Hi, I'm new here and I made the 3 videos you watched. I made them because of the H.A.M.B board. I was lucky enough to be invited there and can say that it was a pure fluke that I brought my video camera. I wasn't intending on taking video of this, but wasn't sure how long I would be there and what I would see. Sadly, once I arrived I knew that it could be the last time all of this stuff would be in one location and I felt compelled to record it. Unfortunately, I was there for only one hour, which could never do this collection justice. Allot of people here are trying to determine in black or white if this guy was a hoarder... I will say this... There is no power or lighting in the barn, it seemed as if it was a museum of sorts, for one individual "Hartung" (from what I understand he was very particular of whom was allowed to visit, regardless of the donation jar). There are definite themes that he stuck to... Ford, Signs, Plates, Oil cans, Bikes, Bicycles, Badges (police, taxi, automotive), engine parts.... etc From my personal experience, he seemed like a collector, a hoarder and OCD. I don't have a cool old rod (I have many cars and memorabilia) but can totally relate to this guy, he just happened to have a chick, space and time that let him. Cheers Mr. Hartung I wish I met you, when you were alive.
Very well said...What a way to start out on the HAMB!! Only 4 posts in. Keep it up and you'll be a moderator at this rate.
If you have the funds and take car of them, it's not hoarding. There was a guy in my area with 388 Lincolns and he took care of them all. I have pics I can post, of I can find them http://www.rmauctions.com/PressRelease.cfm?PressID=431
WELL SAID Everytime I get stuff, I have to sell it to support my car Hobby, if I didnt I would keep it till I got around to it, or the asking price was worth it. But of cource it would be stored it some sort of rot free envoirment.
Off to the bank to get myself a loan, see all of you there!!!! A collection can also be hoarding. I think he had a bit of both, started with the collecting thing, ended with the hoarding thing. I really don't care either way. I am just happy to see all that iron and hope it goes to someone who can appreciate it. You can have the old cabbage patch doll.
WOW! That's a lot of stuff. Reminds of the Rineyville Model A museum. Same type of guy. Some of the people on here from KY probably know what I'm talking about. Rich
I would leave it as is. Charge money to walk through and call it a killer americanna museum............
Veritas was a famous West German post World War II sports and race car company, located in the village of Hausen am Andelsbach, near Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, later at Meßkirch and Muggensturm and moved finally to the Nürburgring. The company was founded by Ernst Loof, Georg Meier and Lorenz Dietrich who initially re-built and tuned pre-war BMW 328 cars using components supplied by a customer, turning them into BMW-Veritas cars.<SUP id=cite_ref-Beaulieu_0-0 class=reference>[1]</SUP> The first car was used in 1947 by its owner Karl Kling to win at Hockenheim and subsequently become the 1947 German 2-litre champion. After only a few cars were made, following an objection from BMW, the cars became simply known as Veritas.
