OK fast forward to a couple weeks ago. Another Hamm s collector gave me a call and wanted to know about a sign on eBay whether it was a legit sign or not. Imagine my surprise when I pulled up the number and the same sign was staring me in the face. My first thought was the original owner was selling the sign he had purchased several years ago but then noticed this one was located in Idaho. It was a fairly new seller to eBay with just 10 feedbacks and only one other selling experience. The sign appeared to be in mint condition although the pictures were not the greatest. As I proceeded to tell my fellow collector of the story of the first one, I scrolled down and noticed there was a Buy It Now option on this sign. As my fingers nervously clutched the mouse, I asked him if he was going to buy the sign. No, I d really like to but I can t afford it right now he said. I don t think I ve ever clicked a mouse that fast in my life. He said he was thinking about telling his other Hamm s collecting buddy about the sign that night to see maybe he d be interested in buying it. Too late for that I said, it s already sold. Oh that s fine he said. I know it s going to a good home. After paying for the sign with Paypal, I noticed that if the Buy It Now option was taken the shipping would be included. I then e-mailed the seller and told them just to keep the 40.00 shipping and package the sign better with the extra money. After a couple agonizing days without hearing back from them, I m thinking oh crap someone got to them and made a higher offer. Finally on Friday I got an e-mail from the seller saying the sign was on the way and they provided a tracking number. I swear I checked that number 10 times a day watching the progress of the sign as it made it s way here from Idaho. The lady who sold it mentioned that her husbands father was in the beer business in Montana back in the 60 s and ended up bringing home several sign to light up his downstairs bar. She was pretty sure that they were new signs when he brought them home which explains what this one was in such pristine condition. She also thanked me for letting her keep the 40.00 as it ended up costing 112.00 to ship the sign. Sadly it was the only Hamm s sign he had but I was sure happy to add it to my collection. Keep looking guys, the stuff is still out there.
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Several years ago I had a group of people on their way to a BCCA Canvention called
me and ask if they could stop for a visit and tour of my collection. Of course they were welcomed with open arms and several new friends were made that day. A year or so later, a member from that chapter contacted me after seeing the article in their chapter newsletter about my collection. He was in the process of selling a Hamm s Beer sign and sought my advice on selling it. He had already listed the sign and mentioned that he had several offers to end the auction early and was wondering what he should do. I then asked him to describe the sign to me and he proceeded to talk about a sign that I had never seen. I finally just asked him to provide the eBay number of the sign so I could see what he was talking about. When I pulled up the provided number, I about fell out of my chair. I was now looking at a Hamm s sign that I had never seen before in all the collections I had viewed including my own. It was unlike any other type of sign in construction using a blue anodized frame around the main part of the sign. I knew it had to be a West Coast edition coming from either the San Francisco or Los Angeles Hamm s Brewery. The sign he was selling appeared to be in excellent condition which made it even more desirable. I then asked him what was the highest offer he had to end the auction early. When he replied 250.00 shipped and insured, I knew immediately who had made the offer. When I mentioned the name, you could have heard a pin drop on the other end. I asked him if he was hard up for money. No was his reply. Then why would you even consider ending this auction and not letting it go the entire 7 days, I asked him?. To that he had no answer either. I told him if in fact he wanted to end the auction early, I would give him much more than the 250.00 off plus I d pay for the shipping and insurance. My advice to him is to let the auction runs it s course virtually insuring him that the sign would do much better than the token offer he had just received. I loaded up a substantial bid to be placed at the end of the auction and was quite confident that it would be coming to Winnebago. Needless to say my bid didn t even make the grade when the sign finished up at 2250.00. It went to a member of our Hamm s Club here in Minnesota and created quite a stir throughout the membership when pictures of the sign were produced at the next show.
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