RIVES JUNCTION, Mich. – Lady Fortune shined on the Oct. 16 auction of the Patrick and Beverly Trolz estate, conducted by Auctioneer Doyle Dingman from SpaulDing Associates, where fortunate bidders not only kept dry between two rainstorms, but also had a rare opportunity to purchase new-old stock Harley-Davidson parts.

The late Patrick Trolz was a Harley Davidson enthusiast, according to Dingman, who had owned the Jackson Harley Davidson on Ann Arbor Road for 10 years. As a journeyman tool and die maker, Trolz did a great deal of machining in his basement. Up for auction were general metal lathes, in addition to specific parts for working on Harley motorcycles.

“The parts and accessories here were endless,” Dingman, who sold 540 lots on auction day, said. “The items are stacked high and deep.” Most of the parts, new in the box, dated back to the 1960s and 1970s.

One great find in the basement, a 1958 Harley Davidson Duo Glide motorcycle, had the crowd of more than 250 bidders (from three states) stirred up before settling to a final bid of $10,600.

“That bike – and most of this equipment – sat in the basement for more than 20 years,” Dingman said. “We don’t know whether they’re in working order. I know they haven’t been started in a long time.”

Other older Harley-Davidson motorcycles came up from the basement. A 1968 Harley Davidson XLCH Sportster sold for $5,500; and a 1976 Harley sold for $3,000.

A dirt-track sprint car, that had sat in a trailer on the property for more than 10 years, brought $2,300. A 1993 Ford “Dually” pick-up sold for $1,100.

All quoted prices are hammer prices. SpaulDing Associates do not charge buyer’s premium for such sales, Dingman said.

The Harley-Davidson memorabilia sold handsomely. A Harley “split” fuel tank brought $1,400; a lot of 30 one-quart cans of Harley-Davidson oil sold for $850 (“Those cans may have been older than me,” the 66-year-old Dingman said); and a Harley-Davidson dealer display rack brought $350.

A Harley-Davidson seat also brought $200.

Among the machinery, a Bridgeport milling machine sold for $1,700, a cylinder boring machine brought $1,000, and a Kennedy rolling tool chest brought $750. Metal lathes brought between $700 and $950, according to size.

A 30-foot dual axle car trailer; seemingly “shop-made”, according to Dingman, sold for $1,600. It had also sat in the yard for more than 10 years, he added.

A John Deere 140 lawn tractor with a new 48-inch deck brought $500, a John Deere lawn trailer brought $135; and a Husqvarna walk-behind snow blower sold for $600.

An assortment of snow mobiles brought between $150 to $175.

Operating out of offices in Bellevue, Michigan and Olivet, Michigan, Dingman has been calling bids full-time since 1996. However, he “grew up in the business,” as the son of well-known Michigan auctioneer Harold Dingman, who began calling auctions in 1940.

Contact: (517) 281-5003

www.spauldingassociatesllc.com