen the unfortunate piles of once noble scrap metal being advertised as extremely rare, prized items and the 'steampunk' monstrosities made from once venerable examples of our industrial heritage. There is one such item on eBay right now that deserves to be put out of its misery quite frankly... so my question is, what about a specific forum for all this stuff and not just eBay but all the various auction and 'for-sale' sites? If it was members only would that help or are there legal rules that prevent us from highlighting the sad, butchered and over-priced offerings that find their way onto these sites. 'Auction Atrocities' anyone? I see them so regularly and would love to share them with everyone so we could have a laugh! Just a thought.
Oh, and why are there seemingly more lantern examples than stoves? I very seldom see stove monstrosities, why do these idiots love to pick on lanterns so much!
Maybe stoves are a little more ackward to deal with than a lantern... After all, you can carry around a lighted lantern easier than a stove.
Apparently not, at least not while an eBay auction is still live (against this forum's rules) which I understand as it could potentially affect the outcome of a sale, it's just that I see hilarious nonsense sometimes that I'd love to share. I can't of course, it's just a shame!
But you can! It's just to wait until the auction has finished. Then you can post it. No problems at all.
@ColinG Still worth sharing, when the auction has finished. Do a completed listings search and share away. Not too sure if that Vapalux/X246B table lamp/ hybrid thing you shared a few weeks back ever sold - It was only 5 miles over the fields from me!
Well this is the problem of course - the best (i.e. worst / most risible) examples of the bodger's 'art' are so hideous that even the most docile/blind/half-witted steampunkist won't buy them so they end up being relisted endlessly. I've stopped following the eBay lamp listings now but, for example, there's this Tilley lantern over in the US where someone has drilled into the hood and then fitted some sort of vertical tube with two bayonet light-bulb fittings at the top - beautiful, and all yours for around £200 IIRC. I can't find it now so perhaps some idiot's already bought it or the seller's finally realised it's total junk and it's been consigned to the bin where it truly belongs... My sincere apologies if my opinions have a direct impact on anyone here - probably not, but if so, you should have known better!
Sorry but they make me cringe. If some of these idiots did their research they would realise that they would probably make more money selling the "product" in its orginal naked form...but heigh ho lets put a wire through it, stick a bulb on it and call it "steampunk"....
