It used to be the collector's dream - charity shops where ill-informed staff sold first editions and rare records for pennies. But one lucky Oxfam shop's handling of a major donation shows how things have changed.
It used to be the collector's dream - charity shops where ill-informed staff sold first editions and rare records for pennies. But one lucky Oxfam shop's handling of a major donation shows how things have changed.
It was a quiet afternoon in the Oxfam Shop in Great Yarmouth in the autumn of 2005. Most days are quiet in Great Yarmouth out of season.
It was a quiet afternoon in the Oxfam Shop in Great Yarmouth in the autumn of 2005. Most days are quiet in Great Yarmouth out of season.
This day, however, was to prove a rare exception. In walked a man, in his 50s, with boxes containing between two and three hundred vinyl records. You don't get the fantastic bargains you used to at Oxfam - we've got much cleverer at spotting valuable things before the dealers get them Jenny NewtonOxfam
This day, however, was to prove a rare exception. In walked a man, in his 50s, with boxes containing between two and three hundred vinyl records. You don't get the fantastic bargains you used to at Oxfam - we've got much cleverer at spotting valuable things before the dealers get them Jenny NewtonOxfam
He explained that he had come up to Suffolk from London to clear the house of his brother who had lived locally but had just died. The man was too upset to go through his brother's record collection in detail and wanted Oxfam to take it off his hands. The shop duly obliged.
He explained that he had come up to Norfolk from London to clear the house of his brother who had lived locally but had just died. The man was too upset to go through his brother's record collection in detail and wanted Oxfam to take it off his hands. The shop duly obliged.
Normally, with such a large donation, charity shops like to write to the donor to thank them formally for their gift. However, the man in question wouldn't give his name.
Normally, with such a large donation, charity shops like to write to the donor to thank them formally for their gift. However, the man in question wouldn't give his name.
There was wild speculation - later established to be totally unfounded - that part of John Peel's vast record collection had begun seeping into the open market. He'd died the previous year and lived nearby.
There was wild speculation - later established to be totally unfounded - that part of John Peel's vast record collection had begun seeping into the open market. He'd died the previous year and lived nearby.
The records were mainly of '60s and '70s rock - The Who, Stones, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Medicine Head, The Moody Blues and so on. Many were in mint condition.
The records were mainly of '60s and '70s rock - The Who, Stones, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Medicine Head, The Moody Blues and so on. Many were in mint condition.
Rural backwater
Rural backwater
There is not much call for such fare in Yarmouth. It just so happened that a volunteer there, Jenny Newton, was about to take over as manager of the Oxfam shop in nearby Stowmarket.
There is not much call for such fare in Yarmouth. It just so happened that a volunteer there, Jenny Newton, was about to take over as manager of the Oxfam shop in nearby Stowmarket.
Stowmarket is a small, sleepy rural Suffolk backwater. Judging by comments on some of the websites devoted to it, its charity shops are better than its regular ones - and there are four in its main street. But the town's on the commuter route to London and has lots of people on dual incomes.
Stowmarket is a small, sleepy rural Suffolk backwater. Judging by comments on some of the websites devoted to it, its charity shops are better than its regular ones - and there are four in its main street. But the town's on the commuter route to London and has lots of people on dual incomes.
The Stowmarket branch attracted unusual musical donations
The Stowmarket branch attracted unusual musical donations
Local record dealer Mark Copeland finds the area a rich source of material.
Local record dealer Mark Copeland finds the area a rich source of material.
"A lot of professional people who bought records in the '60s and '70s moved to Suffolk from London and the south-east because it was cheap. Now many of them have replaced their old LPs with CDs."
"A lot of professional people who bought records in the '60s and '70s moved to Suffolk from London and the south-east because it was cheap. Now many of them have replaced their old LPs with CDs."
But Copeland finds fewer collectibles in charity shops these days. Things have changed.
But Copeland finds fewer collectibles in charity shops these days. Things have changed.
One of the reasons Newton took the new record collection with her to Stowmarket was because it had an internet connection, something that has stopped charity shops having their treasures carted off for nearly nothing by wily collectors.
One of the reasons Newton took the new record collection with her to Stowmarket was because it had an internet connection, something that has stopped charity shops having their treasures carted off for nearly nothing by wily collectors.
"We had an internet connection here which Yarmouth didn't have", she said. "It meant we could research the value of certain of the records more quickly and efficiently. Few Oxfam shops did this then. In a way, we were trailblazing."
"We had an internet connection here which Yarmouth didn't have", she said. "It meant we could research the value of certain of the records more quickly and efficiently. Few Oxfam shops did this then. In a way, we were trailblazing."
I found out that some of the songs had alternative mixes. I sold it on eBay for £160 Terry CushionOxfam volunteer
I found out that some of the songs had alternative mixes. I sold it on eBay for £160 Terry CushionOxfam volunteer
While she specialises mainly on books, Jenny Newton's partner and fellow volunteer, Terry Cushion, took it upon himself to look after the new record donation.
While she specialises mainly on books, Jenny Newton's partner and fellow volunteer, Terry Cushion, took it upon himself to look after the new record donation.
