Paybacks Are Worse!

High-Octane Stunts, Rock Stars, and Rare Antiques: Inside This Week’s Donley Auctions Radio Show

This week’s episode is packed with the kind of eclectic energy and insider expertise you’ve come to expect from the team. From stunt-double realtors to rock-and-roll guests, Randy and the crew cover serious ground. We’re diving into market trends for firearms, teasing incredible upcoming collections (including some "Holy Grail" phonographs), and sharing a hilarious prank story that nearly gave a master restorer a heart attack. If you’re a collector, a consignor, or just love a good story, you won’t want to miss this one.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:46] Shauna’s Double Life: Randy kicks things off sharing updates on his daughter Shauna, who isn’t just a top Chicago realtor—she’s also a professional stuntwoman currently working on the set of Chicago Fire.

• [01:53] Firearm Market Trends: A recap of last Saturday’s firearm auction reveals a surprising trend: pistols and handguns are commanding higher prices and selling faster than long guns, while hunting guns saw an unexpected dip despite the season.

• [02:50] March Military Auction Call: The team is already gearing up for the next big gun and military auction in March. Now is the time to consign ammo, reloading gear, and camping equipment.

• [03:22] Roadshow at the Card Show: Ryan is heading to the Breaktime Sports Card Show in Lake Zurich/Kildeer this weekend. He shows off an autographed screen-used placard from the movie Rudy and invites locals to bring cards, coins, and jewelry for appraisal.

• [05:08] The Gun Room Makeover: Construction is underway! The old "dish room" is being transformed into a high-security, professional gun vault with upgraded lighting to better inspect serial numbers and merchandise.

• [07:08] Trench Art Treasures: Joey O’Brien previews a fascinating consignment of theater-made trench art, featuring a P-38 and a Spitfire model crafted from 50-caliber bullets and artillery shells, coming up in the February Banister auction.

• [08:25] The Legend of Randall Knives: A pristine collection of Randall knives has just been consigned. Randy touches on the history of these blades, designed in WWII and popularized by Special Forces in Vietnam, noting how rare it is for collectors to let them go.

• [09:05] Cowboy & Indian Auction Prep: The team is braving the cold for a road trip to Iowa to pick up a major collection of Native American artifacts for the next Cowboy and Indian auction.

• [10:00] Holiday Consignment Wishlist: While Susan suggests downsizing, Randy wants "BIG" items for 2026—biplanes, tanks, cannons, and carnival rides.

• [12:00] Rock Star Guest: Louie Depos surprises the studio! Fresh off a two-year tour with the band Styx, he stops by to catch up and chat about the upcoming tour with Chicago.

• [13:30] Master of Restoration: Randy praises Louie’s other career as a master antique restorer, crediting him with bringing some of the auction house’s most complex projects back to life.

• [14:50] The "Holy Grail" Phonograph: The group gathers around a rare tinfoil phonograph from the upcoming Kenburg collection. It’s a dream machine for collectors, set to hit the block in July.

• [15:20] Phonograph Show Schedule Shakeup: Important news for phonograph collectors: The annual show is moving from June to July to finally avoid conflicts with Father’s Day and graduations (a win for the wives!).

• [16:15] The Great Phonograph Prank: The team recounts a legendary prank they pulled on Louie, involving a fake replica of a rare gold-leaf "Vernis Martin" Victrola and a staged "accident" that left Louie speechless.

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Union, IL 60180

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!