to read LL Auctions Newsletter

The Winning Bid
A Publication by
COMING
ATTRACTIONS
J U LY
5 – Annual Red,White & Blue
Carmine,TX, Auction
9 – On-Line Bidding Ends for
Mozley Estate
12 – Storage Unit Auctions:
Houston
19 – Storage Unit Auctions:
Killeen
26 – Storage Unit Auctions:
Austin & Round Rock
AUGUST
Volume 2, Number 2
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
On-Line Only Multi-Estate
Auction: Dickinson
Large On-Line Only Auction –
Schneider Estate:
Giddings,TX
★
SEPTEMBER
★
On-Line Only Auction –
Weaver Estate
On-Line Only Auction –
Fielder Estate
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
★★★★★
Be sure to check our
website often for other
auctions that will be added to
this schedule.
www.texas-auctions.com
★
★
★
★
Summer 2008
Texas Attic Treasure
S
ome people might think that as an
auctioneer, one just shows up the day
of auction, and talks real fast. Well, I
have to tell you, from great experience, that
it is much more involved than that. I like
to take a very “hands on” approach, when
we are dealing with
auction items. This
means picking up the
items, photographing
them and helping load
them into the trailer.
I guess I like to see,
touch and feel the
items so I know first
hand as much about
them as possible.
We had more than a
hands-on experience
recently while we were
packing up items for
the July Carmine
auction. It was a beautiful day and we were
out in La Bahia, Texas.
For those of you who might not know
where this tiny little town is located
(and I use the word town generously), if
you have been to Round Top, for the big
twice a year antiques festival, you have
probably made a trip down Hwy 237
through La Bahia. You might have even
been to the antiques show in La Bahia.
If not, I highly recommend it and the
homemade desserts they sell.
Our day started out nicely. We did a
walk though with our customer who hired
us to take the items from the family “home
place” to auction. Afterwards, she and her
husband headed back to their home in
Houston and we set about our work of
lotting, packing and loading. We had
finished the shed, the barn and the
workshop and had been working our way
up to the main house. One thing all three
of us noticed was that the house had attic
windows, but having been in the house
earlier in the day, we
didn’t notice any attic
access. After searching
again, I decided it
was time to make a
phone call.
“How in the world
does one get into the
attic?” I could not help
but ask. What I heard
next made the hair on
my arms stand up.
“Oh, that’s been closed
off for probably 40
years, or so”. WOW!
“What’s up there?”
I couldn’t help but
wonder. She said she
thought a bed, but
didn’t know what else. I mentioned that
they had a nice extension ladder down by
one of the barns, and could we use it, and
go in through the windows?
“Sure, anything up in that attic can be
sold, if it’s sellable. Just enter at your own
risk and watch out for spiders”.
That was all we needed to hear to get us
excited. Not the part about the spiders, but
the fact that it was feeling like a treasure
hunt. What could be in that attic? Would
we find old toys? family heirlooms? glassware that may have been left untouched for
40 years? The suspense was killing us.
My dad (who many of you know helps
out, and bless his heart, was up for the
(continued on page 2)
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
2
Texas Attic Treasure
(continued from page 1)
adventure) and Nellie (who was helping
that day, and I think even more curious
than I was), set about to get the ladder
positioned up to the attic window.
We decided to send Nellie up the ladder
first. She approached the window and
struggled to open it. Finally after what
seemed like an eternity, she opened the
window, stuck her head
in and carefully
scanned from side to
side. Dad and I were
looking at each other,
waiting to hear her
reaction. She let out
a sound of “ooohhh”,
now this was a good
‘oh’ sound, unlike an
‘ugh, there are spiders’
sound.
She came down the
ladder to report her
findings. “There is an
iron bed, two benches and lots of crates
and boxes.”
So now I had to take a look myself. We
sent Nellie back up and I followed, this
time with flashlights. We found a pie safe,
with just a hint of the old green paint still
on it. It’s that wonderful retro green color
and the screens in it were all good.
“Ok, so now let’s look at the benches,”
I told Nellie. They were nestled into each
other and when we carefully stepped
around and were able to upright one of
them, we discovered that they were
double bead board benches, they not only
matched, they were in excellent condition.
