Production Made Staff of Ra Headpiece. Got it in hand PICS PAGE 7
- Thread starter Jedifyfe
- Start date
Qui-Gonzalez
Master Member
Riskbreaker
Sr Member
I'd say this pretty much rules out any thought that is is anything but something they've recast dozens of time.
allosaur176
Sr Member
hmmm, Thats interesting
Definitely takes the wind our of your sails a bit -BUT- if you are happy with the piece and happy with the price you paid for it, then you should have no problems.
Just be glad you didn't pay 60K
-Gary
Just be glad you didn't pay 60K
-Gary
That is interesting. Actually I sent my headpiece to Jason DeBord and he is putting together an article about the Harrisons and this prop.
I am not upset at all as I still think this piece is well worth the $450 I paid. It has the best detail that I have ever seen.
I wasn't planning on retiring from selling this prop, so nothing to loose.
I think I will contact the "Harrison's" and have aword or two about what they told me. Thanks for the heads-up BBDV!
Brad
I am not upset at all as I still think this piece is well worth the $450 I paid. It has the best detail that I have ever seen.
I wasn't planning on retiring from selling this prop, so nothing to loose.
I think I will contact the "Harrison's" and have aword or two about what they told me. Thanks for the heads-up BBDV!
Brad
Darth Niob
Sr Member
I still think its the best headpiece to date but after that auction i'm pretty sure its one of many recasts they made of something production made. Curious they stopped the auction but maybe they had a look on the RPF:rolleyes
I agree. I e-mailed "Paul Harrison" to see WTF is going on, though I put it in nicer terms to get a response.
Who knows but I feel bad for the honest buyers who paid 60K for this thing even the collectors that paid the $2500+.
I may just have to cast this thing in Bronze!!
Brad
Darth Niob
Sr Member
Casting is a good idea:love
I'll admit... I snagged it. :confused Not because of the auction claims to being old production made, but because I will happily take the closest thing to the original I have seen for that price. Knowing I have paid almost as much for the Magnoli and Redfour versions.
I can definately appreciate everyones warnings, their issues and opinions on Elstree and the Harrisons apparent past. I am ok with that and made an informed decision fully aware. I think like Brad said... there were never any illusions of retirement on this piece... he would be happy regardless of the outcome. It's not like I plan on taking it to Christies tomorrow... this one is for me.
As for calling foul on the latest auction... He does leave himself an obvious out... "the sculptor made more than one as is usual with film props." "I think this is the last one as my grandfather went back to the sculptor after the last ones we sold on eBay, I know someone else asked for it, but can't remember which ebay id, sorry."
Nice LM!
Here is my email to Paul Harrison:
Re: Headpiece to the Staff of Ra
From: norank
Sent: Tue 7/14/09 2:23 PM
To: Brad Fyfe (jedifyfe@hotmail.com)
Hi brad, that's the last one sadly. I think there's one at the heritage museum still. I wish I could make them but I'd need a 10 ton press and a furnace to melt the pewter, plus the molds and the expertise I can't even make an airfix model, so its beyond me.
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From: Brad Fyfe
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:44:56 -0700
To: norank
Subject: Headpiece to the Staff of Ra
I saw your auction for the headpiece you put up for sale that is identical to mine. How many more of these do you have or are you still making these for the old mould? I would love some clarification. Thanks
Brad
Here is my email to Paul Harrison:
Re: Headpiece to the Staff of Ra
From: norank
Sent: Tue 7/14/09 2:23 PM
To: Brad Fyfe (jedifyfe@hotmail.com)
Hi brad, that's the last one sadly. I think there's one at the heritage museum still. I wish I could make them but I'd need a 10 ton press and a furnace to melt the pewter, plus the molds and the expertise
I can't even make an airfix model, so its beyond me.------------------
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From: Brad Fyfe
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:44:56 -0700
To: norank
Subject: Headpiece to the Staff of Ra
I saw your auction for the headpiece you put up for sale that is identical to mine. How many more of these do you have or are you still making these for the old mould? I would love some clarification. Thanks
Brad
I think its a great snag for both of you. Its clearly from the same source as the original (either original mold or new mold based on an original piece). Whether they were poured in 1985, 95, or last week, that is still pretty cool.
