Mr. Singer's Credit - 1946

In the early days, I always had to buy my stock of antiques from the previous week’s takings. I had to visit many shops to purchase any items that I thought could stand a profit, however small. I was taught that in every antiques shop there is bound to be some items that were under priced and could show a profit as most dealers just put a percentage of the price they originally paid for their goods. It was my endeavour to find these elusive bargains buy them and sell them on.

I had a good knowledge of the period I could afford. However, I was financially handicapped. I had recently been demobbed from the Army and with no previous business experience, I was unable to obtain a bank overdraft. With no reserve cash to to see me through a stormy patch, the fate of the business - success or failure - would be decided during the next few weeks.

I noticed that most of the established dealers were selling English furniture made in the 18^th century. While I greatly admired the skill of Hepplewhite, Sheraton and Adam's wonderful period, but it was totally beyond my meagre budget.

I also had a great love for the French period. I admired the colourful and exquisite workmanship of Louis Philippe, and the Vernis Martin tables & cabinets. I fell in love with the Sevres porcelain, particularly those wonderful Turquoise Blue & Due Barry pink French creations, also of course, the magnificent French Porcelain & Ormolu Clock Sets, made for the mantle.

Because of the snobbery at that time (1946) of the antique trade, the French collection was neglected. I was able to concentrate on this part of the trade with a great deal of success. The prices were not high and there was a great deal of fine French antiques to buy. I always realised that it would be impossible to reproduce fine French furniture, owing to the superb and detailed workmanship achieved by the best of the 19^th century craftsmen.

I literally had the market to myself. No dealer seemed to be interested. I always reckoned and valued the workmanship, and although some traders looked down on my taste, I cried all the way to the bank as opinions changed. Now all those lovely artefacts of the French period is now 'all the mode' and the prices of that period has risen sky high. People that purchased at that time, have made a very good investment indeed.

Searching for goods to sell in Torquay, I remember after spending my allowance, in Kensington Church Street - which is still an excellent area to purchase antiques of all the periods - I wandered to the plush area in Mayfair. There I was dazzled by a magnificent display of French antiques in the shop run by Mr Singer. He was well known as a fine dealer, but also as an eccentric.

I gazed at the splendid stock though the window for over thirty minutes. He eventually came out to me and he asked me in to examine and enjoy all his goods. I told him that I had spent all my allowance, in Kensington and could not really afford his fine goods. He took no notice of my observations, and he asked how much I would like to pay for at least thirty items. I kept repeating that I had no money to spend at the moment, but as soon as I said "I like that", he told his son, Arnold to pack it up in a box.

I thought that if he wanted to play silly b****rs, I would humour him. After two hours he told his son to put all the goods in my Ford 8 car. The price that he agreed was over £2000 which was a fortune to me at that time, but even so, the price was very reasonable. He gave me the bill and told me to get going. I said to him that "that do you not want my address, and how do you know that you are going to get paid"? He replied, "he did not want my address and that he knew that he would be paid in full."

So off I went with all those wonderful goods, which my sister and I sold within a week, at a very fair profit. I arrived at Mr Singer’s shop the next day with my cheque, he looked at his son and said, "there you are what did I tell you".

I became a great friend of the family for many years, unfortunately Mr Singer passed away, but the Son Arnold became my best friend, unfortunately also he has just died, and I miss him immensely.