Chicago Al 

I follow auctions for various things, not bikes really, but noticed that Copake, a very well established and busy auction house between Hudson NY and the Massachusetts border, is having a sale later this month featuring bikes from a few large private collections. Lots of actual antique bikes, but items from a Nashville private museum include a bunch of 60s-80s racers.

https://www.copakeauction.com/auctio...on-2023-10-21/

Markeologist

I bought a circa 1899/1900 Rambler double mens tandem at Copake’s first bike auction…sent a proxy bid in and “won” (my wife says you don’t “win” at auctions, you only pay more than others were willing to pay).

Piervinc

A few nice bikes in there. From a museum collection so likely little used as of late. Careful on the shipping costs. They can double the cost of your n+1.

repechage

There was much criticism of how they handled the Covid delayed auction when it finally happened and the treatment of the bikes afterward.
dreadful.
‘if one can be there in person and avoid much of the risk, might be good.
‘just major collections it appears this year, maybe word among the small qty owners got around.

the hirondelle is interesting, pedal forward, go normal, pedal backward, smaller gear.
I like the repainted Bobet. But not that much, winning bid, the auction premium, cost to co-ordinate pack and ship by others, the risk with that.
‘the comment about those fees adding up fast is correct.

Robvolz 

The argument I heard was; they don’t know how to pack a bike, remove pedals, rotate handlebars, etc….

they toss a whole bike in a reefer box and fill w styrofoam peantus and charge $400 for shipping.

but, if one or more of us were there….

plus, back in the day, they held a swap meet outside prior.

one more thing. I don’t think they know how to measure a frame.

SoCaled 

FYI - I mentioned on another thread they do provide an email and phone # for their outside shipper, so you could make contact in advance and see if it is reasonable/feasible

RB1-luvr

oh man, there's some beauts in there a feller could ride.

repechage

in the Covid era auction, there were a few potential facilitators, shippers. Kopake was just handing the goods over to the assignee, as the entire auction was remote, it was a huge stressor, and kind of anticipated, bikes left over a month were to be charged storage. Lining up a facilitator, shipper prior for an estimate is probably a capital idea.

AdventureManCO 

That 3Rensho with the chain drooping off for the glamour shot is the energy that you don't want to see if buying a high-end or rare collectible bicycle from somewhere.

madpogue 

Swap meet is back on the menu this year, per the web site.

repechage

ya’ know, I really do not know who to assign responsibility for the images too. A half hearted effort I think.

roadcrankr

I thought the same exact thing. Looks like they took photos with a cell phone - and a cheap one, at that.
Somebody placing a remote bid ends up really rolling the dice. People want to see sharp closeups, too.
Their laziness ultimately cost them $.

oldbikeguy62

cool, I'll check it out

100bikes

Note: I have no more connection to the Copake Auction than any other attendee.

I have been to a number of Copake Auctions( and the swap meet the day before) and
have also been an absentee bidder. a number of times.

Copake Auction has moved some very notable collections of bicycle stuff over the years. In speaking with Seth at
my last visit, he said that is it is getting harder to find the really large collection of mixed stuff anymore.
The result is the need to build a saleable collection from a variety of sources. It takes more time and energy.

In the category I collect, Copake has offered me a number of great buying opportunities
over the years, including this one-2023(well over 75 lots of interest to me)..

I have been active in and around the bicycle industry for 50 years, and I am often
amazed at not only the true antique and vintage stuff, but things contemporary to my time
in the industry things that I have never seen before at the various auctions I have attended.

Some pretty rare things sold. I have won and also lost bids, but never felt cheated or that anything
was forcing up my bid except the action of the market. In a word - legit.

Plus side: On site, the event is entertaining. Mike and Seth are pros, and actually know a quite a bit about the category.
The work the crowd and are able to read the tone of the live bidding group.
The products are all available to preview the day before, during the swap.
Even with a large number of smaller lots, it flows pretty smoothly.

Minus(es):
To visit, Copake, NY is a PITA to get to.

You are traveling very old roads through the land of Washington Irving and the " Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
Small highways and fun to drive(this year I will take my little car with three pedals).

One year, I had a small truck that I had to reroute (very close to the destination +over 20 miles) because the
road routed through a stagecoach size tunnel(ok, maybe slightly bigger), not noted on GPS or printed map I had..

Swap meet is good fun. Great people, well attended and free to attend (was $25 to display)
Except that you are in a working sheep pen, and all that that entails - like walking through what sheep dooo.

Many vendors are regulars and a few new ones as well.
Huge variety of stuff - vendors local on the east coast seem to finds lots of new/old stuff to sell every year.

Biggest gripe is their shipping. Very limited in their offerings in this area.

My bad experience was with their" friendly " ooops affiliate gouged me by shipping me equivalent of 3
large boxes(OS in their lingo) of packing for some very non-fragile items I bought.
$470 bill for their services and shipping
NOTE: The appropriate boxes could have shipped with normal packing without going oversize.
( I checked- efficient shipping would have cost $184 plus packing service)

In the defense of Copake, bicycles are a specialty pack.
Using the material a modern bicycle comes in the reverse process can work, but shipping through
the common methods really requires a great deal more reinforcement. Shippers are brutal!
Bicycles are usually at the very upper size limit of their automated package handling machines.

Sometime the value justifies constructing a shipping crate and shipping LTL(less than truckload).

In other words, it really does take someone who knows to properly pack a bike.
Especially some of the very valuable stuff that comes through Copake.
They just don't have that person on staff.

There are a local couple people who offer packing services, but they are limited.
Am surprised that a full service auction house would not offer/ contract with a pro shipping partner.
Seems like there would be enough business.
(Absolutely will not use that local affiliate to a national again - would rather not bid!).

(Check out the Copake threads on the Classic antique bike exchange CABE website).
October 2023 Copake Swap Meet | Swap Meets, Events, Rides | The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange (thecabe.com)

Good event to attend in person. Great people, interesting old venue and the atmosphere can
be pretty interesting as well. On site, buyers premium is 20% and online, I think, is 25%.

On line, a handful of ways to watch happening on items bids. (Wonder if they would every stream the event?)

Catalogue is visible right now,
31st Annual Bicycle Auction, 2023-10-21 – COPAKE AUCTION

Likely headed out again this year(from Minnesota).
Hope to add to my collection of




rusty

satbuilder 

That blue Motobecane C-T looks interesting.

cycleheimer

HOW TO SNEAK IT IN... "Stumble" upon the auction! Plan a trip to Hudson, N.Y. Believe it or not, it was a major whaling port 200 years ago. Up there with New Bedford, MA! President Martin Van Buren's home in Kinderhook is nearby, as well as Oleon. It was Frédéric Church's place (Hudson River School of painting). Plenty to see around there! Get snacks and groceries at the Hanaford's Supermarket if you want to save money to have more money for bike purchases. Hudson eateries can be pricey. Then, while taking a break from sightseeing, "stumble" across this thread and "add" it to your itinerary. Pout and look ill and depressed if you run into resistance!

oldbikeguy62

I bought a chair from NY and it cost the same amount to ship to Australia - $1000