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Texas Panhandle Estate Auction Companies

6,464 Views | 60 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by texaspanhandle
crockerdan04
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I had a family member pass away yesterday who lived in Spearman, north of Amarillo. He had about 160 acres with a small house, plus a couple of barns and an airplane hanger full of tools, farm equipment/vehicles and machinery.

Much of the stuff has been fairly well kept in the past, but has now sat for probably a year or so.

He has multiple older tractors, a late 60's/early 70's Mercedes 280SE car, an early 70's model Chevy C60 truck, plus some other things.

One of the most interesting things is a 1900's steam powered tractor and thresher. He used to have yearly demonstration days for kids. He and his buddies would get it working, invite the public to his farm and would demonstrate how it worked. Three years ago, at the age of 98, he completely rebuilt it...by himself.

No one lives in the area anymore and he has so much stuff that we're looking for a company to come in, catalog everything and hold an auction. We're going up there next week for the funeral and to talk with some estate companies.

Does anyone know of a company in the area that specializes in rural/farm equipment estate auctions?


Edit 1: I reached the 24 hr post limit.
I'll pass all of this along and will definitely look at the steam collectors clubs and forums.
Once we get up there next week, I'll have a better idea of the details and condition of everything.
Centerpole90
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Condolences for the loss of your family member.

I have nothing to offer about estate auction outfits up there since I'm about as far from Spearman as you can get and still be in Texas. That said, steam engines in Texas are rarer than in other states that don't require boiler certification - I do know collectors in Texas who could help you out there - maybe even see it continue your relatives interest in keeping it alive for younger generations.

Again. My condolences.

ETA, these guys are not local, they are National and they generally do pretty big auctions... but I'll provide a link because they are big dogs in the area you inquired about. Maybe even calling them might be a starting place.

[url] https://aumannauctions.com/[/url]
jtp01
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Let me look up the folks that did my wife's grandparents estate liquidation. They did a great turnkey job.

https://twosistersestates.wordpress.com/

They are in Dumas, but it's not far at all.

Also. If you need anything locally, I'm happy to help if I can.
DevilYack
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Sorry to hear you lost a family member.

La Patrona fondly remembers the steam tractor driving down the street in parades. She was talking to her mother earlier today, who still lives there. MIL said there was Bentley and Associates, who are liquidators, and Amarillo Estate Sale Company, who do appraisals and sales.
crockerdan04
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Thanks for the recommendations and offers of assistance.

I'll pass these along to my dad who is the executor.
chocolatelabs
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Got any pics of the equipment for the OB? sounds like a cool old barn.
crockerdan04
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I do, but haven't posted pics before. I'll try to figure it out and post up.
highlonesomeaggie
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You might also check with Assiter Auctions out of Canyon/Amarillo too.

https://www.assiter.com/

SunrayAg
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I've been to several that were run by high plains auctions that seemed to go pretty well.

hpa4u.com
clinte234
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Thanks for sharing the story...sounds like the Panhandle lost a good one!

https://www.facebook.com/Cristis-Estate-Sales-919227041540371/

This is a company my family has used in Amarillo. Really good family that runs this business. Not sure how far out of Amarillo they work, but definitely worth a call.
crockerdan04
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Apparently you have to have a subscription to post pics.

I can email them to someone, if they're willing to post them for me.
Centerpole90
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My username at yahoo.com & I'll gladly do it this evening. Love old farm equipment.
crockerdan04
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I sent you some emails with the pictures. Thank you.
Log
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Canyon needs to get in here, since I think he's more up to speed than most of us on old tractors.
CanyonAg77
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Log said:

Canyon needs to get in here, since I think he's more up to speed than most of us on old tractors.
Yes and no. Dad was a collector, but nothing as old as a steam tractor.

Assiter is good, though they tend to go more for the really big $$$$ stuff. High Plains seems pretty good, too. We've used Five Star, based out of Plainview, they are good guys.

I don't know if any of them do the complete clean out and inventory as you want. Usually the owners/heirs have to get the stuff out and lined up, then the auction company comes out and writes down descriptions for their sale bill.

http://www.5starauctioneers.com/

Centerpole90
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Got em. I will post them when I get in from the field tonight.

Everybody else... you're in for a treat.
CanyonAg77
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crockerdan04 said:

Apparently you have to have a subscription to post pics.
Glad Centerpole is posting for you. Rookies can't post pics, anyway. And you are correct, it requires stars to post your own photos, but free subs can still post photos hosted on places like Flickr.
Pearl2010
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I have been to many 5 Star auctions. They are great folks.
WW99
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I am sorry for your family's loss.

