Thoughts on a Radio Auction

[Ron Ramirez]

NOTE: My wife, Debbie, wrote the following and asked me to post it here. I think you will find it quite interesting, as it presents a perspective from someone not only relatively new to the radio collecting hobby, but also from someone married to a longtime collector.

Hello, my name is Debbie Ramirez and I would like to thank my wonderful husband, Ron Ramirez, for posting this for me. A week ago Ron and I hit the road and ventured to Paris, TN for an estate auction. Of interest to both of us was the large selection of antique radios. I also had fun bidding on some very pretty antique bowls! The bowl bidding prices went much too high for me, so I went home without any bowls; but that is how it goes at auctions. Sorry, I got sidetracked - back to my story. Since Ron and I have married, I have come to really love old radios. At this auction I 'found' a little Philco floor model radio I fell in love with. I noticed a few other people eyeing this same radio, so I didn't let myself imagine where I would display it when we returned home! I had a price limit in mind and no matter how tempted I am, I don't bid over my limit. Well, throughout the day (and it was a very long day - they auctioned EVERYTHING else and saved the radios for last), I had the opportunity to meet many other radio collectors.

Since my very first radio swap meet with Ron, in Nashville, TN, I have come to love "radio people." I was a bit apprehensive when we arrived at that Nashville meet; I didn't know anyone and my knowledge of antique radios was extremely limited; I was afraid I wouldn't fit in. My anxiety was immediately put to rest - as Ron introduced me to people, I was welcomed and accepted as if they had always known me.

Ron has taken me to other swap meets in Lexington, Columbus and Cincinnati and an auction in New Harmony, Indiana. We have traveled to people's homes to purchase radios and people have come to our home to buy radios from Ron. We have gone to countless antique stores and talked to people who are looking at the antique radios. Throughout all of these events and encounters, I have never had a bad experience. Every radio person I have met has been genuine and honest; well, that is, until the Paris, TN auction.

As I said earlier, I met several radio collectors at that auction and was truly enjoying hearing their radio stories. One person I met was an older gentleman who noticed my interest in the little Philco radio. After we had chatted for awhile, he asked me if I was going to bid on that radio. I said I was, but I was on a limited budget, so I didn't know how good my chances were of getting it. He smiled and promised me he would not bid on it, since I wanted it so much. I thought that was so sweet of him! Imagine my surprise when the auctioning began on that little Philco and that same "gentleman" began bidding on it. I could not believe that someone could so blatantly lie to me - at first I was hurt - I had trusted his word. Then I was just plain angry - not because he won the radio, since I didn't really think I would get it anyway, but because he had promised me, in front of other people, that he would not bid on it. I am not a naive person, I know the world is full of liars and deceptive people, but I am still dismayed that this happened.

My experience has not changed my view of "radio people" - I can't wait until Ron takes me to the swap meet in Lexington on October 29! I will continue to take people at their word, as I always have, and hope the next person who promises me something, is honorable.

[codefox1]

Sorry, my message seems to have gotten trashed.

Most of us on this forum are hobbiests, a lot retired (I'm soon to be.) We do have to ignore or discourage people who invade the forums and auctions and for whatever reason try to disrupt things.

Parallel situation, there was a Photography group at Ling's apartment and they had a big fully equipped wet darkroom which you could sign in for a very small fee. We all got along, and spent many hours there. Monthly meetings were another story with one or two bitter old folks disagreeing on everything. Well that was 10 years ago, and of course we are digital.

Age the avenger.

[exray]

Hi Debbie (and Ron) - Sorry to hear that happened to you.

At times, and auctions provoke the behaviour, some carnal instinct kicks in to where some people feel they have to win at any cost...even to the extent of tarnishing their reputation. Its the same as two guys having a friendly beer in a tavern and they get into a disagreement and one guy throws a punch or pulls out a gun. Its a human frailty. Just like the smiling ham at the hamfest who tells you the rig has been checked out and you get it home and the chassis is no more serviceable than a brick. They relish in having 'bested' the other guy - often just for an extra buck.

