Auctions and online absentee bidding

[Robert M]

Ive read many of your thoughts and comments here about how the Kentucky auction was run and Hilpipre auction company. I agree with the general line of thought, just stay home. Ive been two four or five of their auctions, and the thing that bothers me is the absentee bidding and the online bidding. Personally, if I travel clear across the country to see something I want sell and then have to bid against a telephone line or an online bidder, I just quit. Nothing gripes me more than an invisible bidder. I suppose its the day in age, but still, I for one wont bid against the invisible.
I really like the Nixon auctions, and know Lonnie personally, think he runs an honest auction, nice to hear that there are others such as the King outfit and perhaps others.
Next month there will be two auctions in southwest Kansas I plan to attend, however due to the advertised fact they will have online bidding I may just go for the pie.

[Peter]

Ive been at two Nixon auctions and I agree they were well run and seemed fair to both buyers and seller. I disagree with your opinion of remote bidders. I did this once. I pre-registered and telephone bid. I did not win, but then I did not travel 2000 miles just to suffer the same outcome. I sure wish I was bidding against you that day; then I might now be the proud owner of a Reeves hi-wheeler. Oh well, not in this life time. Telephone bidding is a very common practice. Today we have internet and telephone, so.... what you gonna do.

[KG1584]

I have to agree with Peter. The auctions in Kansas will be done by Aumann Auction in Nokomis, IL. I have been to several of their auctions and they are as good as anyone in my opinion. They do a good job of keeping the online bidding moving at the same pace as the rest of the bidding. There may a short lag at the end as they try and get the most out of the item but that is their job.

In my opinion they are also very knowledgable about what they are selling. They do specialize in antique tractors and items of that nature. I do not think you will even notice that there are online bidders until the auctioneer says sold to the online bidder

Wish I could go to the auctions in person but that is the great part of the internet. Everyone has a chance no matter what

Speaking of the auction, with the recent prices being fetched for steamers, what do people think the engines will bring - 30-40,000 each?? - since Cases are a dime a dozen. Just think what a good KG engine could bring

Doug

[Steve Barr]

Here is my take on bidding. I perfer to be onsite. You can get a much better idea on the condition of the item that you are bidding on.

That being said, I bid on several items this weekend during one of Aumann's live/online toy auctions. I was successful on several of them, but spent less than $100 total. I didn't have to drive 600 miles. The extra cost for buyer's premium would have been worth it. (they didn't charge one at this sale), but Even paying a premium wouldn't get me that many miles down the road unless it was a extremely high dollar item. Online bidding was easy. The audio feed had a problem at times, but I was able to follow with their online program. You can even pre bid on items and see where things go from there.

I would love to go out to the auction(s) in KS and see If I could buy an item that is there, but I am planning on being in Baraboo WI that weekend. Might have to get a cell modem for the computer to bid remotely...I don't have a problem driving, but I cannot be two places at once. If the auctioneer offers the service and execute it properly, Great. Aumann is one that does this in my humble opinion...An Yes, I have been to may of their auctions in person and have only bid online on a few.

Don't get me started on Hilpipre's style...I have been to two of their auctions (one back in 2000 in the south suburbs of Chicago) and the George Hedke sale...He ran both the same way...Too many phantom bidders in my observation. You need enough ringmen to take bids. Not one 3 feet from the truck. Most auctions that I have been to have had 3-5 ringmen assisting.

[Robert M]

Hey fellows Iam fine if you enjoy online bidding, perhaps I should be more clear. I wouldnt want to bid on a steamer, unless I could be their in person to look/UT it myself. Anything else, I would agree, online would be fine. By the way,
I dont believe your going to see any 30-40,000 prices in Kansas... on the steam engines anyway.

[Beth V]

Robert,

You started that thread that was in my mind all day. Nixon did a nice job on the Rynda auction, but I wish they could have secured the items better. Stuff walked out left & right.

King did a good job at the Tawas City auction. They had people monitoring the exit so nothing developed legs & went by itself. It was sad to see so many of those beautiful whistles head to Holland, though.

