Can any auctioneer call a tool auction?
The simple answer is yes. Someone who regularly sells cars or cows can call a tool auction. The key is to have someone with a pleasant cadence and who can work in the 120 to 140 lots-per-hour range. That said, it’s best to have an auctioneer who understands tools. I’ve seen non-tool auctioneers sell a valuable Stanley #1 or #2 bench plane early in the sale and when they see how much that plane brings, they spend the rest of the day trying to open the bidding on every common bench plane for the same money. If you’re going to use a non-tool auctioneer to sell your tool collection, be sure you hire a competent consultant to sort out and identify the better tools and to give the auctioneer a realistic starting range for each lot. This will keep the sale moving and the buyers on the edge of their seats. Nothing kills a sale like slowing it down. A knowledgeable tool person can also advise the auctioneer on which items to feature in the limited advertising space.
