GRANDVILLE, Mich — “INCREDIBLE,” is the only word which would aptly describe the Golden Gavel Auction Service sale of the Richard I. Potter estate.

When asked if Mr. Potter could be called a “hoarder,” Golden Gavel Auctioneer Scott Vander Kolk Jr. said he preferred to think of him as an “accumulator.”

And accumulate he did.

Potter’s lifetime collection included vehicles and vehicle parts, tractors and tractor parts, motorcycles and motorcycle parts, guns, snowmobiles and snowmobile parts, tools of all sorts, and a myriad of additional material.

Given the scope and size of this auction, the unimaginable variety (1,950 lots), the huge number of participants - both workers and bidders – it is not surprising that the Michigan State Auctioneers Association voted this the Auction of the Year at their recent annual convention.

It had taken Vander Kolk and his crew five weeks, working six days a week, to sort out and set up the items for this auction. He made use of his Facebook page to inform potential bidders of prize finds as they were discovered. One day it was a vintage riding mower, another day it was a treasure for Oliver collectors – an Oliver boat motor gas tank – and another time it was a cast iron bridge plaque. A 1968 BMW R60 motorcycle was found in a wooden crate and a NSU quick motorcycle from the early 1950s was discovered buried in a chicken coop.

By auction time Vander Kolk and his crew had the items arranged in neat rows, all arranged in categories ready for sale. There was a long row of snowmobiles and snowmobile parts, another of motorcycles and motorcycle parts, another with large tools, another with small tools, another with vehicles and parts, and more. The guns were displayed under a tent – the only items to be covered. To facilitate the auction Vander Kolk brought in several auctioneers to assist, operating three rings simultaneously.

The auction company issued just under 1,000 bidder numbers, with an estimate that there were possibly 1,500 or more people in attendance. Shortly after the office opened, the line to register was a snaking queue from the house to the street. Even, more than one hour into the auction, there was a long line still waiting to register.

Many latecomers had to park over a mile from the auction. Parked cars were lined up for 1.1 miles on both sides of the road, while a 12-acre field was filled with vehicles.

Most of the bidders were from Michigan but at least 10 other states were represented including buyers from Alabama and Florida.

Among the motorcycles which included, among others, Triumphs, Hondas of various models, BMWs, BSAs, a Matchless and a Royal Enfield for parts. Among those a 1967 Matchless sold for $3,750.

A .32-caliber Winchester Model 94 proved to be the most popular gun of the more than 25 guns that crossed the block, selling for $500. Other guns included more Winchesters, a Ruger, a Mossberg, and several others. There were rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders offered for bids.

Chris-Craft is a name well-known in the boating world. The first ones were made in Michigan when the company was based in Michigan. In 1960, the company moved its operations in 1960 to Florida.

A Chris-Craft Commander outboard sold for $500.

The 1963 Hudson Hornet had not been started in more than 20 years. A raccoon had also got into the inside of the car and destroyed much of the interior. Despite these “shortcomings” the car sold for $5,100.

Lull carriages were once produced in nearby Kalamazoo, Mich., hence it was not surprising that the abundant interest pushed the bidding to $1,400.

To represent all the equipment for the lawn there was a Wheel Horse garden tractor that sold for $750.

Not only did Golden Gavel sell a tremendous quantity of tools, vehicles, guns, and more; but, the real estate - consisting of 22 acres - sold for $235,400 including the buyer’s premium.

All other prices quoted are the hammer price and do not include the buyer’s premium.

Contact: (616)799-7253

www.vkauctions.com