Evident by the title of this blog, my husband, Jeff is an Auctioneer. By trade, he is a cabinet-maker. He has a custom cabinetry shop located in Tolland, which he operates with the help of his two sons.One might wonder how a Cabinetmaker ever got into auctioneering...
Jeff watches the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auctions on television for hours at a time. He’s totally captivated.
But while he admires and appreciates the stunning beauty and engineering of each machine placed in the spotlight on the show, it’s not the cars that have him glued to the screen.It’s the lure of the chant.
The auctioneer's chant is the driving force of the auction process. It adds excitement and builds momentum. The chant is a speedy song of numbers designed to grip the attention of bidders and hasten the pace of the sale.
In the competitive bidding process, an auctioneer's quick tongue encourages eager bidders to forge ahead in the cycle of rising price increments, all while denying them the luxury of time to mull over their next move. In a split second, one must decide if it’s worth another dollar (or more) out of pocket, or if the stakes are too high.
In the competitive bidding process, an auctioneer's quick tongue encourages eager bidders to forge ahead in the cycle of rising price increments, all while denying them the luxury of time to mull over their next move. In a split second, one must decide if it’s worth another dollar (or more) out of pocket, or if the stakes are too high.
I asked Jeff to share with us how he became an Auctioneer.
To that he answers, “My family has been involved in the auction business all my life."
Jeff's father was a horse dealer when he was growing up. "I was probably five years old when I first went to an auction. I would sit and listen to the auctioneers, amazed at how fast they could talk."
To that he answers, “My family has been involved in the auction business all my life."
Jeff's father was a horse dealer when he was growing up. "I was probably five years old when I first went to an auction. I would sit and listen to the auctioneers, amazed at how fast they could talk."
Back then, his father brought him along to a few different horse and livestock auctions. Jeff recalls going to one in Hebron and another in Canaan, Connecticut. He has fond memories of many long drives to Luther’s Livestock Auctions in Wassaic, New York. It was way before the days of child restraints and safety seats, and Jeff's father would actually let him handle the shift stick to change gears in the truck while he stepped on the clutch."I started helping out at the auctions as soon as I was old enough and big enough to carry a box."
When he was 10 or 11, Jeff was given the responsibility of selling fruit from the back of the truck, while his father brought the horses inside to be auctioned.
Jeff was just a bit older in 1968, when his father passed away from cancer.
He then spent summers working with his older brother, Dick Norman.
Dick was a tack dealer and an accomplished auctioneer. Jeff worked hard for his brother, doing everything from cleaning horse stalls to moving merchandise. It wasn’t long before Jeff was helping out at the auctions as a Ringman. He would hold merchandise up in front of the crowd so they could clearly view the item up for bid.
Their schedule was busy.
On Mondays they were in New York at Luther’s Livestock Auction.
On Tuesdays, off to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts at Buttonwoods Stables.
Wednesdays were spent at Bunchy Grant’s Auction at of Roosevelt Sales Stable in Iselin, New Jersey.
Crowley’s Horse Auctions in Massachusetts were on on Thursdays.
(They were the main tack dealer back then.)
On Friday nights Dick auctioneered in Hebron, Connecticut.
And on Saturdays, Dick had a junk auction of his own in Hebron, Connecticut.
Jeff spent many summers with Dick, until his sons were born. He then made his way into the cabinetry business. It wasn’t until 20 years later, when Jeff’s sons were grown, that the lure of the auction chant would again enter his life.
On Tuesdays, off to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts at Buttonwoods Stables.
Wednesdays were spent at Bunchy Grant’s Auction at of Roosevelt Sales Stable in Iselin, New Jersey.
Crowley’s Horse Auctions in Massachusetts were on on Thursdays.
(They were the main tack dealer back then.)
On Friday nights Dick auctioneered in Hebron, Connecticut.
And on Saturdays, Dick had a junk auction of his own in Hebron, Connecticut.
Jeff spent many summers with Dick, until his sons were born. He then made his way into the cabinetry business. It wasn’t until 20 years later, when Jeff’s sons were grown, that the lure of the auction chant would again enter his life.
Twenty years later, a invititation to go along...
