WLS Radio Show - 2025-09-21 E11 - New Time!

Your Guide to Antiques and Auctions with Donley Auctions

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Donley Auctions Hour! Join hosts Susan, Randy, and Mike Donley as they delve into the fascinating world of high-end antiques and provide expert guidance on buying and selling at auction. In this episode, they announce a new broadcast time, share incredible success stories, and explain the seamless process of consigning and bidding.

Here are the highlights from the show:

• New Show Time! [01:22]: Donley Auctions Hour has moved to Sundays at 10:00 AM on WLS AM890, offering a fresh start for new and returning listeners.

• Donley Auctions: Specializing in High-End Collections [02:13]: Donley Auctions, located in Union, Illinois, specializes in high-end antique collections across various categories, including phonographs, coin-operated items, military relics, and more. They are not a typical estate sale company but focus on valuable and unique items.

• Turning Antiques into Cash [03:11]: The team emphasizes their role as a financial resource, helping individuals convert antique collections into cash for reinvestment or personal enjoyment. Many collectors built their collections with the intention of selling them later in life.

• The Donley Legacy: From Wild West Town to Auction House [04:19]: Randy and Mike share their family history, including operating Donley's Wild West Town for 50 years, which began as their father's "man cave on steroids" filled with antiques. This experience provided a foundation for their deep expertise in various collectibles.

• Auction Success Stories: Medina Temple and Beyond [06:41]: They recount notable past auctions, including the contents of the historic Medina Temple in downtown Chicago, which further solidified their position in the auction industry.

• Current Focus: Coin-Operated Items and Man Cave Treasures [08:03]: Donley Auctions is a leader in coin-operated items like slot machines, pinball machines, and jukeboxes. Their upcoming "Fall Classic" auction (October 23rd-25th) will feature items perfect for a "man cave," including petroleiana, neon signs, and architectural pieces.

• Seeking Signs and the World Record License Plate [09:40]: Randy and Mike highlight the high demand for antique signs, especially old gasoline, soda pop, and beer signs. Mike shares an incredible story of a 1905 Chicago license plate (number one) that sold for $30,000 (plus buyer's premium), potentially a world record for an antique plate [16:49].

• The Auction Advantage: No More Guessing Games [11:19]: The hosts firmly advocate for selling items at auction, stressing that it's the only way to truly determine an item's worth due to competitive bidding from a worldwide audience, unlike private sales or guessing games.

• Free Appraisals and No Front Money [12:45]: Donley Auctions offers free, no-obligation opinions on item value and auction-worthiness. Consignors only pay a commission on the final sale price, with no upfront fees, even for pickup services (which can sometimes be negotiated for free depending on item value).

• The Skagell Knife: A $10,000 Find [14:24]: Randy shares a captivating story of a seemingly ordinary, grimy fishing knife found in a tackle box that, upon expert identification, turned out to be a rare "Skagell" knife, selling for an astounding $10,000 at auction.

• The Auction Process, Step-by-Step [21:00]: Mike details the meticulous process after consignment: check-in, tagging, professional photography, detailed description, scheduling, and finally, live and online auction with thousands of bidders globally.

• Broadening the Hunt: From Classic Cars to Amusement Park Rides [24:34]: Donley Auctions is actively seeking a wide range of collectibles, including antique and classic vehicles (automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles), antique advertising, architectural elements (bars, back bars), and even entire or partial amusement park rides.

• The Collector's "Window of Opportunity" [28:34]: Randy and Mike explain that now is an excellent time for buyers, as many extensive collections are entering the market due to an aging generation of collectors. This creates a rare 3-5 year window where high-quality items, previously unavailable, are now accessible at potentially softer prices.

• Buying at Donley Auctions: Online, Phone, or Live [31:02]: Susan outlines the various ways to participate as a buyer: registering online to bid from anywhere, submitting phone bids for high-value items, or placing absentee bids. They also highly encourage attending live auctions for the full experience, complete with amenities and the chance to inspect items in person.

• The Thrill of the Bid: $200,000 Elevator Doors [34:29]: Randy shares a memorable story of a client who, while watching his daughter's softball game, impulsively bought a set of high-grade bronze elevator doors for $200,000 through online bidding, highlighting the competitive nature and excitement of auctions.

• Firearms Auctions: Legal and Expert Handling [37:14]: Donley Auctions conducts four firearm auctions annually, providing a crucial service for legal buying and selling, especially in states with strict regulations like Illinois. They handle all federal (FFL) and state compliance, ensuring secure transfers and maximum value. They also assist individuals, like widows, who might be unaware of the value or legal procedures for inherited firearms.

• Preserving Value: No Cleaning! [49:27]: A vital piece of advice: do NOT clean old coins or other antiques, as original patina and condition are often crucial to their value.

• The Grateful Dead's Beater Chevy [50:25]: A unique piece of rock and roll history—a 1956 Chevy once owned by the Grateful Dead—is highlighted as an unrestored project car that will be featured in the October auction.

• Upcoming: Native American and Old West Auction [49:42]: Mike previews the November 22nd-23rd "Cowboys and Indians" auction, featuring a Native American collection, arts and crafts furniture, and items from the Donleys' own Wild West Town collection, including basketry, pottery, and implements.

• Sports Memorabilia and Coin Collections [47:30]: Ryan Bole, their expert, is actively seeking sports memorabilia, including cards and other collectibles, as well as gold and silver coins (graded, non-graded, and pre-1964 coinage) for upcoming auctions.

https://youtu.be/8_fVyR9UvNI