Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

A Danbury, CT Chinese restaurant, The Union Buffet had it's doors closed due to the Wuhan virus. The entire contents were auctioned in an online only event ending Sunday a week ago. They had a system that extended by three minutes the bidding on any item receiving a bid in the last 3 minutes. I thought perhaps if I executed a semi snipe bid just before the 3 minutes to end mark, if the guy I outbid was not paying attention, it might quietly expire at the planned time if no one else came in or back during those last 3 minutes. I know it is a lot of "if" to hope for. This auction clearly was not easy to time like ebay so I needed a practice shot. I picked something cheap and portable to practice on. There was a lot consisting 68 stainless steel half size food service trays 13"x 12"x 3" with a high bid of 1.00 and a minimum new bid at 1.07. I bid the $1.07 and got my timing pretty well understood then moved on to bid on the item I wanted which was a pair of aluminum dunnage stands that would have made great display parts for larger engines. They were 60" long and about a foot high. Fast forward I was outbid on the dunnage and won the 68 stainless trays for 1.07 each. Clearly not the result I was looking for. I had noticed what might be a nice display case that I did not bid on not knowing anything about it's true condition from the poor auction photo. It only had a $25 starting bid and I did not bid. No one else bid either. When I paid for and picked up my 68 trays, I inquired about the display case. He said if no one bid he could sell it to me. I looked it over and it was in far better shape and strength than the picture would have me believe. I said wel, no one bid your minimum of $25 so would you let it go for $5.00 ?  He said it's yours for five! I also picked up a 65" by 28" very sturdy dining table with 2 heavy cast iron legs for $10.


Gil


The dunnage I did not win....


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My trays... Some of these will be used to contain engine projects.


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Here is the display case cleaned up and in service in the living room.




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Very NICE display case Gil .... now when are you going to open your buffet?

Very nice for the collection Gil.

When does the buffet open 

Very NICE display case Gil .... now when are you going to open your buffet?

Thanks, Daniel..!  No plans to open a restaurant anytime sooner or later.

Very shrift of you. Neat displey cabinet.
With those hotel pans you will be on Triple D before long.

Thanks, Dave! 

I think the display case is the real prize here.

It sure is. Had I not won the trays, I would not have bothered to go there.