Vintage treasures draw crowd

Collectors from both sides of the black stump were out in full force for one of the biggest vintage machinery sales this year.

Last Thursday, retired farmer Arthur Johnson, through Landmark Narrogin, offered an Aladdin's cave of treasures, including restored and unrestored vintage machinery and other collectibles.

Mr Johnson was blown away by the sale - which had more than 380 registered buyers bid on 358 lots - went on for five hours.

With items fetching prices from $5 to $18,000, Mr Johnson said the most surprising was how high bidding reached on branded oil bottles.

A Wakefield pint oil bottle sold for $420 with a half pint bottle selling for $180. Machinery manuals and books sold for $10 to $100, a mincer went for $5 while a King George IV Brandson piano sold for $550.

Old signs sold for $100 to $1300. A W9 licensed tractor attracted $1600, while a WD-9 reached $5000 and an Allis Chalmers made $6250.

A Case LA sold for $5000 and Case 930 and duals sold for $6500.

But was Mr Johnson's beloved 1950 Lanz Bulldog Model N that attracted the top bids and sold for $18,000.

Sue Metcalf bought the beautifully restored blue tractor on behalf of her husband, Neil, who was at home seeding in Beacon.

Mrs Metcalf said Neil, who is celebrating his 60th birthday this year, had always wanted a Lanz and it would be parked up and admired.

"It's just one of those things," she said. "As the blokes get older they can't help but collect things."

Katanning transport stalwart Ken Sutherland, of Cropline, made sure he didn't go home empty handed by purchasing a licensed 1947 Austin Truck for $5000, even though he "came to buy nothing" at the sale.

Mr Sutherland, who has been driving trucks all his life, said he had just started collecting machinery - "it was time to do something for myself".

The auction attracted plenty of interest, including some from the eastern states.

A Sunshine Machinery sign sold for $1300 to a buyer in Queensland.

Landmark Narrogin branch manager Jason O'Neill said the turnout was phenomenal.

"We are very happy with today's turnout," Mr O'Neill said.

"It's a very unusual sale and you don't see too many of these dedicated machinery sales."