Missing 32" Enterprise finally found...

[Christopher]

https://www.latimes.com/entertainme...it-was-found-now-its-the-subject-of-a-lawsuit

Unfortunate -- I thought it had all been settled amiably.

It's also a bit surprising, though it probably shouldn't be, to read that the finders weren't Trek fans and didn't recognize the ship when they unearthed it. That's kind of sad, in a way -- imagine the thrill a hardcore Trekkie would've felt if they'd pulled away a trash bag in a locker full of random junk and saw a 3-foot Enterprise model with Richard Datin's name on the base.

 

[Tallguy]

Unfortunate -- I thought it had all been settled amiably.

It's also a bit surprising, though it probably shouldn't be, to read that the finders weren't Trek fans and didn't recognize the ship when they unearthed it. That's kind of sad, in a way -- imagine the thrill a hardcore Trekkie would've felt if they'd pulled away a trash bag in a locker full of random junk and saw a 3-foot Enterprise model with Richard Datin's name on the base.

Even on TrekBBs I'm not sure the name Datin would ring that many bells except among the few of a few.

 

[Dar70]

Unfortunate -- I thought it had all been settled amiably.

It's also a bit surprising, though it probably shouldn't be, to read that the finders weren't Trek fans and didn't recognize the ship when they unearthed it. That's kind of sad, in a way -- imagine the thrill a hardcore Trekkie would've felt if they'd pulled away a trash bag in a locker full of random junk and saw a 3-foot Enterprise model with Richard Datin's name on the base.

I knew it was too good to be true and that they would get greedy about it . If they were Trek fans they would have been more than happy with $500k. Roddenberry is not trying to go sell it for a profit or something.....smh

These guys were trying to get at least 1k for it at one point and cleaned the darn thing with pine sol ...lol.....
Someone must have told them after they took their 500k that they could get more....

 

[UssGlenn]

Someone must have told them after they took their 500k that they could get more....

They haven't gotten their 500K yet, that's part of the issue.

 

[Dar70]

They haven't gotten their 500K yet, that's part of the issue.

Yeah, I had a hard time reading the article since I need a subscription. But still I wonder if the fact they haven't received their cash yet gave them time to rethink their price. Still..it's a sad state of affairs...smh

 

[ZapBrannigan]

It's also a bit surprising, though it probably shouldn't be, to read that the finders weren't Trek fans and didn't recognize the ship when they unearthed it. That's kind of sad, in a way -- imagine the thrill a hardcore Trekkie would've felt if they'd pulled away a trash bag in a locker full of random junk and saw a 3-foot Enterprise model with Richard Datin's name on the base.

As I'm sure you know, Ötzi the Iceman wasn't found by paleoanthropologists, he was found by hikers. And when the police dug him out of the glacier, thinking he was a modern-day corpse, they all but destroyed the archaeological value of the site.

The first Dead Sea Scrolls to emerge were found by Bedouin boys playing near a cave opening, and one of them fell in. They were the furthest thing from archaeologists, and there was a lot of chance involved before the scrolls eventually found their way to the right hands.

That said, the 33-incher's uncaring finders and the Pine Sol treatment shouldn't surprise us one bit. That's what happens.

 

[Mudd]

The pair claimed that once the model was authenticated and given a value of $800,000, they agreed to consign it to an auction sale with Heritage planned for July 2024, according to the lawsuit. However, following their agreement, they allege the auction house falsely questioned their title to the model and then convinced them, instead of taking it to auction, to sell it for a low-ball $500,000 to Roddenberry Entertainment Inc. According to the suit, Eugene Roddenberry, the company's CEO, had shown great interest in the model and could potentially provide a pipeline of memorabilia to the auction house in the future.

“They think we have a disagreement with Roddenberry,” said Dale Washington, Riach and Rivas’ attorney. “We don’t. We think they violated property law in the discharge of their fiduciary duties.”

The two men allege they have yet to receive the $500,000 payment.

So, the auction house threw in with the buyer in exchange for future considerations? Scummy.

 

[drt]

These guys were trying to get at least 1k for it at one point and cleaned the darn thing with pine sol ...lol.....

Just because there was PineSol was in the background doesn't mean they tried to clean it with that; however, I don't doubt they wiped it down with a wet cloth, which probably just as bad for the decals, etc. We're lucky the model was intact, otherwise it most likely would have gone straight into the garbage.

 

[Dar70]

Just because there was PineSol was in the background doesn't mean they tried to clean it with that; however, I don't doubt they wiped it down with a wet cloth, which probably just as bad for the decals, etc. We're lucky the model was intact, otherwise it most likely would have gone straight into the garbage.

Haha. It looked so smudged. You can tell someone made an attempt. I'm going with the pine sol theory. I won't lie. I kinda find it funny. Lol.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Unfortunate -- I thought it had all been settled amiably.

It's also a bit surprising, though it probably shouldn't be, to read that the finders weren't Trek fans and didn't recognize the ship when they unearthed it. That's kind of sad, in a way -- imagine the thrill a hardcore Trekkie would've felt if they'd pulled away a trash bag in a locker full of random junk and saw a 3-foot Enterprise model with Richard Datin's name on the base.

