The Curse of The Broadwood Barless (cue: creaky piano lid)

[sirprize]

What is it about the poor old Broadwood Barless which attracts weird sellers and mad buyers like me who seek these unique instruments out? In the last half a dozen years I've met and negotiated with many Barless owners & restorers - 95% of them strange but none wackier than the latest. I've even discovered this HILARIOUS thread in here about him http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-forums/piano2885.html

It seems ebay seller chelsea-dollshouse-antiques aka Imogen Tribe aka Ray aka Howard Cuell of Donington, Lincs is well-known to regulars in here - not least for his extraordinary verbose yet eye-wateringly bad descriptions. Well, he's at it again. Over the last 3 days the buy-it-now price for his Barless Grand has leapt faster than a Saudi oil spout - starting at £650, then £950 yesterday and £1250 today. No bidders though. I would have gone to see it the first day and paid cash but Ms Tribe said 'she' was going away for a week and wouldn't be within reach of a computer. But since that first day three re-editings have taken place. Some holiday! Here's the latest prize effort http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... TQ:GB:1123

Ms Tribe also gets upset when anomalies, discrepancies and ommissions are pointed out. For instance when I told 'her', with all the politeness I could muster, that neither its age nor measurements could possibly be correct 'she' took it very personally. 'Her' reply creased me up......let's just say it contained the word 'matey'

Does anyone else have any similar stories?