Partial listing of cars from Hemmings.... 1959 Edsel four door sedan 1941 Lincoln Zepher 12 Cylinder Continental 1936 Lincoln custom twin nose sedan Zepher 1927 Henney Limousine Four Door 1928 Model A One ton truck w/??? Rear end 1921 Model A City of Chicago Paddy Wagon 1937 Pontiac Four door sedan 1909 Model T ??? Body 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe 1937 Ford Two Door 1941 Ford Four Door 1938 Ford Two Door 1935 Ford SW Coupe 1934 Ford Phaeton 1932 Ford Two Door (??) 1932 Ford Two Door (??) 1932 Essex Terraplane 1924 Model T Four Door 1914 Model T Touring 1 Model T Touring 1916 Model T Center Door 1928 Model A Two Door 1931 Model A Sport Coupe 1930 Model A Coupe 1931 Model A Cabriolet 1928 Model A Phaeton A/T Model A/T Touring [I believe this is an A body on a T chassis] 1931 Model A Roadster 1949 Veritas Roadster Convertible 1926 Hertz Touring 1924 Model T "C" Cab 1940 Mercury Deluxe Conv 1936 Ford Cabriolet 1947 Crosley Station Wagon 1931 Model A ???(1911 Pope, 1901 Wagner, 1902 "FN", 1928 Henderson) 1929 MOdel A Couple (Blk) 1934 Armstrong Sidelle 1924 Model T Peddler's Wagon 1928 Model A Special Coupe 1916 Model T Police Car 1959 Fiat Spyder 1958 Cadillac Eureka Hearse 1933 Ford Model C Truck 1931 Model A 1 1/2 Ton Stake Truck 1922 Studebaker Truck 1930 Model A Truck (Flatbed) 1926 Model T Two Door Sedan 1915 Model T Touring 1937 Rolls Royce Alumninum Body 1959 Bentley Four Door Sedan 1934 Sunbeam Talbot Four Door Sedan 1932 Worthington Tractor 1950 Edwards Roadster 1929 Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Model A Four Door 1930 Model A Fire Dept Truck 1931 Model A Slantwindshield Four Door 1930 Model A Cabriolet 1928 Model A Four Door 1930 Model A Two Door 1931 Model A Coupe 1930 Model A Four Door 1928 Model A Two Door 1929 Model A Roadster Pickup 1931 Model A Four Door 1931 Model A Four Door 1931 Model A Victoria 1930 Model A Coupe 1931 Model A Pickup 1931 Model A SW Four Door 1930 Model A Coupe 1928 Model A Sport Coupe 1930 Model A Pickup 1931 Model A Panel Delivery 1931 Model A Slant Windshield Cabriolet 1930 Model A Four Door 1931 Model A Two Door 1929 Model A Phaeton
Wow. Looks like he knew what he was doing, and he probably saved lots of cool stuff from the crusher too.
A few years back I and a good friend had the priviledge of goin thru that building; my buddy's dad was a good friend of Lee's. The place was unbelievable; you could probly walk thru there everyday for a week and not see it all, a lot is hidden behind other stuff. Along one wall were 25 Model A's in a row, all in very good condition, as were all the other cars. Lee was a very nice guy and showed car enthusiasts his collection whenever he could. He had the largest collection of licence plates I've ever seen. Good luck if you go to the auction, you'll be simply amazed!
I swear, that's what heaven must look like! I could wander around that place for an eternity, fixing things up, tinkering with stuff, and never be bored.
It's not just a collection, it's multiple collections. It's a world class Ford collection, a world class license place collection, a world class spark plug collection, a world class toy collection, etc., etc., etc. I'm torn about it staying together like that. It needs to be sorted and spaced out so everything can be seen. The fact that it's all being auctioned off at once means stuff is going to go cheap. It could take years to just research, catalog, and sell this stuff the right way. I hope at a minimum everything is photographed.
I am impressed - I am inclined to call that extreme collecting- hoarders normally don't have that orginization - also everything is nice and valuable - not worthless junk. Guy was probablly way wayobsessive compulsive , but arn't we all at least a little?
Yeah, I'd call that "extreme collecting", as well. Here is a guy that was willing to share his stuff (as a museum of sorts) to folks. I would not call this guy a "hoarder" as they simply collect stuff for stuff's sake. Hoarders are generally (note I say generally!) mentally ill, to an extent. Collectors have a theme (this guy had multiple themes going) to a collection of whatever; be it model trains, cars and parts, or license plates. They have a purpose to their collecting. Hoarders simply hoard, whether the stuff they do hoard has value or not. Here is an extreme example of someone's estate getting sold off, where the guy is dead and that leaves his widow and other family members to deal with the problems this entails. There is a LOT involved here. THAT, to me, is what is sad about this; other than the man's death, obviously. I'd love to attend the auction, though. You don't see things like this but a few times in life. Should be a massive draw. And the estimate of a million dollars gross is probably low, even in this crappy economy. Remember, the auction house gets up to 40% of the take. Still...wow!