Motoring history up for grabs
UNTIL recently, some rusted early 20th century fuel pumps were still in use on a Darfield farm.
Soon they may be sold for tens of thousands of dollars.
Proctor Auctions will put more than 730 items under the gavel for its ‘‘automobilia, garagenalia and vintage toy auction’’ at its George St rooms on Sunday, April 8.
Manager Ronnie Proctor said fanatics spent thousands on pieces of motoring history, which often ended up in ‘‘man caves’’.
Two old fuel pumps found still active on a Darfield farm would be big ticket items, he said.
One was a BoyleDayton pump from the early 20th century.
There were not many around, and even fewer which were still operational, he said.
The auction house sold a similar pump for $21,000 to a family in Green Island last year, he said.
‘‘The gentlemen had two man cave areas filled with motoring stuff.’’
The items were collected over a year from individuals, some of whom had large private collections, Mr Proctor said.
‘‘There was a guy from Kaitangata who had a lot of the old oil boxes and oil tins. He treated them as soon as he got them so they wouldn’t rot.’’
Mr Proctor said he thought part of the reason for the appeal was the items took people back to their childhoods.
At past auctions phone bidders called in from England and Australia, but most of the items were sold locally.
His father, owner Ronald Proctor, said there was a wide range of items.
A woman from Invercargill had an old pennyfarthing bicycle and vintage tricycle just ‘‘jammed’’ in her front door, he said.
‘‘She must have had it for 35 years. It would have been altered, but many of the parts will be original.’’