Just to give you a few more options, I searched newagtalk.com. There are lots of farmers there who collect old tractors. Being so far north in Texas, you may be able to pull people in from Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado depending on what he owned. I'm sure the steam tractor will gain some attention. Aumann was a name that seemed to show up a lot. Here was the rest of the list:


From Newagtalk.com
Polk
Aumann
Nixon
Mecum
Sullivan and Girard have also had a few high profile tractor sales.



AgResearch
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Steam equipment - You should look up a few steam threshers clubs and get the word out to their membership. Those people will travel a long way to buy that stuff.
Centerpole90
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SCORE! I'll post the pics without any of my comments - just anything OP added in the email.

Quote:

Here are some of the pics that my dad sent me last time he was up there. Thanks for putting these up for me. The first two are pictures of a model from one of the local museums of a tractor and thresher. My xxxxx had the life size version of these. Steam tractor and thresher
Sorry, pics are out of order. The models are the first and last photos.

















OnlyForNow
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The folks in College Station - Coleman Patterson, do a good job and I think cover most of Texas.
CanyonAg77
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The photos of the models are from the Panhandle-Plains Museum in Canyon.

World Class museum.
CanyonAg77
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Centerpole90 said:



Love this generation of Chevy trucks, called "Art Deco". Built from around 1941 to 1947
Centerpole90
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You see that JD model D (could be GP, but wheels look like D) hiding in that picture of the Case?
Mas89
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Awesome collection. Would look great as a new exhibit in the Canyon Museum.
CanyonAg77
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Centerpole90 said:

You see that JD model D (could be GP, but wheels look like D) hiding in that picture of the Case?
Missed it at first, but yeah. Also see some small stationary engines and a gas powered washing machine
CanyonAg77
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Mas89 said:

Awesome collection. Would look great as a new exhibit in the Canyon Museum.

PPHM is already bursting at the seams. They can't display even a small part of their farm collection. Would be better off in private hands or a smaller museum.

They had some tractors, including a similar steam tractor on outdoor display on the WTAMU campus, and removed them.
jtp01
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CanyonAg77 said:

Mas89 said:

Awesome collection. Would look great as a new exhibit in the Canyon Museum.

PPHM is already bursting at the seams. They can't display even a small part of their farm collection. Would be better off in private hands or a smaller museum.

They had some tractors, including a similar steam tractor on outdoor display on the WTAMU campus, and removed them.


Window on the Plains in Dumas might have room of the family would want to. I know that's where a good portion of my wife's great uncle's tractor collection is.

If the family has interest I can get them in touch, my father in law sits on the board of directors for that museum. Fun fact, there has been a family member on that board since it's creation.
CanyonAg77
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Also, OP, post on the Panhandle Board, might catch some more ideas.

https://texags.com/forums/39
Centerpole90
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Canyon, years ago I had an identical twin to that truck- not quite as nice as that one and sans the grain box, otherwise same truck. I'm pretty sore that was still a 216 as the 235 came later. I used to know this a lot better - but if that's right that meant it was the same engine as pickup... but maybe heavier internals. It has a 4 speed with a 2 speed axle and had a furniture company logo from Canoga Park, CA. In today's patina culture it would be a jewel. I traded it to a fellow 2cylinder collector for a bunch of hard-to-find F&H wheels. I always wonder what became of that truck. I just had too many projects at the time.

And those wheels..... they were in a barn when scrap iron prices were high and some a*hole stole them. I have zero doubt that a pristine set of factory round spoke wheels with the right casting number to go on '34 A JD got melted down. Now my open fan shaft A is probably forever condemned to a life on steel. Those were going to be my parade wheels.
CanyonAg77
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Nothing worse than a thief

Expect maybe scrap iron companies who take obviously stolen scrap
Ribeye-Rare
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crockerdan04 said:

Three years ago, at the age of 98, he completely rebuilt it...by himself.
Damn, now that's impressive.

I've got nothing for you, other than my admiration of your initiative in helping to get his estate squared away.

Good luck.
jtp01
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I hope I can be as active as some when I get that age. By the time I "retire" and start farming full time I'll be able to putter around in my old flatbed pickup and just point out what needs to be done. I've got 4 major projects I want to get done so I can enjoy them in retirement.

Restore a late 70's model Bronco, my 78 model 4430, an old REO truck, and my wife's Excursion.
SunrayAg
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If and when there is an auction I would like to attend, so be sure to keep us updated!
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