Lets Talk Auction, Mio, Michigan - articles about our auction service

LETS TALK AUCTION NEWS & ARTICLES

40-cents a gallon in Mio? ...

by Ellen Piquan , May 26, 2001 Auction

Published in the July 9, 2001 issue of the Auction Exchange & Collectors News

Forty cents a gallon was the price of gas on a Union 76 gas pump in Mio, Michigan on Memorial Day weekend. No, this wasn't a working pump - it was one of two vintage models that crossed the auction block at a super nice estate sale by Greg and Donna Tuttle of Lets Talk Auction Company. The two 1950s gas pumps brought $230.00 each. Other service station items included a large lighted Sunoco sign for $340 and an eight-foot tall porcelain U.S. Tires sign for $275.00.
The variety of good antiques at this estate and consignment sale drew a large crowd to the comfortable auction facility on M-33. Auctioneer Donna Tuttle, husband Greg and a well-organized staff presented hundreds of items in an enjoyable, fast-paced sale that included furniture and other antiques, dairy and general store collectibles. A signed 1875 walnut dresser with carved pulls and hanky drawers brought $400.00 and was one of many beautiful furniture pieces offered. Another signed and dated antique was an 1887 footstool which made $150.00. A walnut, and cedar-lined chest with carving and inside tray was a good buy for $175.00. Other notable pieces were: oak three-stack bookcase, $350.00; oak lady's bureau with mirror, $70.00; marble-top walnut chest (really nice!), $300.00; rock maple dropleaf table with six chairs, $80.00; Mission oak library table, $85.00; oak pressed-back sewing rocker, $85.00; handsome antique knock-down wardrobe, $280.00. A Philco record player/radio made $175.00. A primitive slant-top bin in great shape was a nice buy at $125.00. And what about a table that turns into a bed? This cleverly designed mahogany piece â€¹called a Ta-Bed finished at $160.00. You'd never guess the library-style table had a bed folded up inside. All of the antique furniture was in beautiful condition. Children's antiques included: a wicker baby buggy that brought $160.00 and a
convertible highchair/rocker, $140.00. A child's dropleaf table made $37.50. Two (damaged) china dolls found new homes for bids of around $25.00 to $30.00, and a tin doll trunk brought $12.50. Farm and dairy items seemed popular with the crowd. Tin lithograph cows that once were premiums of the DeLaval Company brought up to $45.00 each, while a DeLaval cream separator porcelain sign made $120.00. A floor-model bentwood butter churn sold for $150.00 and a brown and white crock churn made $75.00. A glass Dazey four-quart butter churn sold for $90.00. A crock advertising Kreem Rich cottage cheese finished at $40.00. Something interesting to see was the Friday Butter Press, an iron machine with crank handle designed to cut a whole lot of butter into many one - or two-pound blocks. This brought a winning bid of either $5.00 or $10.00 - the auction was moving fast! Glass milk bottles sold at these prices: Fairview, $15.00 to $35.00; Lupton, $52.50; Oxbow Farm of Alpena, $15.00; Harriman Dairy, $10.00; Meadow Gold (a
cream-top bottle), $37.50. General store antiques were offered too. A Star cast iron tobacco cutter (with repaired handle) brought $50.00. An Arcade coffee grinder (complete with hard-to-find bottom glass piece) drew a winning bid of $105.00. A large Lincoln Coffee tin litho bin sold for $200.00 - a good-looking, colorful piece. A bid of $47.50 took the World' Greatest Calumet Baking Powder wooden barrel from Alpena, Michigan. A store scale with weights sold
for $55.00. Large advertising tins brought these prices: Fine Biscuits tin (about three feet tall), $40.00; Quality Malto Milk Biscuit tin with glass handle on top, $25.00; Better Made Potato Chips tin, $7.00. Many other antiques went up for bid. Some prices included: big gray graniteware coffeepot, $22.50; toy wooden cart marked Pet Milk, $52.50; Humpty Dumpty wooden egg crate, $25.00; Oneida Tudor silver plate service in original box, $40.00; ruby flash souvenir cups from Kneeland, Michigan, $52.50 each. Crocks and kitchenware brought these prices: Red Wing #4, $57.50; Unionware Red Wing #6 with handles, $127.50; #12 crock with handles, $70.00 - all in excellent condition. Blue swirl graniteware pieces included a washtub, $20.00; bean pot with lid, $25.00; and three pie plates, $25.00. Roseville pottery vases drew bids as follows: $75.00 for Clematis #102; $90.00 for a Ming Tree hanging planter; and $45.00 for a large Magnolia handled vase (about 18 inches tall) with repairs. Several bidders vied for a solid oak telephone booth with glass doors. Wouldn't it be fun to have this in your house? It finished at $690.00. Lets Talk Auction Company team members were auctioneer Donna Tuttle, Greg Tuttle, sons Gregory and Matthew Tuttle, and Beth Bills, Jack Pence, Jo & Oland Kauffman, Dick Handrich & Ruby Handrich and Cliff Parent. These friendly, helpful people made sure everything was clean and attractively displayed - and if any items were sold in less than perfect condition they made sure to point this out, which is so appreciated by bidders. Donna Tuttle said she'd like to thank the auction staff for all of their help and encouragement. Thanks to everyone at Lets Talk for a fun day at the auction and for their help in putting together this information. They can be reached at 989-848-5158.

NOTE: This was Greg & Donna Tuttle's first Estate Auction after buying their new facility in Mio, Michigan on Sept. 17, 2000. Their auction help were the same people who helped Vern Gerber when he had owned the facility just prior. The help were big supporters of them buying and getting the Auctions going again in Mio at Auction Acres. Greg has been in a family owned Auction Business downstate for over 25 years, and Donna brings in 14 years, together they are a Great Team now owning their own business in Mio, bringing you a hands down Fantastic Auction Service with integrity.