Auctioneer Tim Chapulis with the 1954 Mercedes 300 "Little B” Adenauer, the most expensive vehicle on the market during its day; it sold at $25,875.
:The highlight of Tim's auction schedule for the past 17 years has been the annual Cabin Fever Auction, always attended by a large and loyal base of customers and always conducted on the fourth Saturday of March. "It was a hell of a sale," commented auctioneer Tim Chapulis. "They were there early, they stayed late and they were there to buy," he said.
A benefit for St Jude's Children's Hospital, a donation at the door to the auction was requested in the name of the late Peter Chapulis, resulting in more than $16,000 raised by the auction house to date.
A wide variety of merchandise is always offered at the Cabin Fever Auction and it always attracts national attention. "We had bidders calling from all over the country," commented Chapulis. "Buyers from Florida, South Carolina, California and a bunch of other states participated. We even had people from Jay Leno's television show call about it. They wanted to know what Cabin Fever was. I told them, come on out and you will see. We save stuff up all winter for this auction and people are anxious to get out and get the spring season and a new year for the outdoor markets and shows started."
A private buyer, a doctor from Maryland, was the high bidder at $10,350 for the Walter Du-free nine-tube, ornate Gothic-style tall case clock marked Tiffany.
Chapulis reported a large crowd with standing room only as the sale began. Merchandise ranged from a selection of vintage automobiles to clocks, Orientalia, Victoriana and country items, such as a miniature blanket chest in paint.
"We found the blanket chest in a lady's house where she was using it on her desk. Alongside it was a small Nantucket basket filled with pencils. I told her that they would each bring good money at the auction and she said, 'Oh no, that's what I keep my pencils in.'" Chapulis said he started to leave the room when she asked what he thought they might bring, and he told her a few hundred each. "Honey," she yelled down the stairs to her husband, "You need to come up here and find something to keep the pencils in."
The Nantucket hammered down at $632, and the miniature blanket box in an old dark gray-green paint realized $575.
The top lot of the auction came from the collection of automobiles, which was highlighted by a rare Porsche 911 Weissach, one of approximately 400 of the vehicles built by the factory. All of the documents for the car had been saved, from the original window sticker to the latest service records. With 47,000 miles on the car, bidding proved to be brisk; it sold at $28,750.
A 1954 Mercedes 300 "Little B" Adenauer, the most expensive vehicle on the market during its day — listing at more than $7,000 — also did well, selling at $25,875.
Two Steinway pianos were offered. A restored 1903 grand piano with a computerized player piano included sold for $25,875, and a restored rosewood model from 1870 brought $23,000.
Chapulis offered more clocks than a collector could shake a stick at. Leading the way was a Chippendale tall case clock by Elmer Stennes in excellent original condition. Several in the crowd chased the rare clock, and it sold to a private Boston collector at $10,925.
An unusual floor-standing record player in the shape of an urn, with stork-head handles atop a cabinet, made by the Mundler Corporation, realized $3,220.
A private buyer, a doctor from Maryland, was the high bidder on another rare tall case clock as he outbid numerous people in the crowd for a rare Walter Dufree nine-tube, ornate Gothic-style tall case clock marked Tiffany. The clock hammered down at $10,350.
A Howard and Davis Model No. 1 regulator generated the most interest among the wall and shelf clock varieties of timepieces. The large clock sold at $4,600. An Ansonia Excelsior in a rare silver finish did well at $4,025, while another Ansonia shelf clock in a Royal Bonn porcelain case brought $2,012.
Two large Black Forest key-wind cuckoo clocks were sold, with one selling at $2,960, while the other realized $2,530.
An unusual floor-standing record player captured the attention of bidders. In the shape of an urn with stork-head handles atop a cabinet, the piece was decorated in a black lacquered finish with Oriental decoration. Made by the Mundler Corporation and called an "Oxford" model, the rare record player was said by the consignor to have been one of three examples made by the company. The urn opened at the middle to reveal the turntable. Bidding on the lot came from several in the room, as well as numerous phone bidders. The lot went out at $3,220.
An Edison phonograph with horn was sold at $2,242. Several music boxes were also sold, including a Regina with an oak case and inlay selling at $2,875, and a mahogany-cased Stella bringing $3,105.
A nice pair of carved putti, measuring more than 2 feet tall, brought $1,495.
The market for precious metals has soared, with Chapulis commenting that sales of gold and silver coins has never been better. Numerous currency items were offered, with a $1,000 bill selling at $2,587 and a $500 bill bringing $1,150. The top coin lot was a 1893-S Morgan silver dollar that hammered down after active bidding at $2,587. A 1915 gold Panama Pacific commemorative gold coin sold for $1,667, a 1904 $20 gold piece brought $1,495, and a 1910 $10 gold piece realized $747.
Other items of interest included a Belter office chair that went out at $2,415, a monumental floor model piano lamp with reverse painted globes, $862, and a pair of carved putti measuring more than 2 feet tall brought $1,495.
Prices include the buyer's premium. For information,
www.timsauction.com
or 860-589-0017.
