Estate Auction finds

kerosene · 05-15-2005, 08:03 PM

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I will put it here.

Dakota(bf) and I managed to make it to an estate auction yesterday, after a long friday night-saturday morning disaster (meant for another thread). What an experience the sale was! A day of two auctioneers rattling off prices for all kinds of items (boxes of linens, china, antique furniture, ugly chairs, farm equipment, vehicles, fabric, kitchen utensils, everything a person owned at the time of her demise). The place was crawling with Mennonites and a few antique dealers. Despite the vulture like atmosphere, in a matter of several hours, I happened to acquire some neat things:

a few boxes of OLD 78s (1940s-1950s)
A console record player
A box of old textbooks from the 1950s
A vintage 1950s kitchen table with 2 expansion leaves and 6 matching chairs (excellent condition!)
An antique armchair fit for my desk
a few odds and ends...

All in all, we spent 59.00 total yesterday.

Some of the items we missed were:

A console phono/radio combo from the 1940s (it sold for 5.00 to an antique dealer! Argg!!)
2 full sets of vintage silverware (solid silver) in boxes (couldn't justify spending too much on them and ended up giving up a bidding fight for them)
An antique bedroom set from the 1930s (sold to a mennonite for 10.00. We had no room for it)

We arent avid antique collectors, but when we run across good deals on furniture for our house, we tend not to let them pass us by. I had been looking for an old console phono player, and was thrilled that I found it, and that it came with so many records. There are probably close to 200 78s and 45s. They range from Elvis Presley to The Platters to Marty Robbins. Most of them are playable with a few scratches, but a few are broken or cracked. We spent the greater part of last night and this morning fixing the turntable on the console, since it wouldn't spin (we just took off the table, pulled it apart underneath and cleaned and re-oiled all the parts). It works perfectly now.

Anyway, does anyone have any idea what I can do with all these old records, besides sell them on Ebay? I think about selling them, but then I feel that I can't part with them for the cheap prices they would bring individually on Ebay. Maybe I ought to start a collection? Does anyone else collect records? What is the best way to store the old ones that don't have covers anymore?

I have a bunch of newer records, too, but nothing older than the late 70s, so it was a blast playing them once we got the player fixed.

richlevy · 05-15-2005, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by case

An antique bedroom set from the 1930s (sold to a mennonite for 10.00. We had no room for it)

$10?! Unless it was made of cardboard, that's amazing.

kerosene · 05-15-2005, 10:16 PM

nope...you can get some wicked deals at these auctions. A 1971 Dodge camper pickup with 36,000 miles and in immaculate condition (interior and exterior) went for 950.00. Some stuff didn't even sell for 1.00. It just depends on how bad anyone there wants something. Now, the antique china was snatched up fairly eagerly, since so many of the mennonite women like that kind of stuff.

Elspode · 05-15-2005, 10:34 PM

Find someone who can wire up a line out on that old record player, then plug it into your computer and digitize the old records. Clean them up and process them with Sound Forge or something similar, *then* sell them on Ebay.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-15-2005, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

$10?! Unless it was made of cardboard, that's amazing.

Unless it's better than the one you have, you have to have some place to put it, so big stuff is harder to sell.

LabRat · 05-16-2005, 08:42 AM

I have wanted to go to an auction for quite awhile now, but felt a little intimidated...how does it work? Congrats on the deals!

dar512 · 05-16-2005, 10:16 AM

My best deals:

Full size electric oven in good condition: $11
Antique plane & hand drill: $5

dar512 · 05-16-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabRat

I have wanted to go to an auction for quite awhile now, but felt a little intimidated...how does it work? Congrats on the deals!

It's easy. Watch the paper for upcoming auctions. There will be a table where you pick up a card or some such with a number on it. You'll want to look stuff over before the bidding begins.

Each item or set of items will have a lot number. The auctioneer will tell you what lot number he is starting on and may describe the item(s). Then he'll ask for an opening bid. If no one bids, he'll lower it. Once people start bidding, he'll keep asking for higher bids until no one does. That highest bidder gets the lot at that price.

So let's say the auctioneer says "Two dollars". Raise your card if you're willing to pay two dollars for the lot. If not, keep your card down.

Have in mind what the lot is really worth. It's easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm of an auction.

Radar · 05-16-2005, 10:42 AM

Note to self: Attend estate sales.

kerosene · 05-16-2005, 10:49 AM

There are a ton of these auctions out here. There's at least a couple every weekend and usually during the week, too. The smaller ones will have fewer people at them, but you run the risk of there being only junk to buy. It's a fun time, anyway.

Clodfobble · 05-16-2005, 05:13 PM

I think it has a lot to do with what area of the country you're in... Estate sales around here are jam-packed and stuff tends to go for what it's worth or more. People will literally sit there in their chair with a wireless laptop on their lap and scour ebay for each item just before it comes up.

When my ex-employer's bankruptcy auction came up, my department's audio equipment was among the items, and I know for a fact that some of it went for twice what it's worth.

kerosene · 05-16-2005, 05:21 PM

I am sure that is true. Most people around here don't know what Ebay is (especially mennonites, and they have the money to pay for it if they wanted to).