While I have serious suspicions about whether there really was a second place bidder on the Kentucky Reeves and truly disapproved of Hilpripre's style, the internet & cell phone bidding is here. It seems like there should be a way to verify that a qualified buyer really is out there "talking" to the auctioneer.

The kicker on Hilpripre was when he told the crowd that he "loved" us! My apologies, but the feelings definately didn't work both directions!

In the end, I hope Karen Blount came out okay from the sale.

Ummmm, anyone care to share out thoughts with Hilpripre?....might not "love" us anymore!

Beth

[Robert M]

Beth,
Yes, times are different and the online and tele. are here to stay, still I like it, remember when...
Its to bad things and times have changed so much that you cant even leave a purchased item for just a moment and take a chance of it being gone. Well, maybe they needed it worse than I, it will all come out in the end.
Enjoy very much," The Rumble!"
Robert

[Beth V]

Originally Posted by Robert M

Beth,
Yes, times are different and the online and tele. are here to stay, still I like it, remember when...
Its to bad things and times have changed so much that you cant even leave a purchased item for just a moment and take a chance of it being gone. Well, maybe they needed it worse than I, it will all come out in the end.
Enjoy very much," The Rumble!"
Robert

Hi Robert,

Glad to know you are enjoying the silliness of "The Rumble." It is all good clean fun. It would be good to see the 2 go head to head or tail to tail for that matter! Our 32 has pulled a Steiger backwards.

Any chance you know the Smeals and could provide additional insight into the Reeves' new home?

Thanks
Beth

[Robert M]

Beth,
Back in the eighties I met I believe Don Smeal of (fire engine fame) at a sale near Niobrara, Ne. Bill Mayberry Estate Sale Iam not going to be much help but may be able to find out more given some time. Seems to me Don was in the process of purchasing an old 110 Case from South America, actually two friends of mine bought the engine and then may have sold it to him... correct me if you know more.
By the way Beth, Iam a third cousin to the Cather family of Red Cloud, Ne. Willa Cather was my Dads secound cousin, any way her Father George P. Cather, had a great big Reeves steam engine and threshing out-fit, and they thrashed and did alot of sod busting in the Red Cloud area. I have Two framed pictures of the engine one plowing and one threshing. Would you or any body have any idea if this engine is still around?
One more thing, as long as I have yet to live I will not attend another Hilippre auction.
Robert

[Beth V]

Hi Robert,

That would be the correct Smeal..or so I heard at the sale from John Schrock. I wasn't feeling daring enough to approach him to inquire further. I was too shocked. My apologies to him & his family if our raving has not been respectful.

Any chance you could post the pictures of the big Reeves or locate a serial number? How about a size, Canadian or American?? Mr Reeves might have some information. Rol has the Haston St Clair Reeves Bible & may know more. He's lurking out there, but has yet to register....must be my fingers do enough chatting.....

In hindsight, one of us should have demanded to know/see who the other bidder was. Smeals seemed to want to know, but did not receive an adequate answer to the best of my knowledge. Rol wanted to place at least one bid on it, but chickened out at $50,000. In the future, I'll be bolder to see if those imaginary bidders really do exist.

Make the trip to Wauseon if you can & we'll introduce you to those of us that I can identify!...we can pick on Mr Inspector, Mark Jordon. He's had a good sense of humor so far. He has a tough job & we need to assist him...and express our opinions in a professional manner. Steam is too near & dear to most of us....as I keep reminding him...he's not MY inspector!

Beth

[Robert M]

Beth,
I knew you would want to see pictures and I will talk to my son and see if he will help me get them posted. If they were to post nicely Iam sure folks would enjoy them.
Thanks for the invite over to Wauseon, you all get that put together, Ill be their!
Robert

[Scott]

Robert, did you get your nice Case sold?? Find a bigger project?

