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Follow on Google News | Estate of Kathleen "Kate" Robinson will be auctioned March 14-15 in St. Charles, IllinoisThe estate of Kate Robinson – whose mother-in-law, Helen, founded the Kane County Flea Market in 1967 – will be sold March 14-15 at the Kane County Fairgrounds. The auction will be held by Matthews Auctions, LLC, and Ward Auctions & Appraisals.
By: Ken Hall 
Buddy L Express Lines truck and trailer, ca. 1930s (est. $1,000-$1,500). “Kate Robinson was an enthusiastic collector who kept alive the same spirit and passion for antiques and collectibles her mother-in-law had,” said Dan Matthews of Matthews Auctions. “She was especially fond of Pink Pigs, Depression glass, jack-in-the- The next day, March 15, will be dedicated mainly to farm toys and toy trucks, from the lifetime collection of Kate's husband, Fred. About 350 lots will be offered, many of them mint in the box. They include a Buddy L anti-aircraft truck (circa 1960) and Buddy L Express Lines truck and trailer (circa 1930s), both in the box; a Tonka ramp hoist truck (circa 1963); and a Tonka 1955 Starkist Tuna truck. Other truck makers will include Nylint and Structo. The farm toys will comprise about 200 lots. Manufacturers include Ertl, Scale Models, Product Miniature, Tru-Scale and others. The day will also feature around 15-20 lots of local memorabilia (Northwestern University, the town of St. Charles, etc.), as well as advertising items for tractors and farm-related equipment (signs, paper, ephemera and more). Because of their scarcity, the trucks and farm toys just may post more top earners, in terms of prices realized, than the lots in Kate's collections, but her items will probably appeal to a broader range of bidders because she collected so many things in such a wide array of categories. Mrs. Robinson, who passed away in 2007, owned hundreds of antiques and collectibles. All will cross the block, to include: More than 30 Pink Pigs, the German-made collectibles made in the early 1900s and often sold at train stations and other tourist destinations as souvenirs, often with the name of the town or state. The pieces in Mrs. Robinson's collection include banks, autos and outhouses -- all different actions. A huge collection of over 50 Hummel pieces, mostly Mark 2 and Mark 3. Over 10 Stangl birds, including Cockatoos #340D; King Fisher #3406D; Love Birds #3400; etc. An R.S. Prussia tea set and berry bowl set. A Pickard two-handle vase, with ears of corn. Several pieces of Royal Bayreuth. Royal Doulton Toby mugs, vases and a Flambe Fox. Over 20 jack-in-the- Glassware (Ruby Red, Vaseline, Blue and French Opalescent). Several miniature oil lamps. Vases (two Weller Lowelsa, Roseville Rozane Ware, etc.) Art pottery (Van Briggle, Royal Haeger Leopard set, etc.) Flower frogs (Metlox nude, several German nude scarf dancers, etc.) Several salt-glazed crocks with cobalt decoration. A Monmouth stoneware pig. An Ansonia mantle clock with warriors. A large carnival glass punch bowl with cups. A pair of Heisey glass baskets. Several Morton Studios and Royal Doulton dogs. Several large lots of Longaberger baskets. Two Aladdin lamps. Depression glass (Miss America and several other lots). Bakelite napkin holders. Several box lots of jewelry, plus some gold and silver. Perfume bottles. The Kane County Flea Market has been a major stop along America's antique trail for over 40 years. Helen Robinson got the idea for it while on a trip to California in the 1960s. She stopped at a flea market that featured everything from socks to purses to junk jewelry. She was fascinated, and upon her return to Illinois told her husband she wanted to start one (only higher-end). He thought she was crazy. But Helen persisted, and soon the Kane County Flea Market was born. It continues to this day – held the weekend of the first Sunday of each month, at the sprawling Kane County Fairgrounds (29 acres, 60 counting parking). And it's still run by the Robinson clan -- the offspring of Helen and other relatives. Dale Robinson, Kate's son, said as many as 25,000 people turn out in the summer months. He acknowledged, though, that several factors – among them the Internet and a sour economy – have combined to reduce attendance in recent years. “The business started to take off in the '70s, then it really took off in the '80s,” Dale said. “Of course, that was before eBay. We still do well, though. It's as much a social event as it is a place to buy things and do business. People like to mix, mingle and shop.” The Saturday, March 14 session will begin promptly at 9 a.m. (CST). The Sunday, March 15 session has a 10 a.m. (CST) start time. There will be a preview on Friday, March 13, from 5-7:30 p.m. The buyer's premium is 10 percent for on-site purchases, 15 percent for online and absentee bidders. Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid (www.proxibid.com) Mr. Matthews said he expects a crowd of several hundred people at the Kane County Fairgrounds, located at 525 South Randall Road in St. Charles, Ill. Hotels closest to the fairgrounds are the Fairfield Inn & Suites (630-845-5500); Mr. Matthews said Part 2 of the estate of Kate Robinson – to comprise furniture, miscellaneous glassware and other items in the home – will be sold Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. (CST). Matthews Auctions, LLC, is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate, or collection, you may call them at (217) 563-8880, or e-mail them at danm@matthewsauctions.com. To learn more about Matthews Auctions, LLC, or the estate of Kathleen “Kate” Robinson, log on to www.matthewsauctions.com. # # # Ken Hall writes pre-sale and post-sale press releases for auction houses, for a fee ($250 US$). He writes, submits and tracks stories for clients. Submissions are published in trade magazines, posted on industry websites and appear in local newspapers. End
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