Author
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Topic: [American Space] Charity auction (Nov 2017)
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Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 10-07-2017 07:16 PM
The 4th American Space Museum charity auction scheduled for Nov. 18 is looking good. With almost 500 items in this auction it promises to be our best auction yet.One of our featured items is the Launch/Entry Coveralls from George "Pinky" Nelson. We believe this is his mission worn and flown suit. After conversations with Dr. Nelson and ILC about this suit there is a very good chance that these coveralls where flown on the STS-41C mission but no documentation could be acquired in time for this sale. Dr. Nelson has consigned his mission crew patch flown and worn on his Launch/Entry Coveralls from his STS-41C mission. The patch was awarded to him after the flight and comes attached to the award certificate for anyone who would want the suit and the patch together. We also have David Walker's launch/entry coverall suit believed to have been worn and flown on the STS-51A mission. With so many great items in this auction I will try and list a few more before the sale. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 10-22-2017 02:41 PM
Our November 18th auction is now online. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 10-23-2017 04:58 AM
Another exceptionally rare item being sold is the CSM Umbilical Head from the Apollo Launch Umbilical Tower no. 3 (LUT-3).This artifact is one of the few items being sold from the collection of the American Space Museum. After being in the collection for 15+ years and never being displayed it has been determined it does not fit in with the museum future display plans. LUT-3 was the last tower to be built and launched several missions to the moon including Apollo 13 and 17. This is the top umbilical on the Saturn V and last piece of ground hardware to touch the CSM as it is launched into space.
As this is the only umbilical head known to have survived it is truly a rare piece of space history. I will try and list a few more of our great auction items in the upcoming days. |
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2915 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 10-23-2017 06:18 AM
LUT-3 is a great piece of Apollo/Saturn V ground support equipment history, Chuck, as one of the highlights of this charity auction by the American Space Museum. LUT-3 was used to service and launch Apollos 10, 13, 15, 16 and 17 to the moon! |
albatron Member Posts: 2732 From: Stuart, Florida Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-23-2017 01:10 PM
Some seriously great items here, I have bids in! |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 10-29-2017 07:43 AM
Some great new items added this weekend. Please take a look. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 10-31-2017 04:59 AM
And for anyone keeping track even more items added, Please take a look. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 10-31-2017 06:48 AM
Might be a little off topic, but why are there so many November auctions? For a newbie, seems pretty strange to have such a limited market have all the auction houses bidding against each other at same time — would seem to make more sense to spread out more over other months, both from a budget perspective of clients to just the time constraints to dedicate so much of month doing all these auctions.Anyone have an explanation why they do so many in November? Almost more in November then July-October combined... thanks! |
rgarner Member Posts: 1193 From: Shepperton, United Kingdom Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 10-31-2017 02:55 PM
I expect it is because November is the start of the Christmas buying season, i.e. when people ''generally'' have more disposable income and are willing to part with it. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 10-31-2017 04:18 PM
As a public museum and with limited resources we try and pick auction dates that have no other auction houses competing with us. But this year RR is having three space-only auctions in less then a month (unheard of) and none of the other auctions were even advertised on there websites in August when we chose our auction date.It is painful to think of how many bidders we will lose to other venues especially as this is the museum's major source of revenue for the year and we are still trying to pay for hurricane damage. Please keep in mind the American Space Museum charity auction is the only space themed auction where everyone is a volunteer (including myself) and 100% of the proceeds go to the museum. No one makes a dime from our auctions except the people who kindly consign their items to our auctions. (Please contact me if you ever want to consign to our auctions.) So, if the auction schedule scares you as much as it does me, please bid early, bid often or better yet make a donation to the American Space Museum and help preserve America's space history. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 10-31-2017 05:10 PM
Chuck — will try! I have a lot bids in already for your auction and honestly, I am trying to make it my number one choice because it does go to a good cause. |
rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 10-31-2017 06:37 PM
Got my bids in, too: great cause, and great items! Kudos to Chuck and the team for their passion and dedication. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-05-2017 05:20 PM
