BOB Gray’s private museum of local history and weird and wonderful objects from the last century was well-known so it was a surprise to learn the lifelong collector was selling up.
But far from surprising was to see the single-vendor auction of his collection had generated a huge amount of interest.
Wingetts’ saleroom on Holt Street was packed with dealers, local historians, collectors and the just-plain-curious keen to get their hands on a piece of the town’s history.
Mr Gray compiled his collection over more than half a century.
As well as scouring antique shops and auction houses for interesting items, he would also rescue pieces from buildings about to be demolished in his home town.
Among these artefacts were the large advertising signs which had once adorned the Wrexham Lager brewery as well as smaller shop signs and even a wrought iron door grille from the bridewell that had stood in Tenter’s Square.
The items of local interest included a fine assortment of lots relating to Wrexham’s illustrious brewing past.
One of the lots expected to do particularly well was a Soames’ Ales slate sign with a copper embossed horses head, which eventually sold for £230.
Similarly, a very attractive oval painted glass plaque advertising ‘Wrexham Lager on Draught, Ace of Clubs Brand’ made £140.
There were plenty of ‘cheaper’ items on offer though, some selling for as little as a few pounds – the bridewell door grille found a new owner at just £18.
Due to their sheer size and the fact they are so recognisable, the star lots were undoubtedly the signs from the Wrexham Lager Brewery which Mr Gray had saved from the bulldozers in 2002.
But their scale limited the number of bidders and the largest – a Wrexham Lager Trademark sign – made just £75. A smaller ‘Brewed in Wales’ fared much better at £150.
One of the highest prices paid for a single lot was a very rare colour poster advertising ‘Thompson and Co’s Welsh Ales, Sun and Eagle Breweries, Wrexham’ which was subject to strong bidding in the room, on the book and the telephones. It was eventually knocked down at £500.
There was a good atmosphere in the room and the novelty of some of the more unusual lots added to the light-hearted feel.
The majority of items sold, netting a hammer price of £8,478.
Following the sale, auctioneer Richard Hughes said: “I think that overall we are very pleased. It was a very good turn out and we saw a lot of new faces. I think the profile of the vendor added to the interest – he is a well-known Wrexham character – but a lot of people came from outside Wrexham and the lots themselves attracted a diverse range of people.”
The sale represented a portion of Mr Gray’s lifetime collection.
Speaking to the Leader last week, he revealed items had been offered to Wrexham Museum and some elements of he intended to give to specialist organisations.