There's one (or more) in every crowd. Unfortunately that applies to the old radio venues as well. You just happened to hit a bad apple. Pox on that guy.

[TA Forbes]

Hello, Debbie: It's nice to see that you have the radio "bug." My daughter was similarly affected and has accompanied me to several auctions. In fact, I have had to leave my own "finds" with radio friends in order to make sure that we have room for her radios...

Agree with XRays take on the jerk that you encountered at the auction. There are a few out there. But of all the hobbies I have been involved in, the people that are in the radio hobby are the best.

[Texasrocker]

Hello Debbie & Ron. Don't let one auction buyer discourage you at all !! Very glad to hear Debbie is interested in this hobby!! My wife and I have been working as a team for years in finding old radios to restore at swapmeets, garage-estate sales, antique stores, etc. We enjoy this hobby together! That is what makes it GREAT!! Never be discouraged Debbie!. Just as I do for my Wife's rare finds, Ron can fix any Radio you bring home! Be selective on the sets you really want to invest in. As for my .02 from me and my wife, never ever look to excited about ANY vintage radios. They ALL need work and new parts, and most have been previously "hacked" under the chassis! Tell the folks selling those details! Be Loud about that! It is True!! Take all that into consideration before bidding/ buying. Never,ever, tell someone if your going to "bid" or not at auctions! Get some business cards printed that says "For Service, Call Ron Ramirez" with contact info via the internet. Slip those cards into the rear panels of every vintage radio you find anywhere! Ron can accept, or decline, any electronics restorations he wishes. Some/ Many,.. vintage radios aren't worth restoring anyways unless the buyers have more money than brain matter! If it can be "fixed" Debbie, Your Husband Ron can do it,
guaranteed!! Just my .02 Keep working as a "team" Always!!

[Arran]

Dear Debbie:
Just a thought on this situation, should you every encounter this "gentleman" (and I use this word loosely) again at an auction, and he should happen to be bidding on something, raise your hand once or twice early in the bidding. Perhaps do this on other things he bids on, just enough to run up the price but not to win. It will become the most expensive bold faced lie he ever perpetrated and if he is smart he will learn his leason .
But even if that isn't in your nature it has been my experience that people like that usually get what's coming to them at some point. If he did this to you then the chances are he has done it before to someone else, probably several times. The analogy of burning one's bridges comes to mind, their reputation comes to proceed them among other collectors and before long they will need a part for radio X made of unobtanium and nobody will sell a part to them, or if they do it will be for a premium price. Many will refuse to deal with them at all.
Regards
Arran

P.S I don't understand the mindset of people who do this, it's been my personal experience that there are far more old radios to acquire and to restore then there is people to do both. This guy sounds like a hoarder type to me, a guy who buys and buys and buys but doesn't do anything with them, I for one barely have the time to work on the radios I do have let alone stiff someone else out of one.

[Paul Philco322]

Greetings all:

Just a thought, the guy who fibbed to you was probably not a "real" radio guy, he was an alien, I heard Art Bell talk about these dudes, they pretend to be radio enthusiasts! It is true, I heard it on the radio!

I have met more pleasant, gentle, decent, people in the radio hobby than I do anywhere else. I balked at a radio offered me because of some asbestos issues and the gent turned around and offered me a better,rarer and more beautiful one than I could have hoped
for at the same price, only in Radio Land!


Paul

[Bill Hutchinson]

Debbie,

Wow...that's a really dissapointing experience. I'm so sorry to hear about that.

Hopefully you know what model it is, and Ron (being the resourceful guy that he is) can find another one - probably at a better price than at the auction!

I attended a general auction once about 10 years ago, and there was only one radio available - a Fada "Bullet" butterscotch catalin. It had a minor stress crack on the bottom, so it wasn't in perfect condition, but I thought I might have a decent chance to get it. My wife gave me her blessing to go for it "within limits" (not to completely clean out the account). I figured it would go for around $750 - $1000, and that was about my limit. My jaw about dropped when they started at $1000 and it took off from there.

I don't want a catalin anymore.

Don't let it get you down...everyone here is supporting you. Good luck!

Bill