Auction Hunters: Up, Up, and Away Ton

Auction Hunters: Season 3, Episode 6: “High Flying Ton.”

Haff-Ton team drove to Ventura Country, California. Town of recreation, tourism, and wineries. Ooh, wine? Cheers to a successful auction hunt.

Fact: Ventura County is the wealthiest county in Southern California.

Allen and Ton attended a thirty containers auction. Units opened ten at a time. Crowd – huge. Duo had to stay on their toes to win anything other than office furniture.

Fact: Ventura County is about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Suitcase Unit

1950’s suitcase, Ping golf case, Queen Anne furniture, and beauty case. Duo won the locker for $425.

Allen found Uranium glass in the suitcase.

Fact: Some 19th century uranium glassware can emit dangerous levels of radiation.

He also retrieved a 1950’s Remington typewriter and a 1950’s deck of cards. Ton found an umbrella. Big whoop! Ton opened a wood box and found what appeared to be an antique Swiss army knife.

Fact: The first folding Swiss Army knife was issued in 1889, featuring only 3 tools.

Allen mentioned the handle was made of mother of pearl. That’s not designed for military use.

Fact: Mother of pearl, or ‘narce’ comes from the shells of oysters, mussels, or snails.

Allen found a rifle, engraved, with an octagon barrel. Allen suggested Ton could keep the rifle if he could keep the knife.

Fact: Early gunsmiths made octagon barrels because flat surfaces are easier to cast.

First however, check the appraised value of the weapons. Haff-Ton team took the antique rifle and knife to Earnest, a weapons expect. He said the rifle was a hand-made German Schützen; dated back to 1870’s-1880’s.

Fact: “Schützen” marksmen units originated in the Prussian Army in 1787.

Germany once had Schützenverein.

Fact: “Schützenverein” marksmen clubs first appeared in Germany in the 1300s.

Clubs, with target ranges in beer halls. Guns and beer and lederhosen? Does not sound like a safe combination.

Fact: Lederhosen leather shorts were popular among 18th century Bavarian men.

Earnest stated the knife dated back to the 1800’s. More of an an exposition knife, very rare, not massed produced.

Sold!

He paid $8,500 for both the knife and gun.

File Cabinet Unit Filing cabinets and a mystery item in the back. Duo really didn’t want the cabinets. Allen paid $25 for the unit to see what was in the back.

Allen found an autographed hot air balloon poster. Ton found a map for balloons.

Fact: Ventura is home to the Citrus classic hot air balloon festival.

Mystery item in the back? A hot air balloon! Or parts of one.

Fact: In 1783, balloonist Jacques Montgolfier was the first man to lift off the Earth.

Allen and Ton took the hot air balloon to Steve, owner of a hot air balloon company. He examined the parts. Stated it a 1984 Tracy Barnes basket.

Fact: Innovator Tracy Barnes is considered to be the father of modern ballooning.

Burners were in good shape. One burner put out 21 million BTUs. Second burner put out 42 million BTUs.

Fact: One BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is roughly equal to the heat of one lit match.

Time for a test flight. Steve attached one of his balloons and lit the burners. Would they lift 300 lb Ton Clinton? Up, up, and away!

Fact: The record for the highest balloon flight is 13.07 miles, set in 2005.

Basket and burner in the good shape.

Fact: In 1999, the first nonstop balloon trip around the world took 19 days, 21 hours.

Sold!
Steve paid $3,500 for the hot air balloon parts.

Allen and Ton made a profit and Ton returned to land in one piece… we think.

Auction Total:

Paid $450
Sold: $12,940
Profit: $12,490

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