Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Farm Auctions Are crazy

The last few farm auctions i have gone to, the prices for gas pumps are going crazy. I know Jack sims' book is getting dates, but I think the info is still useable. went to an auction on Saturday and there were the "usual gang of suspects" and we were talking about the "value" of the pumps. One in particular was an Ottowa. In fair condition, glass intact, straight, etc. sold for $2600. ($1900 in Jack's book) A tall Tokheim 39 sold for $600 and a beat up bowser was over $500. A Wayne 40 that was missing most many parts went for over $1000. Am I missing something? Those of the usual gang that were there are no cheap skates. Have prices moved up that much? if not, I thnk I am going to start taking all of my pumps to farm auctions for the "best prices." Have any of you other folks run into this?

It's not quite THAT nuts in Illinois yet as far as I've seen. Must be the Scottsdale effect spilling over into the hobby.....

I live in West Central Illinois, and here are of a few of the past farm auction pump prices. Clockface gasboy - 135.00...... 5 foot Bennett(not for sure on model) electric reset, with no site glass - 325.00 ...... Low Base Wayne, no glass 825.00.....Are you sitting down Tall ten gallon Fry, the glass had a 4 inch crack that the auction service produced while moving it. Sold for 1,125 and the guy (not a gas pump guy) had intentions of saving the glass. Broke the glass loading it. I have noticed the prices of cheap cans on the rise at small auctions, which I think is due to antique/flea market dealers thinking that they are getting a good buy for resale, when they really aren't. I went to an auction that had quit a few cans at it and bought some really good cans for less than fair price. Quaker maid paper cans were getting 10-17.50 each out of them, which I did not buy any, but I bought a Klump Oil Co. can(this is who Wareco bought out) for $20. Bought a round D-X metal outboard for $40. Cans that I should have bought for $1-$5 dollars to resale, I could not buy. Signs are over priced no matter what auction you go to. It almost seems smarter to wait and go to a show to spend money, there are always deals at shows.

The last couple Pumps that I looked at where common pumps tall tok 39 for 750.00 w/lots of damage from a snow plow , the next was a short beat up Bennett 966 the couple that had this one wanted 950.00 for it and said to me and I quote " we know what you guys can get for these" I just walk away ,I think that there are to many people who want there cake and eat it to . By the way both these pumps are still standing in the same spot so they didn't sell . just my thoughts

I have picked up a pump or two at an auction reasonable but not in a long time. It's not just the crazies at the auction either. I stopped the other day and asked about a semi rough old G&B 96C. The lady said yes it's for sale and I know how rare it is and the price is $2000. My first inclination was to ask her if she was on any heavy medication but I refrained and thanked her for her time and went on. It's getting tough to find 'em out in the wild for cheap anymore.

Mike

$2000??? Man, I think she would have had to call 911 to pick me up off her porch! I was BLOWN AWAY when I spotted a Bennet 150 clockface at Daytona....not real rough, but not re-done....marked as "sold" next to the $5500 price!

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Too many toys, not enough play-time!

Last friday night a wayne 80 large base redone with crown and pump plates all the real thing sold at a local auction for 1175. I didn't think I would be abel to touch it for less than 2500.so I didn't go.That is 2 pumps that I missed at the same barn in the last 30 days.

I have got alot of my best deals at farm auctions. Hey George dont miss the next sale at the barn with any pumps. You just never know what it will do. If I decide to sell my pumps I will bring them to the Scottsdale area lol

this is my first trip onto this website, talked to oldgas, last winter in columbia mo. he put me onto it. i check it out every evening, and decided the auction question was one i could comment on with some knowledge.i live in clinton illinois which is about dead center of illinois. i like pumps, and about eight months ago i went to a local sale about 20 miles away. they advertised a wayne pump up auctioneers lingo. it was a 615, also an old rusty electric gas pump , this one happened to be a wayne 60-S, showcase pump, of course i stuck around,most of the collectors i knew dropped out slowley when the bidding started on the wayne 60 S till there was myself and another young couple tugging at each other still bidding. when i finally got the pump bought for $1150.00, the couple bid the wayne 615 in for $1200.00. when i went to pay up ,i got to talking to the couple, and they told me that they were not pump collectors, they just wanted a pump to put in the yard for decoration. this is the kind of buying that drives the market crazy. we laughed about it and i told them if they had quit bidding about $500.00 i would have given them a pump for free. the good part was the wayne 60 had tydol ad plates and this couple had the tydol globe to match, which i bought from them.thanks for listening, this is my first post, hope i did it right. cmeon66

Welcome cmeon66....... Great story auctions bidding is surprizing as they say it only takes 2.
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REX LIKES STORIES

Check out this auction for this Saturday in Ohio. go to johnnyregula.com we are selling 16 gas pumps!

Rex & I won't tell how many 60's & visibles we got for FREE !
db

Welcome to Shop Talk, cmeon66.
I talk to a lot of enthusiasts at swap meets. Many say they visit Oldgas.com regularly but have never registered and posted a message on Shop Talk. Glad you took the big first step.
I enjoyed your auction story. Thanks for sharing that with us.

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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

Guys,, here is another farm auction story,,,This past Saturday I went to an auction in Union, OR. (just outside of Le Grande, OR) The web page of the auction co. showed two Bennett 646 in perfect condition. I traveled about 2.5 hrs hoping to get the pumps. Bidding was slow at first and everyone stopped at about 250. There was two for us left. I bid up to 475 and was outbid at 500..He got both at two times the money..Talked to him after the auction and he stated 'don"t matter what they are worth. I wasn't leaving without these pumps, I'd would have gone to 1000 if necessary'...So anything can happen at auctions....Warren