Would you like to buy something from me?
How much is this appliance worth?
Can you tell me anything about this appliance?
How should I go about selling this appliance?
Should I plug it in to see if it works?

Would you like to buy something from me?
Thank you if you're offering, but I have very little space left now! There are certain Hoover vacuum cleaners that i'm looking for, which you can find on the Hoovers wanted page, but apart from those, I'm afraid that I have to decline any offers.

How much is this appliance worth?
In all likelihood, probably not very much. some electrical equipment can be very valuable, most notably some electric fires, radio sets and televisions, but the vast majority of vintage electrical equipment has little value. There are collectors out there, but not very many. Sometimes items can go for remarkably high prices, particularly on auction websites, but this tends to be the exception rather than the rule.

Can you tell me anything about this appliance?
Most of what I know you'll find on this website. so if it isn't on here, I doubt that I'll be able to help. But if you are selling it, don't worry! Potential bidders will almost certainly either not be bothered about the details, or they may already know about it.

How should I go about selling this appliance?
Although you could car boot it, or put a small ad in your local paper, it would almost certainly be more effective to join the online auction website Ebay. This site is heavily used by collectors, and gives you the biggest possible arena to sell what you have - you could advertise it worldwide if you wanted!

If you do decide to sell on Ebay, there are certain things that you can do to maximise your chances of selling something. Firstly make sure your description gives buyers as much infomation as possible. I have seen many auctions on Ebay where the description goes something like this:

"Vintage vacuum cleaner for sale, good condition"

Also, unless the item is very large (like a washing machine or fridge), be willing to post it. If potential bidders are hundreds of miles away, they will rarely be keen to travel long distances to collect something. If you are willing to post it, weight the item at home (use your kitchen or bathroom scales) and check postage costs on the Royal Mail website. Again, bidders will avoid an auction where postage costs are unspecified or too high. Finally, don't make the starting price of the item too high! a starting price of between a penny and ten pounds is a good guide - remember, as people bid against each other, the price your item sells for could go far higher than your starting price.

Should I plug it in to see if it works?
NO! Old electrical equipment can be absolutely lethal, and should be treated with great respect. There are two main ways in which something can be dangerous. These are:

The design of the appliance
Nowadays, most electrical equipment is designed to be as safe and foolproof as is possible. This was not the case in the past, and even an item in pristene condition can be dangerous. The main issue tends to be the earthing and electrical insulation of the appliance. This is particularly the case with items that come into contact with water. The most extreme example is perhaps a design of electric kettle produced until the 1950s, which rendered the water inside LIVE when the appliance was plugged in. But there are other issues, like the absence of earthing on an item made from metal, or something like the conductor rods on the HMV Ely electric fire. A solid bar carries the electrical current from the mains to the heating element of the fire. There is nothing to isolate the rods from the metal body of the fire, and they are only milimetres apart. If they were only slightly bent, they could make contact with the body of the appliance, rendering it live, and deadly.

deterioration of the appliance Everything deteriorates in condition eventually, and electrical equipment is no exception. The insulation of live parts is once again the main problem, and this can affect equipment of any age. Although it is possible for even the oldest electrical appliance to still have intact insulation, THIS SHOULD NEVER BE ASSUMED . The plastic or rubber insulation on the wiring can rot and perish. This is particularly dangerous on the flex of the appliance, which can be bent or kinked, exposing live wires or causing short-circuiting. The external condition of the flex can also be misleading - it can look fine on the outside, whereas the internal insulation can be literally crumbling to powder. If you are in the slightest doubt, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPERATE THE APPLIANCE. Collectors tend to know how to check an item thoroughly, and how to ensure that it is as safe as possible.