We saw the bed on the far side of the
attic, it was tied with wire and suspended
from the roof. The boxes were filled with
old bottles, including an old Coke bottle
from Houston Texas. We found several
old toys and games, as well as a Gene
Autry cap pistol.
“We’ve got to get that pie safe down,”
Nellie said. “Oh, we are going to get it
out of here, it’s fabulous!” I told her.
Now, we only had to break the news to
Summer 2008
my dad, who was waiting patiently and
holding the ladder for us as we came out
of the attic.
We made a plan to take out the center
windows by removing the wood window
casing and gently tapping on them until
attic. We got the pie safe on its side and
I was on the ladder, just outside the
window. Once the pie safe had cleared
the window, it was time to lay it flat on its
back, so the ladder would hold it’s weight,
and we could inch it down. Nellie was still
up in the attic, hanging onto the
legs of the pie safe.
Did I mention how windy it was?
Wouldn’t you know it, just as we are
getting ready to flip the pie safe
onto its back, a howling gust of
wind came along. Dad held tight to
the ladder, I hung onto the ladder
and pie safe and Nellie was gripping
the feet of the pie safe and holding
onto it for dear life (both her life
and the pie safes).
As you will see by the photo, and
at the auction in Carmine, the story
does have a happy ending. The pie
safe, dad, Nellie and myself made it
out intact. The double bead board
benches were almost a repeat of the
pie safe escapade, and the bed and
bottles and toys found their way
out of the attic and down the ladder
without anything (or anyone)
getting broken.
We decided it was time for a
break. We sat out on the porch steps of
the “home place” with cold sodas, a nice
breeze and a prayer of thanks that no one
got hurt. I told my dad and Nellie,
“It’s just a shame we were all so busy,
and we didn’t have anyone there to take a
picture, I’m not sure anyone will believe
what we just did”.
they budged. We then had about a 20
inch wide opening. Thank goodness the
windows were tall; we took both of them
out and now had enough room (after
carefully measuring) to bring down the
pie safe.
We left dad at the base of the ladder to
steady it and Nellie went back into the
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3
We Get Mail
Hey Lisa,
I am sending you this
picture of a pit we bought
at one of your auctions a
little over a year ago. I
really LOVE this pit and
did a lot of work on it, had
to make some welds and a
new paint job.
We will be seeing you at
the next auction!
– Thomas
When and where will the auction results be posted? Will you
send me the results? – DC
We do not post overall past auction results. If you have placed an
absentee bid with us for an auction, you will be contacted that evening
or the next day ONLY if you are the winning bidder.
Thanks, Lisa. It has been a pleasure working with you. When
can you send the sewing box? I’d like to give it to Penny before
Christmas, if possible. Again, thanks a million! By the way, if
you ever expand to Virginia, let me know - we will be moving
in 5 years and will need the same services! – Mark
I am not exactly sure how I ended up on your list. However,
I would like to say that you ROCK!!!! My wife and I love the
auction circuits and try to stay on top of them, but your friendly
reminders are very helpful. Thanks again!
PS: Is there anyway we could arrange for my e-mail address to be
the only e-mail address you send out the reminders to? You know,
that would eliminate a lot of competition at the auctions. We
would love to be the only ones there!!! ;) Just Kidding.
Take care – CB
I LOVE my new living
room furniture I bought at
auction. I am sending you a
picture so you can see how it
looks. You might notice the
huge Lion picture I got from
one of your last few auctions.
It’s one of my very favorite
things that I own. Guess most of my house has been furnished by
LL Auctions. Hmmm.....what room can I work on now?
– Vernell
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
Summer 2008
My name is Joe and I am trying to get into autograph collections. I have several sports items that I have won at your previous
auctions and have enjoyed each and every one more than the last.
We have been to your Carmine auctions, as well as several on-site
locations (SO MUCH FUN!!!). But back to this item....I was
wondering if this was going to be an on-line only item, or if it was
going to reach the bidding stand. Also, if it is going to the floor,
can I give you a price to stay in the game? I will not be available in
person, but will be able to watch it online. Let me know what I
should do. Thank you for your time and all of the wonderful
excitement that only LL Auctions can provide! – Joe
We do several types of auction, as you mentioned. The on-line only
auctions, are visible to bidders and non-bidders alike. In these auctions, you see how many people have bid and what the current bid is.
