Western Flyer relics draw no bids at auction

An online auction featuring relics from the Western Flyer, the fishing boat famously chartered by John Steinbeck and marine scientist Ed Ricketts, concluded without a single bid on four key items. These included a steering wheel, two compasses, and a control handle, each carrying a minimum starting bid of $20,000. Michael Hemp, who represented the seller Dennis Fry, watched the auction unfold with disappointment, especially as other related lots sold for substantial amounts, highlighting a disconnect in the market. Past appraisals for the collection had placed its value at over $75,000, underscoring the significance of the items. Fry's wife mentioned that they were unsure about their next steps following the auction's failure, suggesting they might have to travel to Berkeley to reclaim the items.

Hemp speculated that diminished interest in maritime history may have contributed to the lack of bids. He advised the Fry family to consider keeping the collection, suggesting that "it just wasn’t meant to happen today. " This situation raises questions about the future of historic maritime artifacts and the evolving interests of collectors.