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News Article  
Black Friday shopping at Dale’s
By Nancy Kelly

Holland, Mich. — While the shopping malls were packed with frantic Black Friday shoppers, an excellent crowd was checking gifts off their holiday shopping lists at Dale’s Auctioneering Service. Their well-lit, spacious 2,560 square foot building provided a welcoming environment on the chilly November morning.

Dale and Elaine Flokstra hosted this consignment auction, and set a friendly tone as they greeted buyers by name and chatted with them. When the auction began, Dale and his son Tom traded off calling bids while Elaine clerked, and family members and friends capably took care of the other tasks. There was no buyer’s premium, but there was a three percent fee for credit card purchases.

When a huge set of Copeland Spode’s Tower blue and white dishes were offered for consideration, there was ample interest in the room. First up was a selection of six pieces that included a beautiful teapot, two pitchers, and a coffee pot, plus a large bowl and plate. They were eagerly claimed with a high bid of $175.

Next on the block was a small group of three bowls, a salt and pepper set, and a trivet which finished at $75. Then the remaining members of the set were put up for sale, including service for approximately 10 with plates, cups, bowls, and other essentials. This final offering was claimed with a bid of $275, making the entire Copeland Spode’s Tower set draw a final value of $525.

A set of Haviland dishware, including 6 very nice covered serving dishes, also proved popular, departing with a high bid of $150.

The selection of furniture included many unique pieces. A small white baker’s cabinet with a galvanized front was the highest selling item in the category, earning a final bid of $170. Not far behind, an eye-catching black cabinet with delicate hand-painted decoration was claimed with a final bid of $140.

A useful, yet attractive, wooden kitchen cupboard with three doors, two drawers, porcelain metal work surface, and flour sifter went to a new home with a high bid of $120, and an elaborately-carved dark wood Victorian parlor table finished at $70. There were other interesting items such as a church pew, an antique changing table, various chairs, tables, doll houses, and even a large metal multiple-chicken nesting box.

This was a consignment auction, consisting of items from 18 sellers, so the variety of items was extensive, with most in very good condition. Toys, both antique and modern, were found scattered throughout the room. The vintage red metal pedal tractor with wooden pedals and shift lever was thought to possibly be a Murray model, but there were no markings on the toy to confirm that. It was sold with its matching red pull-behind wagon for a high bid of $100.

The “Automatic Score Deluxe Arcade Type Electric Pinball” game by Marx was offered with the original box. Several shoppers stepped up and played a few balls, recounting that they used to own one just like it. The tabletop pinball set was claimed with a high bid of $35. A similar item, titled “Lunar Landing Electric Pinball” in the box closed at $32.50. A mixed box of metal and plastic toy tractors left with a final bid of $35, a huge plastic Radio Flyer wagon ended at $35, and a corresponding antique metal Radio Flyer wagon finished at $25. The vintage wooden croquet set with metal rolling rack drew many fond memories before crossing the block with a final bid of $25.

Home furnishings were plentiful at this event, with the lamps dominating the field. A delicate white leaded glass table lamp was eagerly claimed with a final bid of $60, while a stained-glass style table lamp with green, pink and yellow in the intricate shade finished at $50. A brilliantly-colored hanging lamp had a glass shade described as a “fruit bowl” which consisted of multi-colored pears, apples, cherries, and grapes. This festive light found a new home with a final bid of $45. There were also more rustic light sources, with a shiny silver and a matte white metal lantern selected from a choice-out lot at $37.50 each and a very unusual American Gas Machine lantern with a long metal shaft supporting a blue glass shade finishing at $35.

Vintage storage boxes were also very popular at this auction, and there were several to choose from, each with their own distinctive character. The bench-top multi-drawer machinist tool box in very good condition with wooden face, carrying handle and 12 drawers drew a final bid of $90. A larger wooden box in good condition that appeared home made with eight drawers and a hinged top finished at $60. Several wooden crates with vintage logos stamped on them were offered, including one for “Old Dutch Beer” that finished at $30. A red Budweiser metal cooler from days gone by was claimed with a high bid of $30.

In honor of the fall hunting season in Michigan, three buck deer head mounts gazed at the crowd before being offered for sale. They all went to the same bidder with a final bid of $45 each. More terrifying to observe, there was also a boar head mounted on a wooden plaque. This proved much less popular, requiring a bid of only $10 to take him home.

The license plate collectors were delighted with the box lots of these rusty metal collectibles. The highest-earning group consisted of about 30 plates, dating from the 1920s to the 1950s, all from the state of Nebraska. Several people examined the contents in this crate, and when the bidding finished, it was claimed with a high bid of $80.

Box lots of glassware, dishes, and other ceramic smalls crossed the block with bids of $5-20, which was as expected. One particular lot consisting of miscellaneous vases, bowls, and other knickknacks soared to a final price of $35.

When asked what made this box so special, the successful high bidder smiled and said, “I just wanted it for the turkey,” which was a vintage planter. This is what makes attending an auction fun!

Dale’s Auctioneering Service of Holland offers indoor auctions in their year-round facility, or will travel to remote locations to conduct a sale. They can be reached at (269) 751-8118 or on their website at www.dalesauctioneering.com.

12/4/2017