Jeff received an phone call from Dick out of the blue, asking him if he’d like to take a ride with him to Herman Camara’s Horse Auction in Swansea, Massachusetts. He went along.
Not long after that, Dick was the auctioneer for a tool auction at Danny’s Auction Barn in Foster, Rhode Island. At that time, Dick handled all special auctions for Danny. Just like the old times, Jeff served as his Ringman. And so it was... for a while.
As time went on, with more experience at Danny's, Jeff was feeling increasingly comfortable with the crowd and his interest in auctions grew. He began helping Danny at Christmas Auctions.
Facing health difficulties, Danny’s eyesight was failing. He asked Jeff if he would sit up on the block and simply call numbers while Danny handled the merchandise from the table.
After doing that for a short time, and already up on block, Danny suddenly said to Jeff, “Why don’t you do some?”
With a chuckle, Jeff recalls experiencing a choking sensation -- for a second. But then he relaxed. He knew the people – simple country folks – and he let the words flow.
When he finished up that evening, Mary, who was the bookkeeper at the time, leaned over and asked “How long have you been an Auctioneer?”
Jeff replied, “About 45 minutes!”
Later, Danny walked over to Jeff and said, “You know, I always knew you were an Auctioneer.”
Not long after that, Dick was the auctioneer for a tool auction at Danny’s Auction Barn in Foster, Rhode Island. At that time, Dick handled all special auctions for Danny. Just like the old times, Jeff served as his Ringman. And so it was... for a while.
As time went on, with more experience at Danny's, Jeff was feeling increasingly comfortable with the crowd and his interest in auctions grew. He began helping Danny at Christmas Auctions.
Facing health difficulties, Danny’s eyesight was failing. He asked Jeff if he would sit up on the block and simply call numbers while Danny handled the merchandise from the table.
After doing that for a short time, and already up on block, Danny suddenly said to Jeff, “Why don’t you do some?”
With a chuckle, Jeff recalls experiencing a choking sensation -- for a second. But then he relaxed. He knew the people – simple country folks – and he let the words flow.
When he finished up that evening, Mary, who was the bookkeeper at the time, leaned over and asked “How long have you been an Auctioneer?”
Jeff replied, “About 45 minutes!”
Later, Danny walked over to Jeff and said, “You know, I always knew you were an Auctioneer.”
As I shared earlier, Jeff has always loved that sound... He knows it well.
His enthusiam for the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auctions on television is because the show features the talents of many true professionals in the auction business.
Then there’s Leroy Van Dyke’s auctioneer song... The years rewind in time to the best-ever auction chant from his childhood, back to Luther’s Livestock Auction in New York.
His enthusiam for the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auctions on television is because the show features the talents of many true professionals in the auction business.
Then there’s Leroy Van Dyke’s auctioneer song... The years rewind in time to the best-ever auction chant from his childhood, back to Luther’s Livestock Auction in New York.
An auctioneer's job requires a combination of expertise – both as a salesman and an entertainer. For some auction-goers, if they’re not buying at the moment, the auctioneer’s voice may just fade into the background. Until, of course, the item they’ve been eyeing comes up for bid. At that point, the bidder is totally focused as they carefully listen to track the numbers rolling from his lips. However, Jeff has a great talent in his ability to engage an audience all the way through. He makes them laugh, whether they are buying at the moment or not.
For Jeff, chanting is more than just a method of auction selling. Done right, it's music to his ears. He picks up every nuance in tone and timing.
While each auctioneer is unique in his own style, a good auctioneer has the sound and the rhythm down pat. A great one can pull you in and nudge you to spend your last dime -- even before you’ve realized what’s happened!
For Jeff, chanting is more than just a method of auction selling. Done right, it's music to his ears. He picks up every nuance in tone and timing.
While each auctioneer is unique in his own style, a good auctioneer has the sound and the rhythm down pat. A great one can pull you in and nudge you to spend your last dime -- even before you’ve realized what’s happened!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you would like to be profiled in this blog, send me an email! I would love to hear from other auctioneers, flea market vendors, antique enthusiasts, and anyone who uses second-hand goods in a creatively.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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