WLS Radio Show - 2025-11-09 E18

We're Chasing History & We Need Your Collections!

Welcome to the Donley Auctions Hour! This week, hosts Mike and Randy Donley are pulling back the curtain on the state of the collecting world. The days of "antiquing" in small-town shops are over [01:30]; the market is now global, digital, and being fueled by massive, generational collections coming to light.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has inherited a collection and doesn't know where to start. The Donley brothers are in acquisition mode, actively seeking high-end items for their upcoming themed auctions.

Here are the chronological highlights of what they're hunting for:

• Firearms & Military Collections: This is a huge focus. The team is looking for all types of guns, ammunition, and military relics [03:24]. As federally licensed firearms dealers (FFL), they can legally and safely handle the liquidation of entire collections, which is especially crucial for widows or family members who may not know the value of what they have [04:34]. That $50 pistol could just as easily be a $5,000 pistol [05:18].

• German & WWII "War Trophies": The market for items brought home by veterans is one of the strongest in collecting. German helmets, which could be bought for $5 in the 70s, can now command anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars [08:12]. Randy shares a painful story of passing on a $10 German paratrooper helmet as a kid, which is now worth a minimum of $1,500 [11:18].

• Daggers, Lugers & Flight Jackets: German daggers, especially from SS troops, are extremely valuable [14:25]. American items are also hot, particularly painted leather flight jackets. Because bomber crews had such a short life expectancy, they were given latitude to paint their jackets, and these "nose art" style pieces are "crazy, crazy money" today [15:26]. Randy shares a moving story from a ball turret gunner he met, highlighting the incredible history these items carry [17:34].

• Japanese Relics: The most prized possession from the Pacific theater was the samurai sword [19:55]. Many of these were family heirlooms, hundreds of years old, and are exceedingly collectible today [20:04].

• A B-17 on a Local Farm?: Randy and Mike share a story of a recent visit to a local farm where a gentleman is restoring a full-sized B-17 bomber [26:39]. This leads to the announcement of a D-Day themed auction in February, and they are actively seeking items for it, including jeeps, trucks, and even tanks [27:08].

• Movie Palace & Theater Memorabilia: Mike is staging a new auction focused on early theater and movie memorabilia. Chicago was the center of the silent film industry [29:52], and the team is looking for items salvaged from the city's grand "movie palaces," like projectors, chandeliers, statuary, and posters [30:10]. They even have an ornate newel post from the legendary Paradise Theater [31:09].

• Native American & Wild West: The November 22 "Cowboys and Indians" auction is coming up, and it's loaded with incredible pieces [32:39]. One showstopper is a complete buckskin outfit with a headdress from the historic 101 Ranch Wild West Show [34:38].

• Coins, Currency & Cars: The team is also seeking coins, sports memorabilia [39:08], and classic cars. They're currently vetting a collection of 40 automobiles [39:37] and are planning a license plate auction for March [44:39].

• Scientific & Patent Models: Mike announces a future "Invention and Technology" auction. He's looking for early scientific instruments, typewriters, telegraphs, and especially rare patent models [47:19], which can be worth thousands [49:58].

The message is clear: if you have a collection, Donley Auctions wants to see it. The first step is simple: email photos to consign@donleyauctions.com.

To hear all the incredible stories, listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/HsJefD4Z_ws

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.