Our second Tale was sent in by Howard Saidman from Pennsylvania.
Let's title this one:
Knowledge is Like Money In The Bank
Several years ago I was passing through a town
with an auction gallery. I am not sure why, but I
decided to swing by the auction gallery to see if I
could pick up a flyer of an upcoming auction. I ran
into the auctioneer in the lobby, and he said, "Hey!
Do you know anything about planters peanut
items?" I said a little, and he took me into the back
to show me a cast iron Planters Peanut statue, which
I told him, I believed was fake. But, sitting right
next to the statue, was a complete Zeno 5 cent Collar
Button machine, filled with buttons, but broken
glass. Next to it was the mech for a 10 cent Zeno
Collar button. I asked about them, and he said, "Oh,
they will be in an auction next week."
I took off from work early, drove 2 hours to this
auction. The Zenos where in one lot together, and to
my dismay all the collar buttons were gone. I also
looked at the 10-cent mech, in brighter light, and
discovered it was New Old Stock. The 5-cent was
very rusted. The lot came up and I figured I would
jump in when it hit $400. Well, the first bid was
$10, and then it stalled. I was amazed. I threw my
hand up at $15, and no one else bid, and I got all of
it. I guess without the buttons no one knew what it
was.
All of a sudden I hear laughter, I looked up, and
the auctioneer is holding an original embossed Ford
gumball machine globe, with decal. He was making
jokes, on what you could do with it. I quickly bid
$5, and he yelled SOLD. I heard a few people
behind comment on what an idiot I must be to be
buying this junk. I then saw the Ford machine that
went with the embossed globe, but it had a newer
Ford globe. I eventually wound up with that for less
than $100. Needless to say I had a very happy ride
home.
Since I was at this auction I ended up getting on
their mailing list. About 2 years later I get a flyer,
with a picture of a Masters Fantail with decal, and a
Masters Gooseneck. I decided since I was lucky at
this place, I would go back. When I arrived I saw the
Fantail, which was in great shape, and the
Gooseneck.
There where also several junk
machines like Toy and Joy, and a newer Victor.
I spied my competition and saw one Jukebox
dealer who I assumed would recognize a Fantail.
Well, the auction started. My heart sank when the
Toy and Joy hit $75, and the Victor went for over
$100. I figured, the Masters was going to be high.
The Gooseneck came up first, and went for well
over $400. Oh well, I thought, my trip would be
worthless. The fantail came up. I was getting ready
to bid when it hit the $700 mark. Well, it opened and
stalled at $300. I could not believe it, $100 for a
Victor, over $400 for a Gooseneck, and the Fantail
stalls at $300? I quickly started bidding, and the
machine again stalled at $350. I was the high bidder,
and was in shock when the auctioneer said SOLD. I
could not figure out why the Gooseneck went high-
er then the Fantail. Well, after the auction I sort of
figured it out when the buyer of the Gooseneck
came up to me and said. Do you collect machines,
and if so, can you tell me what I just bought?
Knowledge is truly "money in the bank."