The Leech is safe.

The first auctions to liquidate the sprawling collection known as Max Nordeen's Wheels Museum were held at a banquet facility in his hometown of Woodhull on August 24-26th. Max passed away in December 2004. Roadsideamerica.com contributor Craig Thom attended two days of the "closing out" of Max's estate. Craig also agreed to help roadsideamerica.com in a bid for the Petrified Leech.

The opening session attracted over a hundred customers, vying for items such as old sewing machines, vintage girlie magazines, and World's Fair memorabilia. "Everyone there seemed to be a collector or reseller of some kind," Craig said. Some objects in Max's broad collection defied description -- attendees and auctioneers had trouble identifying exactly what some things were.

AUDIO: Petrified Leech Auction action [509 kb - mp3] VIDEO: View from Craig's Knee [598 kb - .mov] VIDEO: From the Archive - Max shows us his leech. [2.4 mb - .mov]

Craig was able to win the bid for the legendary Petrified Leech, a hand-sized, curly white blob. The Petrified Leech was always a high point of any museum tour guided by Max. He'd pull it out of a glass display case and note the fine detail of the fossil, sold to him at a gun show by a man who bought it in Mexico.

Bidding for the leech was short but fierce. Craig: "I didn't look to see who was competing against me for the leech, since I was balancing my video camera on my knee while trying to make sure my bids were seen."

The final bid for the leech was $50.

One of the many unique aspects of the auction was a special "Erotica" session featuring Max's large collection of nudist and men's magazines. Craig said "There were only a half dozen or so people in the pervert room, but everything went in big lots and for cheap. All I got from that room was a 1955 calendar with the Art Frahm painting 'Fare Loser'."

Auctioneer Luke Lee Gaule holds one of Max's many treasures.

While some lots were a bargain, others had collectors sparring in an acquisition frenzy. "The most expensive item I saw auctioned was an old clock," said Craig. "It went for $1,500, which was amazing. It featured a man in the back of a nice car. Opening the door revealed a nude young woman with a bobbing head."

Craig himself had to pass on a lot of prime collectibles. "The mounted animal heads were a bargain, but I couldn't fit the moose in my car."

Craig hopes to return for Part 2 of the estate auction scheduled for October 1. It will feature Max's collection of cars, car memorabilia, and his spark plug display.

[09/14/2005]