Added two great items from the ASF show this weekend. First is an original art painting by Simon Kregar and signed by Rusty SchweickartAnd a flown Apollo 9 Robbins Medallion from the personal collection of Rusty Schweickart Apollo 9 LMP with a signed COA. A lot of great items have been added so please take a look. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-09-2017 03:21 PM
There is a major issue with Invaluable that they are working on. If you log into the system to bid on our auction, then leave the site and return another day, the system will not accept your bids. You have to log out of your account using the drop down menu at the top right of the screen and then log back into the auction and you can bid again. I am sorry for the glitch and Invaluable is working on the problem. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 11-09-2017 05:17 PM
Thanks! I had tried to bid on a few items today and it didn't accept my bids. Glad to know it wasn't on my end. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-11-2017 05:21 AM
Another great and very rare item in the auction is a section of flown MA-5 parachute with an original photograph taken on the Enos orbital flight.The section of chute and the binder book of original photos taken automatically during the mission where sold at one of our other auctions. Please note the clock in the picture keeping track of the mission time. This is your chance to have an early Mercury flown souvenir at a great price. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-13-2017 01:54 PM
Great story from our local WKMG Channel 6 Orlando. The NASA flight and service suits discovered under a box of sweaters at a Titusville thrift store earlier this year will finally get auction tested this weekend.The American Space Museum in Titusville has already received a handful of pre-auction bids for the NASA flight suits worn by astronauts George "Pinky" Nelson PhD and Charles D. Walker in the 1980s. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-17-2017 04:11 AM
Tomorrow is the big day, I hope to see you there. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-18-2017 05:01 AM
AUCTION DAY! Hope you're there to support the museum. |
1202 Alarm Member Posts: 436 From: Switzerland & France Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 11-18-2017 07:04 PM
Thank you so much Chuck, for your time getting my requests and giving all needed answers.A really different atmosphere and lots than RR or Heritage, and very happy to acquire one of the removed Apollo 11 Eagle Kapton, the Cernan Apollo 17 lucite, the shuttle tire etc. By the way, and it's not your fault, bidding on two space auctions at the exact same time is really weird, especially one week after the two others big ones. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 11-18-2017 07:09 PM
Very nice auction Chuck! Some good values to be had if patient — others really surprised at prices, hope the museum happy! Did win a few so I'm happy. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-18-2017 09:27 PM
Thank you to everyone who participated. We are going to start on invoices at 10 tomorrow morning and hope to have them out quickly this time. |
Tallpaul Member Posts: 153 From: Rocky Point, NY, USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 11-20-2017 09:09 AM
I was watching 10 items but the "slide" mechanism for submitting bids didn't work very well on my laptop. I was only able to submit one bid and was unable to submit any subsequent bids. Does anyone know why Invaluable can't use a simple "bid" button like Heritage? |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 11-20-2017 09:15 AM
Slide? Not sure what that would be. I had a simple bid button as typical on their auctions. |
cycleroadie Member Posts: 452 From: Apalachin, NY USA Registered: May 2011
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posted 11-20-2017 10:50 AM
I have the slide button if I use the app on my iPhone, but a bid button on my Windows laptop. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 11-22-2017 02:15 PM
Have not received any invoice yet; just making sure they have not been sent out yet. |
1202 Alarm Member Posts: 436 From: Switzerland & France Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 11-22-2017 02:36 PM
Same here. No mail yet. I suppose Chuck is alone to do all the work... |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-22-2017 03:18 PM
I am sorry for any delay here, we are dealing with an unforeseen issue at the museum. I will post more soon. |
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2915 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-22-2017 03:30 PM
Another excellent space auction, #4 by the American Space Museum, last week at the museum in Titusville and it was lots of fun in being on the floor live covering and participating in it.A big thanks to Chuck, Karan, and staff for putting this one together. Already looking forward to the fifth auction for early 2018! |
1202 Alarm Member Posts: 436 From: Switzerland & France Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 11-24-2017 08:15 AM
Almost one week after the auction I did not get any info (got 7 lots) or return from my e-mails, no problem for me, I just hope the issue at the museum is not too important. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-24-2017 09:46 AM
I have replied to every e-mail received, not sure if yours did not come through for some reason. Invoices will be going out this week. A short holiday week did not help in getting things done quickly. |