For our Carmine auctions, the on-line catalog allows you to leave an
absentee bid ONLY. You do not see what anyone else has bid, or what
the current bid is. You are NOT able to watch the live bidding, from
a computer, during the auction.
We simply ask that you leave us your maximum amount that you are
willing to bid, and we enter all of the absentee bids into a spreadsheet.
On auction day, your bid will be executed along with the floor bidders,
just as if you were there. We do not start you at your maximum
amount. If you are the winning high bidder, we will contact you that
evening, or the next day. Happy Bidding!
As promised, here’s the picture of those crazy auctioneers with
the hats on their heads. Pretty darned funny!
We’ll see you at the summer
auction, and we’re bringing
more people!
Thanks for the fun,
– Jane
Well, I think I’m going to get addicted to on-line auctions now.
Your’s works much better than ebay.
Q. If I bid on the on-line auction catalog for Carmine (because
it looks different from this other on-line auction) will it track it
just the same. Can I use my same user name and password?
– Patty
The software for the Carmine catalog (for absentee bidding) is
different software than for the on-line only auctions. You will need to
register separate for Carmine absentee bidding.
I want to thank you, your hubby and friend for all of the fantastic
help yesterday. Needless to say, there is no way I could have loaded
the glass table top myself. I made it home without any problems.
I have some people to help me unload it tomorrow. Thanks again,
and I look forward to many more of your great auctions. – Jim
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
4
Summer 2008
On-Line Auction:
Miss Loretta Mozley Estate
LL Auctions is honored to be handling the living estate of Miss Loretta
Mozley of Friendswood, Texas. Miss Mozley is downsizing into a
retirement retreat and her house has sold, therefore all items have been
moved to Dickinson. In addition to Miss Mozley’s items, much of her
mothers cut crystal collection is included in this fine auction.
Bidding will be on-line only beginning Friday, June 27th. Preview will
be on Sunday, July 6th from 1-3pm. See the home page of our website
for directions. www.texasauctions.biz
Bidding will end on Wednesday, July
9th at 10am. Items will close at a rate of
8 items every 5 minutes. Happy bidding!
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
5
Summer 2008
Selling Real Estate at Auction
M
ore and more sellers are
making the choice to sell their
homes by the auction method.
Sometimes sellers do this for properties
that are hard to value, like custom luxury
homes, waterfront homes, ranches,
acreage and homes with historical
significance. Though many properties
that go up for auctions
have never been listed in
the market before, some
have been listed, but
have not sold as they are
competing with lots of
other properties.
Sellers Know When Their Property
Will Sell. Long listing periods for real
estate can be avoided if you sell your
property at auction. When the auction
date is set, you know exactly when your
property will be sold. And if it’s your
home you’re selling, you don’t have to
hassle with that endless flow of people
Auction Advantages
Quick Turnaround
Time. Probably the
number one advantage is
the quick turnaround time
auctioneers offer. An auction almost
guarantees a sale within 90 days, and
most sales are complete within 30-45
days. The sale itself is conducted within
a day or two. For some properties, the
bidding lasts only a few minutes,
although there have been plenty of
instances where bidders have become
involved in a “bidding war” lengthening
the time of the sale, and hiking up the
price of the property. But that’s also an
advantage. In short, auctions are perfect
for individuals or businesses who have a
deadline to sell their property, but want a
competitive sale.
There’s No Limit on the Final Sales
Price. This is, indeed, an advantage.
With traditional real estate sales methods,
sellers run the risk of overpricing their
property and seeing very little interest.
Or, they run the risk of under pricing
their property and selling it for much less
than it is worth. At an auction, the price
is determined by the highest bidder and
there is no cap on high bids.
inspecting your
home at any
possible day and
hour and having
to always have
your home in
show ready
condition.
No Contingencies. Property sold
by the auction method is sold without
contingencies. This means the property is
sold “as is.” Prospective buyers are given
time to view the property prior to the sale
so that they can inspect it and make an
informed decision. Sellers don’t have to
worry about re-negotiating a contract
after they’ve already agreed upon a price
when property inspections are completed.
