Opportunities Auction “Where Rare is Common”
Friday & Saturday, September 3-4
1019 Bass Road
Macon, GA.
presto434343@yahoo.com
kdbraswell01@yahoo.com
www.prestonopportunities.com

Just like the news of Mark Twain’s death, reports of Preston Evans’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated. The longtime auctioneer will find himself conducting yet another two-day auction event, in Macon, on back-to-back days and at a different venue each day, on Labor Day weekend, September 3-4. The sale will liquidate the estate of Kim Hammergren.

“The past 18 months have been difficult in so many ways, and my heart goes out to all who have been severely affected by the pandemic,” Evans said from his home in Macon. “One loss that was especially difficult for me was the loss of my longtime friend, Kim Hammergren. I’m honored to have been asked by his wife Peggy and his children to liquidate his collections.”

Evans said a huge overflow of items, especially jukebox parts and accessories, will be sold in Auction #1, on Friday, September 3, at 1011 Bass Road in Macon. It will feature jukebox parts (including speakers and wall boxes) and jukeboxes that can be restored or used for parts, plus other kinds of items. Vintage motorcycles will be a component of Auction #1. A preview will begin at 8 am. The auction will start at 10:30 am (all times Eastern).

Auction #2, the following day, will be conducted at the former Mercy Grace Church building, about ten miles from the Friday venue. Offered will be a selection of jukeboxes, Catalin and Bakelite radios from the 1930s and 1940s, coin-ops, Coca-Cola machines, cash registers, slot machines, arcade games, trade stimulators, advertising items and motorcycles, by names such as BSA, Cushman, Harley-Davidson and Triumph. Doors open at 7:30 am; the auction starts at 11:15 am.

The Friday auction will be conducted for a live audience only; no online bidding at all. The Saturday auction will be a live event with Internet bidding through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

The large crop of vintage jukeboxes includes an example of the Wurlitzer 950 — the “king of jukeboxes” — so rare that one rarely appears at auction. Also up for bid will be a companion to the Wurlitzer 950, a 430 speaker. Only about 280 of the speakers were produced in 1942. Both jukebox and speaker were designed by Wurlitzer designer Paul Fuller. Other hard-to-find jukeboxes from the 1940s-1960s will also be featured.

One of Evans’s favorite items in the sale is the Mills Panoram movie machine, a forerunner of the early jukeboxes. “It came out around the time that silent movies were prevalent,” he said. “I’ve owned one or two of these machines myself. Some of the film is a little bit risqué for the times.”

Of special interest is an open-top 1920 Acme tanker truck, manufactured in Cadillac, Mich., and once used to haul gasoline from the Michigan oil refineries to gas stations. It shows the logo for MUSGO gasoline, a popular brand from the 1920s-30s. This early relic of petroliana features unusual solid rubber tires that were replaced. The truck has been frequently exhibited in parades and other events throughout western Michigan.

The auction will also feature vintage neon signs, including a neon Hollywood sign 16 feet long and 2 feet tall, and a motel sign. Additional items include vintage movie posters for the game room, man cave memorabilia and more.

The boxfuls of 45 and 78 rpm records posed a cataloging challenge for Evans, who has been working at a breakneck pace getting everything ready for sale. “Some of these records are rare and quite valuable,” he said, “but I just don’t have the time to go through them all. As a result, they’ll be sold in group lots, by musical genre. Record collectors are going to leave with some fantastic bargains.”

“As usual,” Evans said, “we will have options for those who desire better seating opportunities. There will be a big tent set up for the Friday auction, and the Saturday auction will be conducted inside, with comfortable seating and other accommodations.” There’s no admission charge for the Friday auction; admission to the Saturday auction will be $10 per person, with no perks.

However, the purchase of a color brochure for $25 includes admission to both auction days; $50 includes a brochure, admission to both auction days, seating and a coupon for lunch; and $100 includes a brochure, admission to both auction days, the best seating and coupons for two meals.

All attendees must register for this auction. People can register through the Preston Opportunities website: www.prestonopportunities.com. Once the registration form is completed, it can be mailed to Karen Braswell, at 110 Clarksville Court, Macon, GA 31210. Her email address is kdbraswell01@yahoo.com. Evans can be reached via email at presto434343@yahoo.com. For information, www.prestonopportunities.com or 678-296-3326.

One of the most impressive collection of juke boxes and memorabilia ever collected and up for auction. Some of the highlights include a rare 950 Wurlitzer Jukebox, large vintage neon signs, coin ops, vintage bikes including Cushman and much more memorabilia that any collector would not want to miss

Sale conducted by Preston Evans (GAL1287) & Karen Braswell 10% buyers premium