1202 Alarm Member Posts: 436 From: Switzerland & France Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 11-24-2017 12:26 PM
Okay. I sent one on Nov. 19 and another on Nov. 22. Just gmail one again. No problem. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-24-2017 02:16 PM
It would be appreciated if everyone could use auctions@americanspacemuseum.org and not my collectSPACE e-mail as I rarely check it unless I have a post saying someone has e-mailed me. Thank you. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 11-30-2017 05:53 AM
Got my invoice today, just an FYI... |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-30-2017 04:03 PM
We are about 50 to 60% through the invoices. Hope to have all out by this weekend. |
Chuckster01 Member Posts: 873 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 12-05-2017 05:31 AM
Well I have news and it is not good news. During the charity auction held at the museum on the 18th of last month one of the people attending the auction as a bidder in the auction stole several items from the museum.The museum was closed to the public and the doors were locked, Only a handful of people were left in the building as the auction went later than expected and with one exception everyone there was a regular at the museum and well known, The person who stole the items was clean cut, friendly and interacted with all of us bidding on items through out the auction and came across to all of us as another avid collector happy to support our cause. That auction participant left the main auction room on the pretense of a cell phone call and proceeded to take several items on display and stashed them in a large back pack. As the doors where locked and we thought the museum secure everyone including museum staff were in the main conference room where the auction was being held. That person registered as a bidder (with his real name and address as we copy driver's licenses when issuing bidder numbers). During the auction he purchased thousands of dollars worth of items that he of course did not pay for, including the "First EVA" painting that was donated to the museum. (He did not take any auction items from the building; we still have them and we did not notice anything missing till the museum opened again the following Monday.) The police are involved and the person lives out of state so federal charges are pending. There is also great video of the theft as I donated and installed a CCTV camera system in the building two years ago and there are cameras everywhere. I have been asked by the police not to name the person or post any video so that will come when I have clearance. The American Space Museum is a special place as we are the only museum I know of that does not have everything locked up in display cases. It has a different feel and appeal then most museums because you can touch, interact and get close to artifacts that most museum lock away behind glass. In 24 years of our existence this is the first such issue and we do not want to change our operating procedure for one bad apple but did want to make the Space community aware of what happened. The police have confidence that they can recover the items taken but if not we will post detailed pictures here so if the items should come up for sale they can be ID'ed. We use PastPerfect museum software and every items is documented and photographed from every angle. If anyone would like to make a donation to the museum to cover the shortfall caused by this person it would be greatly appreciated, There should be no legal costs incurred by the museum as it is a theft case but we did lose several thousands on items he purchased and did not pay for, You can visit our website if you care to help. If you have any question you can email me directly. Thank you. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-05-2017 05:51 AM
That is horrible, but I am glad to read that the thief has been identified and that he was caught on video. Hopefully, the authorities can use the information to promptly apprehend the individual and recover the items taken.I will look to make a donation to the museum soon, and, of course, will promptly turnaround payment on the lots that I won in the auction as soon as the invoice is received. I hope that helps. (If the authorities are unable to recover the stolen items, then yes, please do make the pieces known here so that our community can be on the lookout for them.) |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 12-05-2017 08:03 AM
So sorry to hear this! Very disappointing. Not sure auction rules, but can you contact the next highest bidder on the items he didn't pay and ask if they want them now, for their high bid, to recover most of that missing money for the museum?
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neo1022 Member Posts: 281 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 12-05-2017 12:04 PM
Terrible news, and a terrible person... I second the suggestion that you provide a detailed listing of the stolen items so they will be "blacklisted" on the collector's market. This may help you recover these items, assuming law enforcement is unable to do so. |
denali414 Member Posts: 593 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 12-09-2017 01:07 PM
Chuck- just got my auctions items, they look awesome! Just want to say thanks! and they did a fantastic job caring and wrapping all the items for shipping and all arrived perfect.Hope you have made headway with the missing items and non winning auction items. |