Auction Insider Bid America

Bob Evans has a collection of immaculately restored treasures. A '55 Chevy, '33 Chevy, a '56 Packard 400 Caribbean and more. He also collected gas pumps, cash registers and a wild variety of other things. Dealing with cancer, Bob decided it's time to pass his collection on to others. He chose Rich Penn Auctions to join him on that adventure. Pack your bag. Join Auction Insider and ride along.

"Woody" Woodrum is a classic...a throw back to the old "barter in the barnyard" auctions days. Auction Insider makes you a "Time Traveler" as Rich Penn Auctions travels through the Motherload of Woody's clock collection. Pieces are faithfully restored from thousands of the parts he's gathered. Woody's loves bringing these keepers of time back to life. You'll see time IS worth money!

Paul Mikkelson, "from the land of 10,000 lakes," collected boats, motors, and boating history. From the Boondoggle, the only known single cockpit inboard Falls Flyer Speedster, to over 500 toy boats.  Now his passion could sink under the financial pressures of a wife that's been in a care center for 40 years. It's a story about a great family man, his loves and the challenges he faces.

Desmond is the man with one leg and one name. He may have the world's premier neon sign collection, including 8,000 - 10,000 signs. Dozens of iconic American brands are featured. Now it's time to downsize. A large segment of Desmond's collection will makes it's way to Rich Penn Auctions. Follow along with Auction Insider as we keep up with the fast moving man with one name and one leg.

The late Art Nelson had a huge appetite for collecting anything unusual like advertising, toys, Civil War firearms or a 18th Century Samurai armor set. Many of Art's pieces had come to him through Rich Penn Auctions. He asked his kids to have Penn sell his collection and sell it in Des Moines, IA...where Bob called home. Join Auction Insider and watch this story unfold just like Art wanted!

Paul Mikkleson's toy boat collection is legendary. With 500+ toy boats to fight for, collectors come from across the US. They're serious collectors. We found one collector who started early...at the ripe age of 10. Watch this young man slug it out with older collectors after the same treasures. Auction Insider takes you ringside. Bring your life jacket...this will be fast and furious action!

Collector Bob Evans is back selling more of his prized possessions, like a beautifully restored 2,000 lb Mosler "Cannonball" safe. These safes were made of magnesium steel and advertised as being bomb-proof. Rich Penn Auctions sold a "Mosler Salesman Sample Safe" for over $30,000. It was suitcase size. Join Auction Insider and see how Rich Penn does with Bob's one ton version of the Mosler.

Woody collects advertising signs from great America brands: Chevrolet, Ford, Pepsi and Schwinn. These aren't everyday signs. Woody especially loved signs that lit up. Even better signs that glow! The neons were his favorite. Auction Insider shows you how these great American brands were built with the help of signs. Now those signs are worth money even with baseball size holes.

Desmond's neon sign collection shows off rare neon pieces. Many of the historic neon beer signs help make Milwaukee famous. You'll see neon for Pabst Blue Ribbon, Miller, Blatz, Schlitz and Hamms, all lighting up for the Rich Penn Auction block. You'll also see Jordan, Rich Penn's assistant light up as he nails the right answers in Desmond's Beer Quiz. Auction Insider catches it all!

Paul Mikkelson's boat motors are impeccably restored. Motors are from Evinrude, Mercury, Johnson and even the Indian Motorcycle company. Some are the most powerful engines in the boating industry. Others go back to the dawn of outboarding. You get a great feel for life on the water. Auction Insider captures this history, the value of these motors and the shared passion of these collectors.

Woody's barbershop collection is a mirror back to the old days. Barbershops were a social spot to discuss the day's events. Watch these things sell. There's great value in barber chairs, poles, coat racks, even the shoe shine stand. But the shave and haircut was what it's all about. Woody risks his life as Rich attempts the old style straight razor shave. Auction Insider captures it all!

As a young man Merv Criser built a career as a Wichita Fireman. Now, some 45 years later, he's a serious collector of toy fire engines and other fun metal toys. See how those toys sell. See how that love for history grew into the preservation of the Wichita Fire Fighters' Museum. Auction Insider takes you inside the Firehouse, "Old Number 6." Merv tells the story to Rich Penn and Jordan.

Auction Insider visits the Mikkelson "barn" in Willmar, MN. This is where Paul's Falls Flyers began their journey. See the challenges a restoration enthusiast faces with a "Barn Find." Be amazed at the prices for these projects! A wooden cabin cruiser goes to it's original owner. A classic inboard is pulled from the dirt. A collector has plans to bring it back to a new life on water.

Woody walks Auction Insider through his widely diverse collection. From fans to furniture, his collection is as interesting as Woody the character. Among this variety are a number of Salesmans Samples. Those are the miniature models salesmen traveled with. They were on the road, or trains, hunting orders for the life size items. See what Rich Penn Auctions does with one of those miniatures.

Many collectors find their greatest joy in saving a toy that's been well played with. That's Merv Criser. He loves taking toys that have had a good life and putting them back in the bright shiny condition they were when mom & dad put them under the Christmas tree. Cars, dump trucks, tank trucks...if it was had wheels, it's now like new and rolls across the Rich Penn Auction block.

Woody's theories prove true. If it's a clock it's good. If it lights up that's better. If it's mechanical and moves that could be the best. Even a high wheel bicycle moves! Auction Insider gets moving with Woody. Watch some of his favorites, automatons, games and coin operated machine, like an early Wurlitzer, as they move across the Rich Penn Auction block and move bidders arms too!