I disagree with the response from Rob Duker.

It is clear that I started the thread, a thread clearly about Rattletrap's (my) desire to obtain semaphores for my RT bus. Steve made a post on my thread saying that he has a set for sale. The post is personal as Steve gives my name (John) at the start of his reply, and even gives method of collection for me.. This post made by Steve was not a general item for sale advert, else it would not have my name as it's salutation. His offer of a set for me was on my thread for less than two hours when Rob moved in on it. Had it had sat there unread for a week or so then it may be a little more excuseable as Steve may have needed to move the item on. Rob had not made a thread/post himself searching for such, and I very much doubt that he would have done, he just took advantage of my idea and effort to do so.

The only decent thing to do here is offer them back to the person (myself) who had used his initiative and made the effort to obtain semaphores for his own bus (not for somebody else's vehicle).

Rob, there really are no excuses, though I understand the situation the seller (Steve) was in feeling obliged, and he certainly should not have been placed in that position by you.

Please arrange the for semaphores to be made available to me, as you know they should be (and were).

John

My bus number (if any): Rattletrap RT

My message was brief as I was in a rush and wanted to be prompt regarding the status of the items.

John, I hope that you understand that one of the reasons that I agreed to sell these to Rob was due to the fact that he needs a pair to complete his project. I know that Rob is a serious preservationist and vintage vehicle restorer and therefore knew that he was not spinning a tale and planning on making a quick buck. Further to that, a Rob has helped me in the past for no personal gain, which added to his cause at a time where I did not even know if you would have wanted them at the price offered.

I personally would settle for being usurped if another preservationist needed an item above my own non-essential desire and have had to cross that bridge already. I hope that you are not too disappointed and that you have some luck in your search.

Steve

My bus number (if any): RT3316

Glad that Rob was the vulture and that the semaphores will be actually fitted to a very worthy vehicle and not just kept in a cupboard or sold on ! - I have seen these occasionally turn up in the small ads in the backs of magazines and on EBay - I wouldn't have thought there was much demand for them now especially the larger 24 volt ones I will keep my eye out for a another pair - as you say Rob they were offered openly to anyone not privately.

My bus number (if any): RML2747

I am closing this thread now because the discussion has reached a natural conclusion with a range of differing views expressed. I thank all the contributors to this thread which started as a fascinating and informative discussion about the wheel trims and direction indicators fitted to early 1950s London buses.

There are risks in buying and selling on an open forum and indeed anywhere on the Internet. Occasionally this can lead to unhappiness and disappointment which is partly why I closed the ROOF Marketplace.

My bus number (if any): R