This past year was another successful year here at Dakil Auctioneers, Inc. In 2022, we conducted more than three dozen auctions, including four heavy equipment auctions that featured nearly 2,000 combined items to bid on.
As always, there were plenty of unique and interesting auctions to come across. They say you never know what you’ll find at an auction, which is why we like to compile an annual list of our favorite and most memorable events. You can also take a look at our recap of the most interesting items auctioned off in 2022.
Most years, we hold auctions for about six restaurants and their equipment, which usually amounts to one every other month. This year, restaurant auctions were our most common event as we sold supplies, commercial appliances, restaurant equipment, and much more for nine restaurants and two catering companies. They ranged from two pizza places and a pasta house to a Mongolian grill and a pho restaurant. Some of the unique items auctioned off included a tortilla cooker and a pizza over.
Early in 2022, we had the pleasure of holding an auction for the iHeart Radio station location in Oklahoma City. The event included typical items you’d find in the office of a radio station, such as framed records, artist posters, and concert tickets. One interesting item stood out, though – a reel-to-reel tape player. Reel-to-reel tape, also called open-reel, was a popular way to listen to audio recordings from the 1940s to 1980s before digital audio became more mainstream. The tape is held on a reel instead of in a cartridge or cassette.
Firearm auctions tend to be among our most popular events, especially when new guns or collector’s items are involved. This past December, we hosted a huge event that featured 1,200 firearms, of which 1,110 were brand new.
As expected, the auction drew considerable interest with 15 firearms selling for at least $1,000, including a Colt 45 semi automatic handgun that was a model of a 1911 U.S. Army weapon.
If you grew up in the 1970s, then chances are you spent hours and hours playing arcade games. One of our auctions this year included old school arcade games, including pinball machines featuring the Adams Family, Star Wars, Terminator, and Jurassic Park.
Depending on the car auction you attend, it may feature high-end vehicles that have all the bells and whistles. Occasionally, though, you can score a luxury car at an estate auction. This was the case in March 2022, when we auctioned off a 1959 Buick LeSabre for $40,000 as part of an estate sale. The car was in great condition and was housed in a barn. During our June 2022 summer heavy equipment auction, a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 sold for $58,000.
The Canton at Classen Curve was supposed to open in 2021 as one of Oklahoma City’s newest luxury apartment complexes. But weeks before the grand opening, a fire that turned out to be the largest commercial fire in city history destroyed the more than $65 million complex.
Although many parts of the complex were a total loss, about $1 million worth of equipment and supplies remained untouched. The apartment’s investment group contacted us about liquidating the items, and we conducted an auction in December 2022. The auction included elevators, wood flooring, exercise equipment, washers, dryers, and sinks.
This past September, we helped Oklahoma LED, the largest retrofitting company in the state, conduct a liquidation auction of their warehouse. The auction included $500,000 worth of brand new lighting. While many pallets of unopened LED lights sold for over $1,000, the highlight was a Nifty Lift (a personal lift machine) that went for $31,000.
Oklahoma has quickly become one of the most popular states for CBD and marijuana businesses. But as some companies are just getting their feet off the ground, others have closed up shop. We helped Flower Up dispensary in Blanchard, Oklahoma, hold an auction for their grow facility. The auction included trimming machines, grow lights, filters, fans, watering systems, and generators.
Whenever the Oklahoma Transit Authority finished construction and opened the Kickapoo Turnpike that connects Interstate 40 to Interstate 44, there were hundreds of acres of land leftovers. To help sell this land, we held one of the largest public land auctions in modern state history. There were 790 acres of land to bid on, including 54 of 68 parcels that stemmed from the Kickapoo Turnpike project.
Typically, we host anywhere from two to five auctions per month (sometimes more depending on the season! Our auctions regularly have hundreds of items available to bid on, so there is always something for everyone!
If you have any unique or interesting items to sell, reach out to us today using this contact form or call us directly at (405) 266-2709. View our upcoming auction schedule to see when our next auction takes place.
