SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. — Two to three times per year, Lyle Chupp of Chupp Auctions hosts specialty auctions for a unique audience.

Salesmen’s samples from the past, early country store memorabilia, advertising for products no longer found or old advertising for items still in use, and early farm primitives are offered to the highest bidders at these events. These auctions are in Shipshewana, Ind., a most appropriate setting as horses and buggies and bicycle riders share the roads with cars.

One of the early butter churns at this auction was made of cast iron and wood and was “automatic” for its time. This sold for $5,100. Examples of some of the other churns included a Davis swinging butter churn that sold for $325, and a floor-model churn known as the Wonder Churn that earned $650.

A restored two-seat, open sleigh – fit for a ride through the snow – sold for $4,100; and a restored two-seat, open buggy complete with canopy and shafts earned $2,750.

Salesman’s samples, those models that have been replaced by today’s computer drawings, included a two-row, horse-drawn corn planter that sold for $7,500; a brass and walnut, adjustable ox yoke that earned $1,000; and a corn crib that also earned $1,000. A salesman’s sample fodder chopper with brass sold for $1,300; and a roll-over, slip scoop made by the American Clay Machine Co. crossed the block for $650.

Wagons were popular. A primitive double-seat, Stop & Go wagon with red paint and stenciled horses brought $1,000; a triple-board, Weber box wagon with a drop tongue manufactured in Sharpsville, Ind. earned $2,900; and a Turnbull wagon with its original seat and drop tongue crossed the block for $2,900.

A horse-powered treadmill with early blue paint and good stenciling by GB Tardif went to a new owner for $4,500; an Eclipse dog treadmill earned $700; and a circular dog treadmill sold for $775. Among the many items for the country store there was a set of hanging scales, complete with a bull, by the Simpson Computing Scales Co. in Elkhart, Ind. that sold for $1,100.

There was a wide selection of signs. Among the popular ones was a 24-inch by 72-inch, porcelain, two-sided John Deere Farm Equipment sign with a four-legged deer which sold for $3,200. A 20-inch by 20-inch Blue Seal Grain sign depicting a horse, cow and chickens earned $1,250; and a 23-inch by 35-inch sign for Diamond Horseshoes and depicting horse with a wagon drew $2,000. A 12-inch by 95-inch wood and sandstone reflective sign for Oliver Plows sold for $2,350.

Smaller signs included an embossed metal DeKalb Seed Corn sign with flying ears of corn that sold for $550; a metal, self-framed Santovin Wormer sign depicting sheep that earned $350; and a plastic, two-sided, light-up De Laval Dairy Farm Equipment sign that found a winning bid of $500.

Tractor seats don’t appear to be comfortable, but they do have their collectors. Examples that crossed the block included a New Combination cast iron seat that sold for $2,000; a Deering seat marked Chicago, Ill. that earned $800; as did a Spade cast iron seat; and a Warrior Mower cast iron seat that sold for $975.

Hog oilers, devices that hogs rub against and oil or insecticide is applied to their skin, are another genre of collections. At this sale, an old-style Chemical Co. upright hog oiler crossed the block for $2,100; an Aldritt twin oiler, made in Lincoln, Neb., saw $850; and a Power Creek Farm Tea Cup upright hog oiler earned $700. A Perfection hog oiler made In Marshalltown, Iowa with the inscription Rub Hog or Die sold for $1,000. The Bullet hog oiler earned $1,200; and from the Marsh Mfg. Co., the Dexter hog oiler crossed the block for $1,100.

A rare cast iron corn shredder/cob scraper sold for $2,400; a three-hole (different sizes) cast iron corn sheller saw $2,525; and a cast iron vegetable chopper earned $450.

An old copper horse weathervane sold for $2,250; and a cast iron bull windmill weight, earned $600. A scale-model Olds hit-and-miss engine that was in good condition sold for $1,900.

Other desirable pieces from the past included an all-wood primitive hand cultivator that sold for $350; a primitive horse-drawn Keystone corn planter with a cast iron Keystone seat and a second round cast iron seat that earned $1,600; and a J. Herva Jones double-expansive hand corn planter that crossed the block for $1,100.

An early cow horn shaping device for Ayrshire cows sold for $650; a cast iron three-strand New Era rope maker made in Fairfield, Iowa saw $250; a cast iron horse tie with an embossed horse head earned $300; and from the Civil War era there was a Tetherall horse tie that sold for $525.

Once it was common for consumers to kill their own chickens. For this a deheader was needed, and a tin Prairie Farmer chicken deheader sold for $325.

One instrument used to restrain or subdue a stubborn horse is a nose twitch – doesn’t sound too comfortable. The early one at this auction sold for $275. Another thing that must be done to a horse is to singe the hair. A brass singer that was filled with kerosene to accomplish this sold for $450.

A primitive, horse-drawn, small seed planter with early blue paint sold for $700; a primitive dump rake saw $500; and a JI Case walk-behind corn planter crossed the block for $400.

For additional information on this or upcoming auctions, contact the company at 574-536-8005.