Furphy water tank sells for record price

FORGET your vintage Rolls-Royces, Picasso paintings or Quing dynasty vases as valuable collectables.

Record price: Paul Durden (left) with Brett Ford from Tungamah who bought the Furphy tank end for $17,000.

FORGET your vintage Rolls-Royces, Picasso paintings or Quing dynasty vases as valuable collectables.

Furphy water tanks are the new must-have for astute collectors, after a new record price for a Furphy item was set on the weekend.

The iconic water carts and parts of them made by Shepparton company J Furphy & Sons from 1864, are keenly sought by collectors from all over Australia.

One of them paid $17,000 for the rare Furphy tank end, only one of about 10 made in 1977, owned by Glenrowan collector John “Clancy” Paull.

Mr Paull’s extensive collection of Furphys and other brands of tanks, tank ends and other collectables went under the hammer on Sunday.

John said he had been collecting vintage Australian made water carts and parts since 1988 but the time had come to sell off most of the collection as it had got too large.

Auctioneer Paul Durden from Kevin Hicks Real Estate, who conducted the sale, said the price eclipsed the previous record set last year, when a buyer paid $26,000 for two Furphy ends in a complete tank.

”Other items sold on Sunday was a rare Furphy gate for $11,000 and a Furphy 1880-1889 oval badge end for $15,000, another Furphy tank end for $9000 plus a Furphy 1988 150th commemorative end selling for $8000 with many other Furphy ends and collectables selling in the $1000s,” Mr Durden said.

“This was one of the largest Furphy and collectable sales we have conducted in a long time and one that has set record benchmark prices.”

Mr Paull said he had no idea that when he started collecting that one day his collection would be so valuable.

“There’s a little bit of regret but I know the collection is going to people who will appreciate the pieces and enjoy them as I have,” he said.