Have At It!

Guns, Safes, and The "Clown Truck" Calliope: Unpacking the Ryder Collection and More

This week’s episode is a masterclass in the "thrill of the hunt." We kick things off with a final rally for the massive firearms and ammo auction, but the real heart of the show is a heartwarming and hilarious deep dive into the legendary Ryder Collection. Randy sits down with Hope Ryder and her sons to share incredible stories of how the late Frank Ryder acquired some of the world’s rarest automatic music machines—including lowering a piano out of a second-story window! Plus, we take you into the "tunnel" to preview gun safes, flight simulators, and get a masterclass on vintage license plate valuation from Mike Donley himself.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:25] Firearms & Ammo Auction Preview: The team gears up for the Saturday, December 13th auction. With doors opening at 8:00 AM, they showcase a massive array of long guns, handguns, and enough ammunition to stock a small armory.

• [02:14] The "Made from Scratch" Shoutout: A sweet thank you to consignor Mike Lippy for fueling the team with donuts—though Randy is strictly cut off from the supply.

• [03:39] The Ryder Collection Interview: Randy travels to Wabash, Indiana, to interview Hope Ryder and her sons, Carl and Mark. They discuss the provenance of their phenomenal collection of nickelodeons, band organs, and orchestrions coming to auction.

• [04:14] A Lifetime of Collecting: Hope recounts meeting Frank when he was just a "news boy" who would knock on doors to save Victrolas from the curb, eventually trading a trailer-load of finds for a single player piano.

• [06:46] The "Eagle’s Theater" Piano Heist: One of the best stories of the show—Frank couldn’t use the broken elevator at the Eagle’s Theater, so he removed a wall barrier and lowered a massive piano out of a window to the ground.

• [09:34] The Polar Bear "Clown Truck": The story behind a calliope purchased from a circus. Frank bought the entire "clown truck"—a Chevy panel van with polar bears painted on the side—just to get the instrument inside.

• [10:58] The New Year's Eve Deal: A testament to the addiction of collecting: Frank bought a white Wurlitzer band organ on New Year's Eve while his wife was dressed in her evening gown. He even had to put the bank on the phone to prove his check was good before hauling it home for the party.

• [14:48] The "Face in the Box" Photos: A behind-the-scenes look at the Donley Auctions staff Christmas card, featuring a quirky "head in a box" photo trend that’s taking over the office.

• [16:08] Clearing the Floor: A recap of the recent general antiques auction. It’s a great lesson in market reality—sometimes you just need to clear space. Highlights include a Bing train station that surprised everyone by hammering for over $400.

• [17:56] Into the Tunnel: A walking tour of the back "tunnel" area, featuring gun safes, a desk made from an aircraft wing, and a military flight simulator training pod.

• [19:02] License Plate Masterclass: Mike Donley is sorting thousands of plates for the upcoming March 5th auction. He breaks down exactly what makes a plate valuable: low digit counts, age, condition, and matched pairs.

• [22:28] The World Record Holder: A humble brag to close the show—Mike still holds the world record for the highest-selling vintage license plate in Illinois history (Chicago #1).

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Donley Auctions is a team of experienced auction professionals dedicated to creating a fun and exciting auction experience. With a rich history connected to the original Union Phonograph Show, the Seven Acres Museum, and Donley’s Wild West Town, Donley Auctions offers a diverse range of items for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. Specializing in firearms, militaria, coin-op, phonographs, cars, motorcycles, petroliana, antique advertising, architecture, coins, sports memorabilia, early inventions, and more, we are the place to get top dollar for your high-quality antiques and collectibles. We host live and in-person auctions monthly, complete with complimentary food and beverages, as well as online auctions at DonleyAuctions.com, where you can bid from anywhere in the world. Our friendly atmosphere, combined with our commitment to providing an engaging auction experience and expert shipping, makes us the go-to auction house for buyers and sellers alike. Whether you're looking to buy or sell, Donley Auctions is the place to be!