Preparing for an auction: From a wringer washer to an old wagon seat, you’ll never know what you’ll find

John Burns folded down the loading ramp on his enclosed trailer. He wrapped his arms around an object that can be best described as a curiosity.

“I guess the closest way to describe it is that it’s a handmade, wooden robot,” Burns said. The robot is at least 6 feet tall and is topped with a gladiator-style helmet. Burns opened a hinged door in the robot’s back to expose some wiring and tiny motors. “Inside there’s some sort of mechanism that I think is an old windshield wiper motor, which can actually operate the arms.”

The robot is just one of a zany collection of objects to be sold Saturday at Dean R. Arner Auction House, the former Andreas Fire Company in Andreas. The objects range from casket lights and real skeletons to a 1981 Roadmaster Cycle Scooter and a 1987 Porsche 924S. Bidders will also be able to try their luck on an early copper wringer washer, a Pennsylvania Railroad sign, numerous crocks and even an old wagon seat.

Want a cure for winter’s cabin fever? Try an auction.

“An auction can have a little bit of everything,” said Bob Gilfert of Andreas, Dean’s father-in-law. “Last week we had a small cast-iron motorcycle with a sidecar, a 1907 Yuengling calendar, oriental umbrella stands and a big Mobile Oil sign.”

Gilfert straightened out an old fish transport box, which has “Clarence Schellenger & Co, Cape May, painted on its sides. Helpers Dorothy “Dot” Eberts and Linda Flamini helped arrange the items as they set up for Saturday’s auction, which starts at 9 a.m.

“Dean and Andrea (Dean’s wife) have always been wonderful to work for,” Eberts said, adding that she’s been working for Dean R. Arner for about nine years. “They are good, reputable people.”

Eberts and the other workers of Dean R. Arner bustled around at the auction house. Bob and Loretta Gilfert (parents of Dean’s wife, Andrea) and Dean and Andrea Arner, purchased the property in 2015. Dean R. Arner conducts auctions at that site, and also conducts estate sales off-site.

Andrea Arner recently obtained her real estate license — Dean can sell a house at auction; Andrea can take a listing for Charlotte Solt Realty, where she works as an agent.

As they worked to set up for an upcoming auction Saturday, Eberts, Flamini, the Gilferts, and longtime helpers Butch Wentzel and Earl Knappenberger spoke of the support and loyalty they feel for Dean and Andrea.

Knappenberger, 83, said that he’s “been with Dean forever” and admires his “honesty and customer service.” The others said that although the work of prepping for an auction can be difficult, the crew always finds a way to have fun. At the same time, they all work together to clean and spruce up the items that will be presented for sale so that they’ll bring the best price possible for their owner.

“I can think of times when we have all been filthy, crawling around in an attic or a basement to get the things, and then cleaning them for sale,” Loretta Gilfert said. “But even when you’re in the middle of that kind of work, there’s the feeling of all of us working together — to do our best for the customer, and we take pride in that.”

For more information, visit www.deanarnerauctions.com, email darner@ptd.net or call 570-386-3389.