COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. – A collection of primitives amassed by two generations of Darley men and housed in Darley’s Barn of Primitives was the highlight of an auction conducted by Lyle Chupp of Chupp Auctions and Real Estate.

Morris Darley established his barn in the 1950s when he first started collecting. His son, Scott, took over the collection in the 1970s. Because of the quality of the items offered, representative from several museums were in attendance, including a representative from a Canadian museum.

One of the most interesting items was a mechanical store display for an early washing machine. The display depicted a woman working the machine. This item sold for $1,600 and will be on display in Georgia. Among the other early washing machines, a Hibbard No. 8 vacuum washer sold for $275 and a crank washing machine that was in working condition with a roller wringer saw $160.

After becoming the winning bidder at $130 for a heavy, warm bearskin coat and gloves that had been worn by a stagecoach rider in days past, it was evident that Margaret Walters from Rochester, Ind., was probably the happiest person in the room. What was the reason for this happiness? This coat had belonged to her grandfather.

A horse-drawn corn mulcher with a patent date of 1913 is also on its way to Georgia after being won for $1,600. By putting a piece of burlap over the frame above the seat, a sunshade was created and a person could ride in comfort.

A tooth puller made many people in the crowd wince. Looking more like an instrument of torture than a dental device, it sold for $350.

A chuck wagon with portable pantry complete with flour and sugar containers, earned a final bid of $1,500.

The Darleys collected many bells but the one that really stood out was one cast by H. Stuckstede & Co., St. Louis in 1836. This piece had a 33-inch diameter and was 27 inches high. This was in great condition and sold for $5,500. A Buckeye school bell, also in excellent condition earned $850; a factory fire bell saw $325; a brass Navy bell crossed the block for $300; and other bells found selling prices of $100 to $300.

While it is easy to walk into a grocery store today and buy fresh fruits and vegetables no matter what the season, in the past such items had to be stored or canned in the home. Items used for this offered at the auction included a double pea sheller that sold for $200; a primitive apple peeler that earned $335; and a green bean cutter that crossed the block for $180.

A primitive butter maker saw a final bid of $165; a very early food chopper saw $280; a Cracker Jack pea sheller sold for $550; and one of the corn shellers earned $250. Pie lifters earned $70.

For use out in the fields there was a primitive hand corn planter that sold for $1,600; a one-man hay rake that saw $1,050; and a shock tie with old red paint that sold for $400. Among the old hay forks a three-tine one saw $200 and a four-tine one earned $275. Before modern machinery, seeding was often done by hand. A primitive seeder, operated by hand cranking a wood wheel, sold for $300; and an old hay catcher sold for $350.

A parlor stove with an oven from 1863 crossed the block for $600, while a nickeled Jewel stove saw $650; and a Jewett cook stove sold for $450.

A Thomas Edison Standard cylinder play from 1903 with one cylinder sold for $550. A Rolmonica reached $400 and a Gabel jukebox sold for $850.

An early milking machine sold for $400. Also finding a selling price of $400 was a hand-crank bedspring maker.

A two-man coach-maker’s saw sold for $250; a Phoenix flooring saw earned $275; and a rope maker crossed the block for $310.

Early lighting items included a large Dietz lantern that sold for $400; a Humphrey gas street lamp that earned $150; and a Russell Watson Co. ship’s lantern that sold for $500. All three will be going to a museum in Pennsylvania. A wall Angle lamp saw a final bid of $700 and a double Angle lamp earned $650. A three-arm non-electric chandelier that could be pulled down to clean and fill sold for $600.

A food cooler that was cooled by the use of spring water and in excellent condition sold for $800; a primitive floor-model milk shake machine saw $550; and a chestnut roaster sold for $160.

A large floor-model Enterprise coffee grinder that sold for $800 is on its way to Pennsylvania; and a Bonanza commercial apple peeler that earned $250 is on its way to Canada.

An old wicker baby buggy crossed the block for $400; and a field cradle sold for $325.

The wood boot mold had removable inserts making it possible to get made-to-measure boots ensuring a good fit. This piece sold for $200. An Ideal wagon stove sold for $700; an early bicycle saw $800; a meal bin with a dough box crossed the block for $525; and a German goose ax crossed the block for $200.

Auctioneering duties were handled by Lyle Chupp and his brother Dale. Their team, comprised primarily of family members, kept the items coming to the block in a timely manner resulting in a fast-paced auction. All types of auctions are held by Chupp Auctions.

Contact: (260) 768-7616