Sellers also do not have to worry about
the “closing” being held up because the
buyer is trying to qualify for a home loan
or must sell his or her own property
before he or she can buy theirs.
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
Your home is also not tied up for an
option period, during which prospective
buyer showings traditionally stop while
your listing is shown as “pending”.
Comprehensive Accelerated
Marketing. Auctioneers are well-versed
at marketing to the public; they have a
client list at their disposal and access to
“Auctioneer only” web marketing. They
are also used to marketing focused on the
event of auction day. The advantage here
is that the real estate will get marketed to
a number of potential buyers that it
wouldn’t have been marketed to otherwise and will focus on getting buyers to
act within a specific timeline.
Lisa Gay at LL Auctions is also a
licensed REALTOR and has made the
decision to join the real estate staff of
Linda Welsh
Realty when
conducting
real estate
auctions.
Note that
this, in no
way, takes
away from
the estate
and personal
property
auctions that we do. LL Auctions is still
and always will be, its own individual
company. We feel that Linda and Leo
Welsh and their entire team have a
wealth of knowledge regarding selling real
estate at auction. We are excited to work
together with them when selling real
estate in the Houston and central Texas
area via the auction method of marketing.
If you have real estate property you
would like to consider selling via the
auction method, please contact us and
we can answer any questions that you
may have.
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
6
Summer 2008
On-Line Auction Frenzy
I
n case you haven’t already noticed,
we have a lot of on-line only auctions
on our schedule. Many of you have
already discovered the fun and excitement
of bidding on-line, at your convenience,
from your home or office, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
Many of our live auction bidder’s say
they are hooked, and love the flow and
pace of the on-line bidding platform. It’s
simple, easy to use and convenient. With
the price of gas at $4.00 a gallon, bidding
on-line saves you money. You only drive
out to pick up items you bought, no more
driving across town, not knowing if you’ll
purchase anything.
For the auctions in Dickinson we use
climate controlled storage. This allows us
to take as much, or as little space, as we
need. Lately so many of the estates that we
handle cannot be done on site. Sometimes
the home is already sold and the time
frame doesn’t allow us to conduct the
on-line auction on premise. Other times,
the parking, size of the home or deed
restrictions can be of concern. Thus, all
of these great estate items are packed up
and moved into storage. Don’t confuse
our delinquent storage auctions with the
on-line estates that are moved into
storage. These are two totally different
types of auctions.
Questions we often hear are, “If I win
something, when and where do I pick it
up, or can it be shipped?” If you need your
item shipped we ask that you contact us to
arrange shipping. You will be asked to give
us a credit card number and the shipping
charges will be billed to your credit card.
We pack and ship in house, which saves
you money. For those of you who will pick
up your items, there is a pick-up day noted
on the home page of our website, along
with the address and directions. You
MUST pick up your items, or arrange
for shipping by the pick-up date. If you
have not contacted us for shipping, or
you do not pick up your items on the
pick up date; your items are considered
abandoned, and you WILL loose your
bidding privilege.
If you haven’t already signed up to bid
with us, you should try it. You too, might
just get hooked.
Are You A Whiz? Take Our Quiz!
Test your collecting know-how by matching the descriptions with the correct illustrations.
2
4
3
5
A. Wyandotte
B. cactus topez
C. A Bonnie Longaberger
D. bride’s basket
E. chocolate pot
1
1. cactus topez
2. chocolate pot
3. Wyandotte
4. bride’s basket
5. A Bonnie Longaberger
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
7
Summer 2008
The Longaberger Basket Story
A
s some of you may have noticed, I have the dubious honor of
having sold every Longaberger basket ever made. ☺ On-line or
live, they just seem to keep on coming.
The Longaberger basket story is not as well
known in Texas as in Ohio, where the baskets
originate. We decided it was time to fill you in
on what Paul Harvey would call, “the rest of
the story”.
In the early 1900’s baskets were as common
as paper or plastic bags are in today’s society.
J.W. Longaberger worked at the Dresden
Basket factory until it closed. After the
depression, he and his wife Bonnie, bought the
company and opened Ohio Ware Basket Co.
After J.W. passed away, his son Dave opened
J.W.’s Hand Woven Baskets in Dresden Ohio.
