Auction Hunters: Season 2, Episode 21: “Battle Bought.”
Haff-Ton team drove to Whittier, California for a shipping container auction. Container were shipped from all over the world; thought a few originated from the states.
Fact: Container auctions move quickly to avoid affecting the facility’s shipping schedule.
Allen spotted an old partner at the auction, Big Bill. He’s a mean old fella who enjoys to drop a room on buyers.
Fact: To ‘drop a room’ means to strategically bid to drive up the price on your opponent.
China Cabinet Unit
China cabinet, and lots of boxes. Haff-Ton won the unit for $525.
Allen found a can of spaghetti sauce. Oh, lunch! He also found a professional artist’s easel. Ton unpacked drapes and fabrics from a box. He then discovered a butane torch.
Allen dug up a fighting BattleBot robots. Several little ones and one big yellow one.
Fact: BattleBots was one of the many combat robot TV shows in the early 2000s.
Duo took the bots to Chuck and Jason. These men engineered and built robots for BattleBot competitions. One of them built a part of the Phoenix bot which landed on Mars.
Fact: The Phoenix Mars rover took almost 10 months to travel 422 million miles.
Haff-Ton team showed the guys their little robots. HA! Lightweights as far as Chuck and Jason were concerned. The yellow bot was another matter. It was a middleweight with a lot of brute force; plus it was almost bullet proof.
Fact: The middleweight class of combat robots can weigh up to 120 pounds.
Chuck and Jason turned it on and maneuvered the bot to see if it worked.
Fact: BattleBot arenas feature obstacles like spinning plates, pits, walls, and fire.
Allen wanted to take over but quickly damaged the guys’ fax machine
with the bot. Duo were paying for a fax machine either way, might as well go eat the whole hog.
DIE FAX MACHINE, DIE!
Fact: Some bots hit with a force of 250psi, ten times the force that can break bones.
Chuck and Jason bought the yellow bot for $2,000. The little bots weren’t worth the trouble to find a buyer. Haff vs Ton BattleBot match! Ton’s bot lit Allen’s bot on fire. Char-grilled and well done, Ton.
Fact: BattleBot weapons include saw blades, axes, hammers, and flame throwers.
Antique Unit
Antique side table, carpet, ottoman, lampshades, and boxes. Haff-Ton team won the unit for $675.
Ton unpacked a silver plated tea seat. Allen found a harmonica pistol.
Fact: The first harmonica pistol was made in 1829, and is now worth $200,000.
Duo took the gun to Blaze who stated it dated back to the 1800’s. Pistol made by Jarre.
Fact: Alphonse Jarre was known for designing harmonica-feed pistols.
Historically, the harmonica pistol one step closer towards the invention of
vertical magazines.
Fact: The first firearm with a vertical magazine was the Volition repeating rifle in 1848.
The gun was in mint condition. Blaze said it belonged in a museum.
Allen wanted $10,000 for it, but Blaze wouldn’t go above $7,000. Duo refused and drove off in their bread truck. Blaze, with a change of heart, called them back. He agreed to pay $10K for the pistol. That was sweet music to Allen’s and Ton’s ears.
Auction Total:
Paid $1,200
Sold: $13,300
Profit: $12,100
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