WLS Radio Show - 2025-11-02 E17

What's Hot? Donley's Experts on "Sleepers" and Bidding Wars!

Welcome to the Donley Auctions Hour! This week, Randy, Mike, and Susan are recapping their massive October Fall Classic auction, and the results are a masterclass in why you should never have a garage sale. The episode is packed with stories of "sleeper" items—things estimated for a few hundred dollars that exploded into thousand-dollar bidding wars.

This is a must-listen for anyone who thinks their "old junk" isn't worth anything. The team also dives deep into what they're hunting for right now.

Here are the chronological highlights from this week's show:

• The Big Sale: The show kicks off with a look back at the October Fall Classic. A massive, 9-foot-tall Tiffany-style stained-glass window, originally from a New York mansion, was a highlight [02:55]. It sold for "very good money" and is now heading to a museum, meaning it will likely be off the market forever [03:10].

• Financial Market Antiques: The team discusses the $12,000 sale of an antique stock ticker [05:01]. Randy notes these were often given as retirement gifts, and many are still sitting forgotten in attics and basements across Chicago.

• Gambling & Slot Machines: Gambling items were on fire. A matched set of two small, tabletop "aristocrat" roulette machines, which needed restoration, still brought an astonishing $10,000 apiece [08:04].

• Ryan's Trifecta: The sports, coins, and jewelry auction (Ryan #1's specialty) had a 95% sell-through rate [09:58]. The market for high-end watches was strong, with a box of timepieces including an Omega, a LeCoultre, and a Patek Philippe turning into thousands of dollars for the consignor [10:32].

• The "Sleeper" Hall of Fame: The team shares stories of items that blew past their estimates, proving the power of a global auction audience:

  • A small, glass "Blatz Beer" sign, estimated low, sold for $2,000 [15:00].

  • A "risqué" (for its time) chalkware display for brassieres was another surprise hit [15:43].

  • A porcelain Campbell's Soup can sign, found in a dirty Brooklyn basement, was estimated at $2,000 and sold for $9,500 [20:17].

  • A Levi's jean vest with a Harley patch, estimated at $120, sold for $500 [27:18].

  • A pair of "creepy" face jugs, estimated at $300, sold for $1,200 each [27:36].

• The "JAPS" Potato Chip Can: Randy explains why a simple potato chip can is a holy grail for military collectors. "JAPS" potato chips, a Chicago family brand, had to abruptly change their name to "Jay's" after the attack on Pearl Harbor [29:40]. Those original metal "JAPS" cans are now a rare $1,500 find [30:31].

• "Don't Clean It!": The team gives their single most important piece of advice: Do NOT clean your antiques [32:37]. Don't polish coins, don't shine the patina off lamps, and don't be embarrassed by a "hoarder house." Call the experts before you start throwing things in a dumpster—you could be throwing away thousands [34:15].

• We're Looking For...: The team is actively seeking consignments:

  • Firearms & Military: They are seeking firearms (from antique to modern) and military relics for their upcoming auctions [37:31]. They are fully licensed (FFL and Class 3) to handle everything, including machine guns and cannons [39:07].

  • Japanese & German: WWII items are the hottest, especially Japanese samurai swords and German daggers, swords, and helmets [41:51].

  • Movie Palaces: Mike is hunting for items from Chicago's old movie palaces—posters, projectors, and architectural fragments [47:38].

• Check Your Pockets!: Randy tells a fantastic story about finding $127 in 1919-era "muster out pay" in the pocket of a WWI uniform he acquired in the 1960s [44:37]. He returned it, but the veteran let him keep it. Their coin expert, Ryan, recently informed him that just one of those $10 bills is now worth $1,000 on its own [45:52].

To hear all the stories and get more expert tips, listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/-kWENErZ25Y

Welcome to the Donley Auctions Hour! Here, the thrill of the hunt meets the excitement of the auction block. In this episode, hosts Susan, Mike, and Randy Donley take us on a captivating journey through the world of antiques, military relics, and unique collectibles. From behind-the-scenes glimpses of promoting upcoming auctions to incredible tales of rare finds, this episode is a must-listen for both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the auction scene.