European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes tuesday. September 24. 1985 the military Graveling Salesman English buyer Jay Webster bit at the Hanau auction. Idding was brisk on the Black 1981 Camaro with the Louvere Back window. A sporty cat in Tiptop condition in was the Centrepiece and last item at the surplus property Sale. About Hall of the 100 registered bidders remaining in the audience edged Forward in their seats As the Camaro was announced. A flippant offer of $50 greeted auctioneer Willie Kauffeld s request for an opening bid of $1,000. But even before Kaufield could react a swedish buyer put in a bid Lor $500. From there the Price leaped rapidly $100 at a dip with a half dozen bidders in the Chase. Just Short of a minute the bidding ended As abruptly As it began. With a bang of his Gavel Kauffeld awarded the Camaro to Shaft sgt. Stephen Weiland. Co e. 23rd engr in. Hanau. Tor the High bid Price of $2.200. Sale of the Carnero ended the department of defense auction that brought English swedish German. Italian and american buyers into Competition in a warehouse in Gros nauheim a Hanau suburb. With the staccato talking Kauffeld zipping through the 200 listed items the auction was completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes. At the end Kauffeld was growing hoarse. Vehicles household furnishings office equipment clothing musical instruments and a variety of hand and Power tools came under the Hammer and produced sales proceeds in excess of $8,600. It Vas a Good sate pretty much typical of the 10 or so we hold a  said John King manager of the defense re utilization and marketing office in Gros nauheim. The Camaro wat the big item. It was a go s car that cafes took Possession of when the owner failed to pay a Large repair Bill. Ii was a real Nice automobile. We figured it might bring As much As $3,000. The Blue Book on it runs around $5,000." successful bidder Weiland is Happy the car did t bring $3.000. He said he came to the Sale determined to buy and had hoped to get it for $ 1.500. Th3 Purchase prices of other vehicles sold at the auction trailed far behind the Camaro. Jay Webster irom Lincoln. England opened the Sale with consecutive purchases of a 1978 Ford club Wagon seven passenger for $300, a 1973 am Concord for $ 130 and a 1980 Oldsmobile Ortega Lor $75. Webster ended up with six vehicles that Cost him $880. He also bought two circular saws a Nikon camera a sewing machine and a gasoline drilling machine. Webster. A surplus properly dealer is a familiar figure at Dod auctions in Europe. I must have attended Well Over 200 of these auctions Webster said As he headed for the local German customs office to pay duty on his purchases a requirement for foreign buyers. A number of the 22 vehicles sold at the auction were purchased by military buyers who plan to use them As inexpensive transportation. Staff sgt. Norman Bunch. 814th engr co. Hanau. Paid $270 for a 1979 am Concord. The car s in Good condition with Low mileage. It was a Good  said Bunch who also bought a sewing machine a flyer s jacket and a Loudspeaker. Sgt. Peter Simotas co d. 23rd engr in paid $ 100 for an am Concord without bothering to inspect it i knew the general condition of the cars being offered and i m a Mechanic so i figure i can t  Simotas said. A aug bought a color to for $35 and two easy chairs for $2.50. Or $1.25 each. Staff sgt. Sharon Armstrong. Co a 4th support in. Hanau. Used her first visit to a surplus property auction to Stock up on furniture. She paid $202.50 for a vanity table a Wood Chest a Wood Dresser a Wood sideboard and five sweatshirts. James Ridley director of the Hanau North learning resources Center bid unsuccessfully on a had dozen items but bought an upright piano Lor $50 it needs a tuning and some repairs. But it certainly is Worth $50," Ridley said. Thirteen of the 200 listed items remained unsold because of insult client bids or Lack of interest. Item 121, consisting of nine fibreglass poles used in pole vaulting was the Dud of the auction. It Drew a Blank at the initial and second offerings and will be held for later sales. Many items sold tar below Purchase prices a Walkie talkie for $2.50, a dictating machine for $5. A Stopwatch for $10. An electric stapler Lor $2 50. A Banjo Lor $15. Multiple bids contributed to better prices on other items. A sleeping bag sold for $35. A band saw for $180. The auction was one of 50 held annually by the re utilization and marketing service in Europe. Robert Hirschman chief of merchandising for the european office in Wiesbaden says local auctions produce $200.000 to $300.000 a year in sales proceeds. Auctions Are open to foreign buyers and . . Card holders. Foreign buyers pay customs duty on purchases. Defense department personnel do not. Auction participants must Register at which time they Are Given paddles containing their bid numbers these must be held up when  Kauffeld said. The paddles enable officials to Monitor the action in fast paced bidding where the average item is sold in less than a minute. Paddle numbers also become contract numbers Ana help Speed up paperwork. Bidding often is spirited with several nationalities participating. The auctions perform a valuable service to the defense department by moving surplus property for which the government has no further need. From the participant s Point of View auctions often till needs at minimal costs. And they can be exciting. A military Wile attending her first Sale in Hanau. Said she drove a Long Way to get there. It was so much  she said but i Don t want any publicity. You see i spent too much Money my husband is going to be mad enough without my advertising what i did