The Salvo Code is a voluntary code of good practice for dealers and others, such as auction houses, who are involved in the buying or selling architectural salvage and antiques, antique garden ornament and reclaimed building materials. The Salvo Code aims to give customers greater confidence.
 
The Code flags to customers that a business has standards and gives them the choice of buying from relatively safe and responsible sources. Many dealers have already established a sensible buying procedure but the Salvo Code makes this more formal, understandable and obvious to the buying public. It is particularly reassuring to know that items have not been stolen or removed from protected historic buildings, without permission. All Salvo Code members are immediately notified by email when a Salvo website 'Theft Alert' advert is posted which includes the crime reference number.
 
Look out for the Salvo Code crane logo used exclusively by Salvo Code businesses. Each Salvo Code dealer has a crane logo certificate which is issued annually to display in their showroom or yard and a crane logo will be displayed on their website. The crane logo appears on their Salvo directory entry and on all their for sale adverts on the Salvo website. The crane was chosen because it is an ancient Chinese and European symbol for vigilance. The Chinese legend says the crane sleeps with one eye open and holds a stone which, on falling asleep with both eyes closed, it drops and wakes up - possibly because it drops the stone onto its other foot!
 
The trust in Salvo Code standards has been created over many years. It started in April 1995 after a three-year consultation process by a steering group of long-established dealers, which among others included Salvo founder and previously joint founder of Walcot Reclamation Yard, Thornton Kay, Adrian Amos, founder of LASSCO, architectural salvage based in London, Nick Gifford-Mead, specialist in antique chimneypieces and garden ornament and James Ryland, who had initiated the sales of Garden Statuary at Sotheby's. They were later joined by Simon Kirby, an antique sanitary ware specialist who went onto revive the high quality British made reproduction bathroom range, Thomas Crapper. English Heritage and the Council for the Prevention of Art Theft were also involved in the early stages. Salvo itself has been instrumental in forming the Code and promoting it to the Trade. Salvo founder, Thornton Kay remains the current administrator of the Salvo Code together with Salvo CEO, Sara Morel.
 
Many of the architectural salvage dealers who joined in 1995 have remained Salvo Code members such as Antique Buildings, Architectural Heritage, Dorset Reclamation, Nicholas Gifford-Mead, Olliff's Architectural Antiques, South West Reclamation and Tower Reclaim. Some of the original Salvo Code members have over the years retired, discontinued trading or changed their business. For example, one enthusiastic steering group member, James Ryland, then at Sotheby's, continued to support the Salvo Code when he later set up his own auction house. James realised the importance of upholding high auction house standards and the confidence that gives to potential buyers. Summers Place Auction House went onto become the world's leading auctioneer of Garden Statuary and Natural History. Also architectural salvage pioneers, LASSCO remain a Salvo Code member, but instead of London, their Oxfordshire base is now the focus for selling antique and reclaimed items such as entire panelled rooms, marble fireplaces, gaden ornament, doors, lighting, ironwork, museum cabinets, door knobs, and is the new hub for the LASSCO reclaimed flooring operaiton. Over the past twenty years the Salvo Code membership has grown to include members worldwide in France, Luxembourg, Italy and the USA.  

Further clauses have also been added in relation to fair trade and modern slavery. The enforcement of the Salvo Code although entirely voluntary by the signee, still remains peer reviewed. Salvo has also persoanlly visited the majority of the membership and all the businesses listed have to ensure they are carrying out the procedures and are aware of their responsibilities. The code does encourage good working practices and existing Salvo Code businesses are polled and consulted to maintain standards. So in the event that it becomes clear that a Salvo dealer is not carrying out the procedures contained in the Code, Salvo will take action to remove them from the list. New Salvo Code applications are also reviewed by an advisory network of long-established Salvo Code dealers.
 
The Salvo Pocket Guide, a directory of Salvo Code Members in hard printed copy or digital format and has become a useful resource for renovators, designers, architects, builders and other dealers. It can be found distributed at many events and fairs, such as the popular Battersea Decorative, Bath Decorative and Dulwich based, Modern Shows. Designed to fit as comfortably in the pocket of a salvage newbie as well as seasoned designers looking to engage with the reuse economy this A5 book is printed locally on FSC approved papers using eco-friendly inks. The Third Restoration Special Edition is also available in digital format.
 
Salvo Code member dealers benefit from prominent exposure across SalvoWEB including the home page and dealers have exclusive access to the new Salvo Shop for direct sales and all listings highlighting their business name. Salvo Code benefits can include a link to your own website from the SalvoWEB home page and can contribute stories to SalvoNEWS online, members also receive preferential rates on advertising packages such as auctions, Salvo Fairs and affiliated events.
 
Thornton Kay and the Salvo team represent and support Salvo Code dealer member interests. Team Salvo together with the membership network can provide help to Salvo Code dealers with any personal or general issues effecting the trade either with direct advice or through SalvoNEWS. As such Salvo Code membership is similar to an architectural salvage trade body. For example, Thornton regularly supports and represents the trade with the UK government on reuse and carbon targets. 
 
The Salvo Code is always developing and continuing to embrace its founding vision, as a world leading reclamation assurance. The most recent introduction to the Code membership has been the Truly Reclaimed standard; according to prevailing rules. The Truly Reclaimed label itself, is a product certification available to TR certified Salvo Code members. The label is a positive help to the public enabling them to distinguish Truly Reclaimed from new products, 'faked' and made to resemble the old. It has been a rewarding journey for Team Salvo to be able to now highlight the environmental benefit of choosing materials that really are reclaimed for reuse. In fact, the methods used by manufacturers of new products to make 'new look old' are not only carbon intensive i.e. increasing the carbon footprint of a product but also highly skilled. This means that without the Salvo TR certification, it is often very difficult, even for trade professionals to recognise truly reclaimed items. It is now being rolled out to public spaces using TR such as retail shops, public houses, hotels and restaurants in the future. Now curious customers can discover the impact of reuse and the past lives of materials. See more at Truly Reclaimed 
 
Salvo Code membership is also a social and support network. Members together with Team Salvo organise local social Salvo do's and there have been many memorable social meet ups over the years. It is a mix of both old and young dealers, often in competition with each other in their daily lives, they come together with a common understanding of their trade. The evenings often create a magical bond of shared respect and can be great fun.

Thornton or Sara periodically organise chats with Salvo Code members on the Salvo Podcast 'Reclamation Time' to enable members and trade professionals to exchange views. If you would like to sponsor a feature or suggest a Podcast topic please get in touch.
 
If you are interested in joining the Salvo Code please contact Team Salvo to request an application form. Contact Salvo Admin by emailing at [email protected]
 
Note: This SalvoNEWS story is regularly updated.