[Robert M]

Beth,
Until I get some pictures posted, I drug out a copy of Norbecks Steam Traction Engines, and on page 217, I find a 32 HP Reeves that looks almost identical to the one Cathers are plowing with. They are pulling a tweleve bottom plow in the picture and have stopped with the crew, standing for a photo. The more I thought about the engine, the more I seem to remember that it may be in a Museum right their in Red Cloud. When I get time Ill drive down and see.
Scott, yes I did get the little Case sold, in fact it sold within tweleve hours of posting, and it sold for the asking price. It went to a gentleman at or near Cold Springs, Minn.
Robert

[Colin]

Im kind of thinking smeals should have demanded to know who the second bidder was before they paid the bill that day... The only thing that doesn't add up to a ghost bidder is how do the auctioneers get lucky and not get stuck with something? Its funny how it always seems like when stuff gets up to the big money theres a ghost bidder... kind of like with with hedtkes stuff.

[MYaeger]

Colin,

Sad to say, but I have never been lucky enough to have a "ghost bidder" on anything I ever sold!

I guess growing up on a Montana wheat farm, I just got use to buying high and selling low???

Mike

[Ken Majeski]

Well.... I have been to a few Hilpipre auctions in the past.... They also had the sale near Fairmont Minn. where the Medina 110 was sold in about 1993 or so... There were questions about bidders there also....

And the guy that got sold out and had the engines was So Mad about the price of the 110 that he actually Hid it when the buyer came to get it.... Well anyhow they finally found it and got it home.

Hilpipre didn't get any Old Engine sales for Years after that one..... They mainly sell industrial liquidations ect.... As far as Old Stuff goes they don't seem to have a clue what they are even selling or what it is worth... A worn out Lap Seam Reeves for 150,000 certainly raises questions in my Book....

[Terry Welch]

Steve, Make sure you get a strong wireless modem. My cell losses it strength real fast after I turn off Hwy 12 and on Hwy 33. I plan on being there cruising the swap meet and going to the Wisc Steam Assoc meeting in the afternoon . Maybe I will see you there.
Terry

[Jeff Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Majeski

Well.... I have been to a few Hilpipre auctions in the past.... They also had the sale near Fairmont Minn. where the Medina 110 was sold in about 1993 or so... There were questions about bidders there also....

And the guy that got sold out and had the engines was So Mad about the price of the 110 that he actually Hid it when the buyer came to get it.... Well anyhow they finally found it and got it home.

Hilpipre didn't get any Old Engine sales for Years after that one..... They mainly sell industrial liquidations ect.... As far as Old Stuff goes they don't seem to have a clue what they are even selling or what it is worth... A worn out Lap Seam Reeves for 150,000 certainly raises questions in my Book....

Ken,

I recall reading something in an I.M.A. about the story of someone buying a 110 and it was gone when they went to get it. Do you remember what issue that was by chance?

Thank you,

Jeff Smith

[Colin]

I can' remember what issue that was but chuck should be able to dig it up
a guy last summer told us the story of when that engine sold and now i cant remember it in detail. I think he said it was running so poorly and not steamed up enough it barely limped through the long action barn, but it didn't stop once it got going. and Hipiper hamered away and went from about 80k down to 20 and no one bid and he then he said sold But i guess Junior had a bid of 20k in before the sale or something like that. i dont think he was watching and someone said who bought the 110 it only went 20k and Junior said i guess i did. I may have this all messed up, so hopefully someone remember the whole story

[Tom Cwach]

I was there. The engine was steamed before the sale. Junior was telling people to stay away from it, that the boiler was junk and could let go at anytime. He also had told some that he had a good boiler at home to fix it. My friends and I were discussing where the price would end up bidding against someone that had a boiler already and if you could find another good boiler what one would cost. When the bid was down to $20,000 Mr Hilpiper said he had that for an opening bid over breakfast that morning. After a few bids that got up to $29,000 the four of us sitting together thought we should hit it a few times but the gavel came down. I talked to the seller and asked why he had Hilpiper do the sale, He said he had seen their ad in the magazines. I asked him again to be sure and he stated that he had never been to a sale that Hilpiper called before hiring them. I need to put in my will not to have Hilpiper for an auctioneer.