Cushion has built up an enviable personal collection of 20th Century classical music and knows where to research rarity and value.
Cushion has built up an enviable personal collection of 20th Century classical music and knows where to research rarity and value.
Vinyl collectors are on the look out for all manner of features aside from the music itself. There are the first pressings or "white labels", textured sleeves, inserts, posters, signed copies, early stereo or rare mono recordings. In days gone by few charity shop staff would have been switched on to this.
Vinyl collectors are on the look out for all manner of features aside from the music itself. There are the first pressings or "white labels", textured sleeves, inserts, posters, signed copies, early stereo or rare mono recordings. In days gone by few charity shop staff would have been switched on to this.
Cushion understood the importance of the matrix numbers cut on to the vinyl run-out at the end of the record. These can offer clues as to rarity. One record in the collection, by Mott the Hoople, caught his eye.
Cushion understood the importance of the matrix numbers cut on to the vinyl run-out at the end of the record. These can offer clues as to rarity. One record in the collection, by Mott the Hoople, caught his eye.
"I first noticed it didn't have any banding - that is the spaces you normally get between the tracks.
"I first noticed it didn't have any banding - that is the spaces you normally get between the tracks.
"Then I discovered it was what they call a 'mispressing', in that the tracks didn't correspond with what the sleeve said they should be. Later I found out that some of the songs had alternative mixes. I sold it on eBay for £160."
"Then I discovered it was what they call a 'mispressing', in that the tracks didn't correspond with what the sleeve said they should be. Later I found out that some of the songs had alternative mixes. I sold it on eBay for £160."
Theft problem
Theft problem
Using internet auction sites to sell rarer items has become the way of doing business for modern charity shops.
Using internet auction sites to sell rarer items has become the way of doing business for modern charity shops.
In Stowmarket, only 2% of the records are sold online, but they provide 30% of the takings. The same goes for books. A first edition Dick Francis novel recently fetched £700 after being advertised on the web.
In Stowmarket, only 2% of the records are sold online, but they provide 30% of the takings. The same goes for books. A first edition Dick Francis novel recently fetched £700 after being advertised on the web.
"You don't get the fantastic bargains you used to at Oxfam," says Jenny Newton. "We've got much cleverer at spotting valuable things before the dealers get them and this batch of records got us going."
"You don't get the fantastic bargains you used to at Oxfam," says Jenny Newton. "We've got much cleverer at spotting valuable things before the dealers get them and this batch of records got us going."
If any record or book is suspected of having a rarity value, they're not put on show - theft is one of the biggest headaches, even in a charity shop.
If any record or book is suspected of having a rarity value, they're not put on show - theft is one of the biggest headaches, even in a charity shop.
Stowmarket is a good example of how such a shop can raise its game.
Stowmarket is a good example of how such a shop can raise its game.
The Who album fetched £100
The Who album fetched £100
"We like to give individual shop managers the autonomy to develop sales in the best way they can for their area," says Stuart Foulkes, from Oxfam head office.
"We like to give individual shop managers the autonomy to develop sales in the best way they can for their area," says Stuart Foulkes, from Oxfam head office.
"Stowmarket is a good example of how things have changed. We've been working with eBay for a number of years now, especially when we're donated unusual items such as overseas holidays, cars, even speedboats."
"Stowmarket is a good example of how things have changed. We've been working with eBay for a number of years now, especially when we're donated unusual items such as overseas holidays, cars, even speedboats."
Last year Oxfam became the first charity to launch an online shop, on which individual stores can upload photographs of unusual items for sale to a wider market.
Last year Oxfam became the first charity to launch an online shop, on which individual stores can upload photographs of unusual items for sale to a wider market.
Though Oxfam's policy is to accept everything, the likes of Manuel and his Music of the Mountains or The James Last Orchestra are now consigned to the rubbish bin in Stowmarket.
Though Oxfam's policy is to accept everything, the likes of Manuel and his Music of the Mountains or The James Last Orchestra are now consigned to the rubbish bin in Stowmarket.
Nowadays, Oxfam's national bill for waste disposal for its 850 outlets exceeds £1 million. The Stowmarket shop's improved quality merchandise has resulted in like attracting like.
Nowadays, Oxfam's national bill for waste disposal for its 850 outlets exceeds £1 million. The Stowmarket shop's improved quality merchandise has resulted in like attracting like.
Magic
Magic
It recently received another gift of 200 rock discs from the 1970s that included an original issue of The Who's My Generation worth £100. It currently has 500 LPs in the shop, with another 200 held back to be researched.
It recently received another gift of 200 rock discs from the 1970s that included an original issue of The Who's My Generation worth £100. It currently has 500 LPs in the shop, with another 200 held back to be researched.
These records, when sold, are now being enjoyed not only by the good burghers of Suffolk, but also by collectors all over the world.
These records, when sold, are now being enjoyed not only by the good burghers of Suffolk, but also by collectors all over the world.
And while charity shops have become a little less magical for those same collectors, the good causes are benefiting from an increase in knowledge.
And while charity shops have become a little less magical for those same collectors, the good causes are benefiting from an increase in knowledge.