LabRat · 05-17-2005, 08:38 AM

Thamks, I appreciate the info. There are often several listed in the papers here too, but until I had a house and therefore the space to fill with cool finds, I never really paid attention. Some weekend soon I'll have to check one out, and if I get anything good, I'll share. I garage sale frequently for used kid clothes, and occasioally find old treasures. I got a sweet aluminum breadbox in excellent condition for less than $5, (going for over 40 in worse condition on Ebay) and a cool 'used oil can' that after a little bleachwhite and elbow grease made a sweet garbage can. I need to get a diggie camera so I can post some of this stuff. It's hard to appreciate the coolness without an image.

05-15-2005, 08:03 PM	#1
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	Estate Auction finds I wasn't sure where to post this, so I will put it here. Dakota(bf) and I managed to make it to an estate auction yesterday, after a long friday night-saturday morning disaster (meant for another thread). What an experience the sale was! A day of two auctioneers rattling off prices for all kinds of items (boxes of linens, china, antique furniture, ugly chairs, farm equipment, vehicles, fabric, kitchen utensils, everything a person owned at the time of her demise). The place was crawling with Mennonites and a few antique dealers. Despite the vulture like atmosphere, in a matter of several hours, I happened to acquire some neat things: a few boxes of OLD 78s (1940s-1950s) A console record player A box of old textbooks from the 1950s A vintage 1950s kitchen table with 2 expansion leaves and 6 matching chairs (excellent condition!) An antique armchair fit for my desk a few odds and ends... All in all, we spent 59.00 total yesterday. Some of the items we missed were: A console phono/radio combo from the 1940s (it sold for 5.00 to an antique dealer! Argg!!) 2 full sets of vintage silverware (solid silver) in boxes (couldn't justify spending too much on them and ended up giving up a bidding fight for them) An antique bedroom set from the 1930s (sold to a mennonite for 10.00. We had no room for it) We arent avid antique collectors, but when we run across good deals on furniture for our house, we tend not to let them pass us by. I had been looking for an old console phono player, and was thrilled that I found it, and that it came with so many records. There are probably close to 200 78s and 45s. They range from Elvis Presley to The Platters to Marty Robbins. Most of them are playable with a few scratches, but a few are broken or cracked. We spent the greater part of last night and this morning fixing the turntable on the console, since it wouldn't spin (we just took off the table, pulled it apart underneath and cleaned and re-oiled all the parts). It works perfectly now. Anyway, does anyone have any idea what I can do with all these old records, besides sell them on Ebay? I think about selling them, but then I feel that I can't part with them for the cheap prices they would bring individually on Ebay. Maybe I ought to start a collection? Does anyone else collect records? What is the best way to store the old ones that don't have covers anymore? I have a bunch of newer records, too, but nothing older than the late 70s, so it was a blast playing them once we got the player fixed.

05-15-2005, 10:34 PM	#4
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Find someone who can wire up a line out on that old record player, then plug it into your computer and digitize the old records. Clean them up and process them with Sound Forge or something similar, then sell them on Ebay. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

05-16-2005, 08:42 AM	#6
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	I have wanted to go to an auction for quite awhile now, but felt a little intimidated...how does it work? Congrats on the deals! __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within.

05-16-2005, 10:16 AM	#7
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	My best deals: Full size electric oven in good condition: $11 Antique plane & hand drill: $5 __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

05-16-2005, 10:42 AM	#9
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	Note to self: Attend estate sales. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

05-15-2005, 10:16 PM	#3
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	nope...you can get some wicked deals at these auctions. A 1971 Dodge camper pickup with 36,000 miles and in immaculate condition (interior and exterior) went for 950.00. Some stuff didn't even sell for 1.00. It just depends on how bad anyone there wants something. Now, the antique china was snatched up fairly eagerly, since so many of the mennonite women like that kind of stuff.

05-16-2005, 10:49 AM	#10
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	There are a ton of these auctions out here. There's at least a couple every weekend and usually during the week, too. The smaller ones will have fewer people at them, but you run the risk of there being only junk to buy. It's a fun time, anyway.

05-16-2005, 05:13 PM	#11
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I think it has a lot to do with what area of the country you're in... Estate sales around here are jam-packed and stuff tends to go for what it's worth or more. People will literally sit there in their chair with a wireless laptop on their lap and scour ebay for each item just before it comes up. When my ex-employer's bankruptcy auction came up, my department's audio equipment was among the items, and I know for a fact that some of it went for twice what it's worth.

05-16-2005, 05:21 PM	#12
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	I am sure that is true. Most people around here don't know what Ebay is (especially mennonites, and they have the money to pay for it if they wanted to).

05-17-2005, 08:38 AM	#13
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	Thamks, I appreciate the info. There are often several listed in the papers here too, but until I had a house and therefore the space to fill with cool finds, I never really paid attention. Some weekend soon I'll have to check one out, and if I get anything good, I'll share. I garage sale frequently for used kid clothes, and occasioally find old treasures. I got a sweet aluminum breadbox in excellent condition for less than $5, (going for over 40 in worse condition on Ebay) and a cool 'used oil can' that after a little bleachwhite and elbow grease made a sweet garbage can. I need to get a diggie camera so I can post some of this stuff. It's hard to appreciate the coolness without an image. __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within.

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