Fire trucks of course, but also private cars, fire helmets, old tin plate toys, models, on a large scale – in every sense of the term, signed works of art, water cannons, connectors, etc. An exceptional collection composed throughout the life of Marcel Alvès to celebrate the soldiers of the fire.
In the world of fire, its name is known worldwide. Creator of the PARFLAM company in 1957, Marcel Alves is also a compulsive collector … In Marcel Alves there is an astonishing convergence. He is a collector, by nature obstinate. It is a patient archaeologist who has looked for and gathered the objects of a scarlet world. Finally, it is a precise historian who gathers, compares, intersects, and …. discovers.
Since his youngest age, Marcel Alves has collected, piled, stacked everything that relates to firefighters. More than 60 years of memories that filled his personal museum with several thousand objects.
Nearly 10,000 items are listed. These will comprise several hundred lots that will be auctioned – many without reserve prices – by the auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat during this world unique auction, both in its size and its specificity. One will remark the attraction of the US and the American firefighters to Marcel Alves with the multitude of objects and vehicles of US origin.
More than 300 fire brigade helmets covering 5 centuries!
The fire brigade helmet collection covers 5 centuries of history. From the earliest, a Japanese helmet dated 1685 (est.: …..) to the most recent helmets of the French firefighters, including those of the fire-fighters of the whole world. A few rarities such as the helmets of the Paris fire brigade motorcyclers of the last war, a helmet of the State of the Vatican City firemen (1991) or that used by the FIAT of Turin firemen (in Celoron, 1940, Is 200/300 €) as well as a very important collection of American fire helmets covering the period 1857 – 2002.
19 firefighters trucks and personal vehicles
The oldest – a DELAHAYE car pump 1920 (City of Saint Pépin – 20/30 000 €) but also the only fire truck of the Château de Versailles, a DELAHAYE of 1929 restored by famous car restorer LECOQ in Paris (35/40 000 €) or a very beautiful Jeep Willis of 1946 (15/20 000 €). American trucks AMERICAN FRANCE from the FD of Dry Gulch / Florida (1942), MAPPLEWOOD / New Jersey (date) and one SEAGRAVE.
This sale of trucks or fire engines is complemented by the sale of a personal collection of passenger vehicles belonging to Mr Marcel Alvès. To mention a BUICK ELECTRA 455 of 1972, bought new by Marcel Alves in the USA, therefore of first hand! The oldest vehicle offered for sale is the first car owned by Mr Alves, a PEUGEOT 190S from 1929.
5000 firemen badges!
Appearing in 1917 during the First World War, this medal is the mark of a clearly identified group that gives its bearer legitimacy. This collection of nearly 5000 badges covers practically all the bodies of the firefighters of France.
Ancient toys, modern, models, models of artists
The scale model of the fire vehicle – real or not – leaves a place of choice to the imagination of each one from where the attraction that it offers to the small ones as to the big ones. Marcel Alvès brought together more than 5,000 of them, from very small to very large, old toy vehicles made of sheet metal or tinplate, modern ones, as well as hand-made models at imposing scales, ordered exclusively for his personal collection and created by known names of modelling like the fire-fighter modeller M. Marino.
Among the “models”, several models signed, dated and listed off the famous modeller and poet JP HARTMANN.
Paintings, posters, sculptures etc.
Paintings with a well-known signature (the fireman and the woman, Alain Benedetto), others of anonymous painters, bronze (Moreau) or regular sculptures, but also uniforms, flags, white weapons, Bronze connectors (ideal for decoration!).
Exhibition and auction sale locations
This marathon sale will take place on Sunday, May 14 from 10:00 AM at the PARFLAM establishments, 1 Boulevard du Moulin À Vent, 95650 Puiseux-Pontoise. Jean-Pierre Osenat will be at the hammer.
Due to the number of items, two exhibition areas
- 71, rue Gabriel Péri à Cormeilles-en-Parisis on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 starting at 9.00 AM
- PARFLAM, 1 Boulevard du Moulin À Vent, 95650 Puiseux-Pontoise, EXCLUSIVELY Saturday 13 starting at 9.00 AM
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