Summer doesn't mean an auction slowdown this year

BHD Auctions

You can't blame Brian Detch for looking ahead to a bit of a breather after BHD Auction's June 23 sale. After all, in the past month, he's presided over two auctions under his company's name, an on-site final liquidation sale at the home of Jack Dill and Bob Hanks, and a benefit auction on the premises of the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale.

"It's been a busy schedule lately around here," Detch says. "After the upcoming sale, we'll probably do one auction a month through at least the summer. We're already working on a couple sales now."

In the meantime, he's prepping the contents of a Butler estate that landed in his lap because the deceased owner was a faithful fan of J.S. Dill Auctions, Detch's former employer.

"When the owner died, the family didn't know who to turn to until they found a bunch of J.S. Dill handbills she had collected," Detch says. "When they called the J.S. Dill phone number, it bounced to my business phone." All calls to the former Dill number will be forward to BHD Auctions for at least the next year.

While the Dill connection is still strong, Detch continues to burnish his identity and auction atmosphere at the Zelienople American Legion hall, where this sale will take place.

With a lineup of furniture and smalls, the highlight just might be a Cragstan battery-operated toy Ford farm tractor with a front bucket and backhoe attachment. Most likely of a 1960s vintage, the tiny machine runs on a couple D batteries and is controlled with an attached cable remote. Adding to its appeal and value, the near-mint condition tractor comes with the original box that's in somewhat less than pristine shape.

For the pins-and-needles crowd, there's a large spool cabinet on the block. With 14 sliding glass front doors, the cabinet provides storage for hundreds of spools of thread, plus four drawers waiting to be filled with sewing accessories.

In the furnishings category, bidders will find plenty of Mission items and a pair of child stepback cupboards. For additional decorating touches, keep on an eye a large selection of prints by R. Atkinson Fox, a prodigious commercial artist whose popularity held fast from the turn of the 20th century to the first years of the 1930s. During his career, he specialized in landscapes, portraits and scenes of farm animals. Still widely sought by collectors, Fox prints often fetch surprisingly high prices.

Where can i get donations for baby clothing and furniture in ...

Go to Freecyle.com and look to see if you have a freecyle organization in your area. If you do you can post asking for donations. Freecycle is an organization that was started so that instead of filling landfills with things that are still useable people can give them away. The freecylce posts in my area are for everything from coupons to cars, computers, clothing, toys, gym equipment, building supplies, beds…you name it it’s there. People give away ALOT of good stuff. Good luck with your new baby!!!

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