Yeah a lot of us fans would not have been too greedy. These guys want full market value. This was a stolen item. The best they should really get is a finders fee but they were offered 500k but now want 800k. I hope they end up with nothing to be honest. Geez they were going to sell it for a thousand.

 

[UssGlenn]

These guys were trying to get at least 1k for it at one point

this is bit that still confuses me. They look up Richard Datin, and learn he is a well known model maker, but don't realize what the model is. Sloppy research on their part but plausible. Given the condition of the model, why on Earth did they think it was worth $1000?

 

[publiusr]

So, the auction house threw in with the buyer in exchange for future considerations? Scummy.

That doesn’t surprise me.

Auction houses rank right down there with fences/pawnshops, you know—where widows hock wedding rings for pennies on the dollar so as to pay their husbands funeral expenses—Pawnbrokers want you to give them yours but pay three prices for theirs.

Meter maids, bail-bondsmen/bounty-hunters, repo-men are bad enough.

The worst of these scum who make bank off the misfortune of others—are the ghouls who buy up storage units of people who can’t even afford them anymore.

Yes there have to be estate sales…but I felt like a hyena even going to yard sales sometimes.

Some have speculated this all came as a result of Jein’s death (unsubstantiated), but we will forgive him that if true—for he gave the world so much more in return. He might have been the one to drop it trying to make a replica and hid it out of shame. He was a MAKER, and that forgives much.

The ham-fisted vultures on the other hand—it is far more likely that they dropped it. At least salvors at sea risk life and limb—so I am more forgiving there as well.

Now that the 3 footer has been rescued and is out of danger, I want these particular storage unit pirates to be doxxed…I want their lives to become hell just because of how they make money.

I want them hounded just like Dan White was after killing Milk—so that they, too know what desperation feels like.

The funeral director from PHANTASM was more honorable.

I go to museums to see sculptures—not the receipts for them.

 

[Tosk]

Gene loved a good gouge, so I think he'd be wryly nodding right now.

These guys want full market value.

Those fucking monsters.

I want their lives to become hell just because of how they grift.

How is buying something legitimately and then selling it to someone else a grift?

 

[publiusr]

The seedy nature of this world and some things that were done to my family elicited that bit of rage. I apologize.

 

[Tallguy]

This thing has value. And to a certain set (us) a LOT of value. $500K is pretty low ball, all things considered.

Also, this isn't going right into the public trust. Its going to Rod who is (I gather) a very wealthy man. (Heck, he gets a part of that sweet sweet theme music royalties for the Star Trek theme that his dad worked over an entire bottle of Scotch to write.) Also, this isn't money that's going to the people that stole the model (or even lost the model if we're being generous).

Did these folks get lucky? Heck yes.

Again, I get really itchy when people start spending other people's money.

If these guys had just gone to the Smithsonian (for example) and said "Hey, you can have it because we're really big fans" I think Rod would be getting cranky about it.

 

[Dar70]

Gene loved a good gouge, so I think he'd be wryly nodding right now.

Those fucking monsters.

How is buying something legitimately and then selling it to someone else a grift?

The thing is they KNEW what they had when they took it to the auction house. That was their choice to take it there and their choice to accept 500k. If they were so concerned about getting maximum profit why did they not have a lawyer present?? It's not hard to do research on this stuff. They buy storage units all the time and I'm sure they quickly pull out their phones to check on possible worth. This was a unique piece and they are lucky that Trek fans emailed them during the eBay auction and let them know. The ball was completely in their court after that. So they were happy with the 500k initially if they accepted it. If they think they were lowballed that is on them. Not Roddenberry.

I personally think they got a very fair deal and they should not be whining about it after the fact....

 

[Mudd]

This thing has value. And to a certain set (us) a LOT of value. $500K is pretty low ball, all things considered.

Also, this isn't going right into the public trust. Its going to Rod who is (I gather) a very wealthy man. (Heck, he gets a part of that sweet sweet theme music royalties for the Star Trek theme that his dad worked over an entire bottle of Scotch to write.) Also, this isn't money that's going to the people that stole the model (or even lost the model if we're being generous).

Did these folks get lucky? Heck yes.

Again, I get really itchy when people start spending other people's money.

Pretty much this. I'm certainly not vexed on behalf of Roddenberry Entertainment.

I personally think they got a very fair deal and they should not be whining about it after the fact....

Doesn't sound like it.

 

[Dar70]

Pretty much this. I'm certainly not vexed on behalf of Roddenberry Entertainment.



Doesn't sound like it.

Well how much do you think they should have gotten?

 

[Tallguy]

Well how much do you think they should have gotten?

At the moment? More than 0.

 

[Mudd]

I personally think they got a very fair deal and they should not be whining about it after the fact....

Well how much do you think they should have gotten?

They should have put it up for auction and found out. Almost certainly more than half a million. There are collectors that would go nuts over that thing.

Problem was, looks like Heritage had their thumb on the scales.