An uncle's auction (Long)
Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI
>Last fall while fishing with my dad, we talked a bit about one of my uncles who is getting old and moved in with his son. They built living quarters in the garage for them, and will take care of them in their old age. I think they are late into the 70's or maybe early 80's, about the time I expect to be selling off my "collection" if I live that long. We talked about him having to get rid of his "stuff", and I mentioned that I'd really like to be there when they had the auction. I found out Sunday that the auction was today. In the middle of winter, in the middle of the holidays. Wasn't sure what they were thinking, but we really had nice weather today, so maybe a hundred people showed up, and a lot of them were probably there because they have this week off of work.
My dad said the only stuff my uncle had was just plain trash, and so that was pretty much what I was expecting. Imagine driving past the biggest pile of trash in the yard you have ever seen, and then add 26%, and you will be envisioning my uncle's place. I fully understand where I get it from now, and am relieved to find it is not really a disease, just simply an inherited disorder.
I started looking through the boxes, and went a long ways before finding anything worth staying there for other than the family get together. But I did end up finding a few neat items. The first thing I bought was a hnadfull of drill bits, in the original paper wrapping, for $2. It was only when I got them home that I realized they were bits for a post drill. Unfortunately there are only 2 different sizes, 1/4" and 5/16", but a neat find. They'll stay in the wrapper and can be sold in forty years for $2 to some other poor sap. The next thing I bought was the 13 pc Irwin bit set in the wooden box for $25; in nice shape, although two of the bits are not original I think I have the bits to replace them. The box is not in good shape, but the bits are surprisingly clean. I waited a long time for the next row that had items in it I wanted, had plenty of time to chat with the relatives that had come from as far as Pennsylvania for the party.
A few years back I had gone to another uncle's auction, and had bid a travisher up to $30 and let it go, and today I saw another travisher that was pretty nice, and figured I would just hold my hand in the air until I had it, and was looking forward to that. Not so much looking forward to going home and telling Megan how much I had spent. The next item I got was the coolest hand crank grinder by far that I have ever seen, made by G. Cheney and Son. Pictures will follow when it is cleaned up and in service, but I'm pretty sure it will be my user grinder when I get it going. It has a green discoloration on it which leads me to think there is a lot of copper in the metal, but right now it is pretty grimy. I also picked up a few brace bits with the original box, so there was already a lot more than I figured on finding. Also more $1 boxes and piles than I have ever seen in any other auction in my entire life.
We finally got to the wagon where the travisher and a few other tools were that I wanted, right at the end of the auction. Some tenon cutters for a brace, and a spoke pointer that ended up in somebodys pocket before that box was sold, as it wasn't there when I looked for it. Someone had set a bucket of stuff in the box with the travisher to try and hide it, but the auctioneer knew where it was and knew it was a nice tool, so he made sure it was fully broadcast to the entire crowd, and spent an extra few mintues explaining what it was and how much he thought it was worth. I started bidding, and was up to $40 (I figured I'd probably have it by then) and then noticed it was one of the grandsons I was bidding against. Being the nice guy, it wasn't even a tough decision to just let him have it. I figured if one of the grandchildren is interested in having one of grandpa's nice tools, then that really isn kind of nice. The next lot was two tenon cutters with reamers, choice of the two, and I ended up getting the bid at $10 and took both cutters. So I was pretty well pleased with my pile of stuff, giving myself a pat on the back for finding these treasures for a total of $68; not really an east coast gloat, but the money went for a good cause. Megan had told me before I left that anything over a hundred out of the check book was going to need a net to retrieve the bounce, and I gave myself another pat on the back for spending less than the hundred.
I went to talk to my 2nd cousin about the travisher, and ended up explaining to him what it was called, what it was for, and how to use it. He then told me that he figures he can take a wire brush to it and clean it up good and get $300 for it on ebay. At first I thought he was just joshing me, but the realization slowly sank in that he was serious. I offered him $50 for it, figuring I would have to get to the bank before they closed, and he said, "No, I'm sure I can get at least a hundred on ebay".
So this was my day; pretty good overall, a pile of new junk to lose in the shop, and a nice get together with the family.