Brad, keep me in mind when you pour these bad boys...
Brad, keep me in mind when you pour these bad boys...
belloq
Sr Member
Norank's response is nebulous at best. I would be very surprised if the real story is that a bunch of these castings were just stored up somewhere waiting to be found and sold. They look newly cast and plated with no shelf wear. At least one of the Harrisons knows who the source is and it appears that a few are still being produced each year. We can assume that because several very similar headpieces have come up in various auctions/collections in recent years. And those are only the collectors who chose to share photos. There are likely several others who own the same casting.
In any case, it's an excellent casting and you should be proud to have it in your collection. Of course, I too would be interested in acquiring one either from that original Elstree maker, or derived from one of those castings.
In any case, it's an excellent casting and you should be proud to have it in your collection. Of course, I too would be interested in acquiring one either from that original Elstree maker, or derived from one of those castings.
Thanks sir... and congrats to you as well! :thumbsup
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This entire thread should be mandatory reading for people who are considering getting into this hobby. From the beginning, I've thought this whole deal was a little fishy. But Jedifyfe has a very good, down-to-earth attitude about the whole thing. He paid what he felt was a fair price for a well crafted piece, and ultimately, that should be the goal of any of these transactions.
Having seen this happen many times in the past, I am always wary of these "fell off the back of the prop truck" deals unless I know/have worked with the people personally. (Call me cynical or jaded.) Based on what I've read here, I do believe he was taken advantage of. Though ultimately, since he is satisfied, who am I to pass judgment - wait a minute, I'm a collector, too. And I don't like being scammed. So I guess I'm just going to be a little more leery or these "really good opportunities" when they come up.........
So, good for Jedifyfe, but bad for the guys who tried to scam the rest of us..........
Gene
Having seen this happen many times in the past, I am always wary of these "fell off the back of the prop truck" deals unless I know/have worked with the people personally. (Call me cynical or jaded.) Based on what I've read here, I do believe he was taken advantage of. Though ultimately, since he is satisfied, who am I to pass judgment - wait a minute, I'm a collector, too. And I don't like being scammed. So I guess I'm just going to be a little more leery or these "really good opportunities" when they come up.........
So, good for Jedifyfe, but bad for the guys who tried to scam the rest of us..........
Gene
The statement saying he needs a 10 ton press for pewter casting is a dead giveaway that he has no idea what he is talking about.
Pewter is either spin cast or gravity cast, no press is involved.
Pewter is either spin cast or gravity cast, no press is involved.
Thanks Gene,
I think you area bout 99.9% correct. However I believe it is all about how informed a buyer is about a particular prop.
I knew that the best fan sculpted HeadPieces sell for $300-$450 (Magnoli, Redfour, Acme Magico). Through my investigation I was highly certain that this HP has lineage to a screen used HP (Imans House version). So knowing that and only paying $450, I felt that in the worst case scenario I was buying a prop that had value at the price I was paying.
Let's use another prop as an example;
If you came across a seller that has selling a real Sterling with all the correct attachments that was claiming to be production used (maybe used as a back-up) and came with a COA from a person that worked on the production and was selling it for $500 (the same price as an MR blaster), would you buy it? Would you say "no thanks"?
The worst thing you would have is a really nice prop that came from the hands of a person who worked on the film. Not bad.
The only person who would hate this is a collector that ONLY collects true production used props. Right?
I don't feel taken advantage of at all. I think I got a great deal seeing that I paid the lowest price ever for one of these. Also I never believed 100% what the seller was shoveling.
Anyone buying a supposed production made or screen used prop for pennies on the dollar and believes whole-hearted that they are getting the real deal is living in dreamland. BUYER BEWARE!!!
I have already talked with a member here that can cast these in bronze for a VERY limited run. Can we say a possible interest list?...
Brad
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