Kuhlman Auction Service

We are so busy I haven’t had a spare moment to write since our milk glass auction last Saturday. The auction in the armory this Saturday should be really fun. We are unpacking boxes and finding all sorts of nice old items. Braided rugs, pottery, dolls, some of the best old paper items I have seen recently, comic books, matchbox cars, wooden advertising boxes, advertising tins, etc, etc.

We will be setting up on Friday night and the auction will start at 10AM on Saturday at the Northfield MN National Guard Armory. We would love to see you there.

This is a picture of some of the milk glass at the Rich Wood auction held on September 20 in Albert Lea Minnesota. We had bidders from Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and California as well as local collectors. This is beautiful glass that isn’t often seen in this quantity in Minnesota. Several marbled hens brought between $200 and $300 dollars. A signed McKee “chow dog” brought $300.

They say time flies when you’re having fun. I guess that we are having a lot of fun then, because time is sure flying. Last weekend was Northfield’s Defeat of Jesse James annual celebration. I always try to take in as much of the activity as possible because it is a great place to meet old friends. People come back here from all over the country and even from around the world to renew old acquaintances and meet new friends. There are so many things to see and do and eat. There is a great antique car show in Riverside Park. There is a carnival, a rodeo, a great parade, and of course, one of the best (and longest running) antique tractor pulls in the state.

I had the pleasure of announcing the tractor pull again this year.

It literally gives me goose bumps to hear those tractors roar again. It is so great to see the Allis Chalmers, Minneapolis Moline, “M”s, “H”s, Olivers, and of course the John Deeres. Not to mention Case, Ford, Cockshutt, and Twin Cities. These pullers really put their hearts into this competition. Those tractors never looked so good in their youth as they do now. Hats off to all these dedicated people who are preserving a piece of the past for us all to enjoy.

We are working on getting several auctions ready right now. On Tuesday I had the pleasure of looking at some of the best paper items I have seen in many years. There were “Better Little Books” from 1946 such as Dick Tracy, Roy Rogers, Blondie, etc which looked as if they had never been read. “New” old coloring books with Little Orphan Annie, Skeezix, etc. Wonderful paper dolls, advertising, Dionne quints, Lindbergh clippings, WWII era papers. These will all be on the September 27 auction in Northfield along with Jesse James gang photo, Northfield posse photo, many old jackknives, toy tractors, numerous advertising tins, all sorts of primitives, glass and pottery. This should be a fun auction.

Closer on the calendar is the Rich Wood antique milk glass auction in Albert Lea on Saturday, September 20. You can see the pieces pictured on our site. Many people don’t realize that other colors of glass are milk glass also, and not just white pieces. There are many nice blue pieces from Portieux and Vallerystal in France, as well as pink, green, and various colors of slag. If you have never seen any pieces besides the typical “hen on nest”, come to Albert Lea. You don’t often get to see this much milk glass here in Minnesota.

We had a busy Labor Day weekend. We were able to get to the State Fair, which we always enjoy. On August 30 I helped Larry Valek and Dale Swanson do an auction for the Rice County Steam and Gas Association at their site south of Dundas on Highway 3. This is an annual event with an auction, a nice flea market, and an exceptional display and parade of old tractors. This year International Harvester was featured. Next year’s feature will be Oliver!!

Right after the auction, I went to the airport to pick up Nathan, who just returned from a month studying in Albania. On Sunday we went antiquing in Rochester and Mantorville, and Monday to antique stores in Red Wing.

This week we will be busy with Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield. On Saturday, I will be announcing at the Antique Tractor Pull. I have done this for the past few years and it is always a fun event. This is one of the oldest (and best) antique tractor pulls in Southern Minnesota. It is very well run and you can see some of the best old tractors around. You can take in the tractor pull and stay for the rodeo without even moving your car. Don’t miss the parade and all the food on Bridge Square.

We are working on completing the listing for the Marilyn Machacek Estate auction which will be held on October 18 and 19. The auction flyers will be ready soon and we will soon have the catalog up on the web. There are about 750 pictures for your enjoyment. This will really be a fine auction, with some very nice and unusual pieces. Marilyn was widely known for her knowledge of fine antiques.

Our Fall season really gets going with the Wood milk glass auction in Albert Lea on September 20, with lots of work before then to get the auctions ready.