WLS Radio Show - 2025-11-16 E19

Donley Auctions
Nov 16
3 min read

Updated: Nov 17

Chasing History with Dr. Mike & A Wild West Preview!

Welcome to the Donley Auctions Hour, where we don't just sell antiques—we chase history. This week's episode was an absolute must-listen, taking us from the dusty trails of the Old West to the birth of recorded sound. Host Susan and the Donley team, Randy and Mike, brought us an incredible hour. If you're passionate about the stories behind the items, you'll want to hear this.

Here’s a look at the treasures and tales they uncovered:

Big News & Special Guests: The show kicked off by introducing a very special guest, Dr. Mike Khanchalian, a dentist from California who is one of the world's leading experts in a rare field: repairing antique wax cylinder records [01:49]. His visit is perfectly timed, as the team announces two massive new music collections on the horizon: the legendary Koenigsberg collection of antique phonographs [02:47] and another "auction of the century" packed with Nickelodeons and band organs [03:13]. All this new inventory means they're hiring [03:53]!
Auction Preview: Old West & Native American (Nov. 22): Get ready for the upcoming November 22 auction [06:35]! This is a "no reserve" auction, meaning there are incredible bargains to be had [07:43]. The highlights are stunning, including a full-size bison from the old Wild West town [11:57] and a staggering, incredibly rare taxidermy display of an extinct passenger pigeon [09:55] that's already getting museum-level attention.
History You Can Own: One of the most amazing items in the November 22 auction is a Spanish-American War uniform. This isn't just any uniform—it comes with iron-clad provenance that its original owner wore it while charging up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt [13:09]. Randy also discusses the "sliver of time" collectors have to acquire items from the now-closed Wild West town museum, like a Native American costume from the historic 101 Ranch Wild West Show [15:22].
How to Consign Your Treasures: Randy and Susan demystify the consignment process. It's simple: start by emailing photos of your items to consign@donleyauctions.com [18:48]. You'll know you have something good by how fast Randy responds—he's been known to hop on a plane the same day for a great collection [19:45]! The team can handle it all, right up to and including firearms, cannons, and tanks, thanks to their Class 3 dealer's license [22:42].
The Birth of Recorded Sound: The main event was the deep dive with Dr. Mike Khanchalian. He completely rewrites what most of us think we know about phonographs. He explains that Edison's first tinfoil recordings from 1877 were a "one-and-done" novelty, not for sale [27:21]. In fact, Edison originally intended his invention to be an office dictation machine [30:05]!
The "Record Doctor" Reveals His Secrets: How do you repair a shattered 130-year-old piece of wax? Dr. Mike explains how his background as a dentist gave him the unique skills to "weld" broken wax cylinders back together with heat [35:24]. He shares goosebump-inducing stories, like repairing records for the Women's Christian Temperance Union, allowing them to hear their founder's voice for the first time [37:34], and even restoring a one-of-a-kind cylinder of Tiny Tim recorded right at Donley's Wild West town [39:01]!
What's It Worth? Dr. Mike breaks down the value of cylinder records. While most are very common ($1-$2), some are exceptionally rare. He's in town to identify records in the Koenigsberg collection that are worth over $1,000 each [45:38].
History Comes Alive: In the show's grand finale, the team does something magical: they play an original Edison cylinder record live on the air. Hearing "You're a Grand Old Rag" by Billy Murray [49:01] crackle to life across the airwaves is a truly transporting experience.