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Auction For Toys

Hennessee Auctioneers

The toy collection, including this tin lithographed flatbed truck carrying a rubber roadster probably dates to the 1950s, will be split into three auctions, with the first one Feb. 7 Saturday at the IBEW Union Hall, 10108 U.S. 92 E., Tampa, at Falkenburg Road. The other auctions will take place March 7 and April 11 at the same time, same place. To preview items that will be sold at the first auction, visit www.rhauction.com.

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

BRANDON - It was a surreal moment.

As auctioneer Rob Hennessee opened the bedroom door of the Brandon home and looked in, he thought he had stumbled into a time machine.

The 8- by 10-foot room was filled from floor to ceiling with toys he recognized from his childhood in the 1940s and '50s.

"We didn't have a lot of money, so I didn't have many toys," Hennessee said. "But I remember seeing a lot of the toys in that room when I was growing up and wishing I had them."

The toys were the collection of longtime resident Harold Irick, who owned an auto shop on U.S. 301 at State Road 60 for years and restored classic cars in his spare time. Irick died three years ago, leaving his wife, Madge, and two children.

Irick left behind a collection of toys, mostly vintage toy trucks, that he had accumulated at antique shows, shops and auctions across the country over 40 years, Madge Irick said.

Her children expressed no interest in the toy collection, so Madge Irick was faced with the dilemma of how to best liquidate her husband's beloved toy collection.

"These toys were his passion. He'd want to make sure they went to people who cared about them," she said. "But he'd also want to make sure I had money to take care of myself."

Hennessee has been an auctioneer in the area for 25 years and frequently volunteers his services for schools and nonprofit groups. Madge Irick recalled attending some of Hennessee's auctions with her husband and meeting Hennessee and his wife, Carol.

Hennessee said he recalled that Irick was a toy collector.

"I just didn't realize how many toys he collected," Hennessee said. "This was major, probably the largest toy collection I've ever seen in my 25 years as an auctioneer. There are probably 2,000 pieces. It was an arduous task to photograph, document and pack them all. It probably took Carol and I more than 40 hours."

The toys date from the early 1900s to the 1980s and include mostly toy trucks, which was Harold Irick's special interest, his wife said.

However, Hennessee found some other surprises, including a rare set of lead toy soldiers from the 1940s depicting Adolph Hitler and his top commanders..

The toy trucks and cars were made of sheet metal, tin, cast aluminum and cast iron.

Although he is a certified appraiser, Hennessee said he can't predict what prices individual pieces will bring at auction. But he said many of the trucks are worth $395 to $695.

GOING ONCE ...

The toy collection will be split into three auctions, with the first one Saturday at the IBEW Union Hall, 10108 U.S. 92 E., Tampa, at Falkenburg Road. A preview will begin at 4 p.m., and the sale starts at 5 p.m. There will be a 10 percent buyers' premium. The other auctions will take place March 7 and April 11 at the same time, same place.

To preview items that will be sold at the first auction, visit www.rhauction.com.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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