Monday, January 11, 2016

Las Vegas Mecum Auction Results for 2016

 
1912 Henderson Four Cylinder sold for $165,000
 
 
These are the top ten motorcycles that actually sold at the Las Vegas Mecum Auction
 
1912 Henderson Four Cylinder  $165,000
1955 Vincent Black Prince  $120,000
1928 Cleveland Four Cylinder Tornado $115,000
2004 MTT Y2K Turbine  $115,000
1956 B.S.A. Gold Star Cut Away from the Herb Harris Collection  $110,000
1939 Harley Davidson Knucklehead unrestored except paint  $90,000
1914 Flanders Model D Twin  $90,000
1937 Brough Superior SS80  $86,000
1929 BMW R63 Pre-War  $77,500
1917 Henderson Board Tracker..Rare & Original Factory Racer  $72,500
 
Overall I thought the prices were way down from previous years.  It was a good time to buy, but not so much if you were selling. 
 
There was a 1966 Velocette Thruxton that sold for $25,500 but it was not a good year for Triumphs, B.S.A.'s or Nortons.   A very nice 1947 Triumph Tiger 100 sold for $7750
 
Some of the specialty race bikes didn't fare much better with a 1912 Indian Board Track racer selling at $48,000 and a 1930 Indian factory Hill Climber sold at $60,000
 
A real surprise was a 1949 Vincent Rapide selling at $40,000 !
 
Some unsold bikes were the Crocker Bigsby special only going to $90,000 and not selling and a 1908 Harley Davidson Strap Tank going to $400,000 and not selling.  It will be interesting to watch these two bikes to see what ultimately happens.  I thought the Crocker would sell at a very high price.
 
I was told by a very renowned motorcycle collector about 14 years ago to only buy Vincent and Brough Superior if you are going with British bikes and I have seen this to be true over the years.
 
I do believe that antique American Motorcycles will always hold and increase their value if you buy the right ones with a strong priority on original paint and part bikes.  It's like any other market, there are years to buy and years to sell.
 
 1908 Harley Davidson unsold at $400,000


Friday, January 8, 2016

Rare Magneto Re-Magnetizer


I just bought this very rare Magneto Magnetizer made by Joseph Weidenhoff Chicago .  The magnet in the magneto gets weak over time and needs to be recharged by "zapping" it with an electrical current.  I plan on using this thing once I get it all set up and may start a small business rebuilding magnetos.  It's coming from Sweden so it may take a while to get. 

Johnny Eagles has one and I watched him recharge a magneto a few years back, it was kind of magical but it works.

Stay tuned ..............this will be interesting !

Red Fred's Indian Chief
 
I love it when a bike is personalized so it fits just the owner, the Scottish tartan on the front fender no doubt just fits Fred's Scottish roots.

1902 DUESENBERG MOTORCYCLE

 
1902 DUESENBERG  MOTORCYCLE
 
This motorcycle bears a striking resemblance to an early Indian, the engine looks very similar and the way it's mounted in what still strongly resembles a bicycle frame.  Kind of cool looking but I wouldn't want to go too fast on this thing !