In 1978 Dave came up with the marketing
approach of selling his baskets through
independent home sales consultants, and thus
Longaberger was brought into homes across
the area, and soon across the world. Dave’s
daughter became President of the company
after Dave’s death in 1999.
If you visit Ohio and would like to take a tour of the Longaberger
Company, you will easily be able to spot their offices. They are shaped
like a huge Longaberger basket.
And now you know....the rest of the story.
Did You Know?
W
ooden furniture legs were
capped with wheels made of
brass so they didn’t rust after
mopping. The brass was replaced by
porcelain in the 19th century and by
wooden wheels in the 20th century.
When a piece of ceramic is marked
with its country of origin, it was usually
made after 1890.
Marks of origin on silver, differing at
each assay office, were first introduced
in London towards the end of the 14th
century; this enables the location of the
office of assay to be traced.
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
What’s at the Bottom
of the Glass?
If you are planning to
come out to the
Carmine Auction
Saturday, July 5 be sure and
pick up lot number 429,
a beer stein. I think you’ll
find what is in the bottom
of the glass, is unusual
and interesting!
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
8
Lightning Rods
S
omething you don’t see very
often these days, are lightning
rods. Matter of fact, until we
pulled several out of a local estate,
I had not given them much thought.
I have to admit I was intrigued
when I saw the beautiful marked
glass ball on the rod and thought it
was time to find out more
about lightning rods.
A lightning rod is a
single component in
a lightning protection system. In addition to rods placed
at regular intervals on
the highest portions of
a structure, a lightning
protection system typically includes
a rooftop network of conductors,
multiple conductive paths from the
roof to the ground, bonding connections to metallic objects within the
structure and a grounding network.
The actual rooftop lightning rod is a
metal strip or rod, usually of copper or aluminum. Lightning
protection systems are installed on structure, trees, monuments,
bridges and even water vessels to protect them from lightning
damage. Individual lightning rods are sometimes called finials,
air terminals or strike termination devices.
Lightning damage has been with humanity since people started
building tall structures. Early structures made of wood and stone
tended to be short and in valleys and as a result rarely hit by
lightning. As buildings become taller, lightning became a
significant threat.
In the United States, the pointed lightning rod conductor was
invented by Benjamin Franklin, as part of his groundbreaking
explorations in electricity. In the 19th century the lightning rod
became a symbol of American ingenuity and a decorative motif.
Lightning rods were often embellished with ornamental glass balls.
These are now prized by collectors.
It is commonly believed, erroneously, that a protector ending in
a sharp point at the peak is the best means to conduct the current
of a lightning strike to the ground. According to field research, a
rod with a rounded end is better. Be it a pointed end, or a
rounded end, collectors prefer the older lightning rods with their
original beautiful glass balls. The more vibrant the color, the more
collectable it is.
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
Summer 2008
Tuesday thru Saturday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Yesteryears
ANTIQUES & GIFT EMPORIUM
104 N. Echols
Caldwell, Texas 77836
979-567-3912
Yesteryears is a cooperative antique
shop which offers clientele a great
selection of estate pieces, glassware,
unique jewelry, books, linens, furniture,
gi items and much more…
e Fun Place to Shop
ere’s Something
for Everyone!
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com
9
Summer 2008
Past Prices Realized At Auction
P
eople often ask us, “What will my item bring at auction?”
The fact is that even the appraisers on the Antiques Road
Show don’t have a crystal ball. No one can really predict
who will show up at an auction, and what people will desire to buy.
We try to explain to our sellers that some items may bring much
less then they had hoped for, while others items bring a much
larger sum of money than they would have expected.
This page is just a small sample of some of our recent past prices
realized. As you can see, prices are unpredictable, but then again,
isn’t that what makes going to an auction so much fun!
RS Prussia Bowl
$
175
$
Crock
140
Craftsman Ligh
ts
$
110
Astronaut
Autographed Book
$
630
Ormalu Mounted
e
Occasional Tabl
$
35
Bronty
Charger Golf Club
$
Royal Bayreuth
Toothpick Holder
$
40
s
Walking Liberty 1/2’
$
80
1100
French Horn
$
30
Tall Case Clock
$
630
LL Auctions ★ PO Box 1371 ★ Dickinson, Texas 77539
713-248-6186 ★ www.texas-auctions.com