About Brown Auction Services

Brown Auction Services began in March of 1986 as Bates & Brown, Inc. The founding partners Bud Brown and Alan Bates stated that the purpose of the company was to provide services to collectors, users, dealers, museums and other institutions interested in antique tools and related artifacts. These services include advising individuals, estates, and institutions whom may wish to dispose of partial or complete collections in the most efficient and profitable manner. This could involve arranging a special auction sale, a private placement, pre-priced catalog sale or tag sale. They also would appraise collections for insurance, estate and other purposes. The original purpose set down over 15 years ago has served well and remains the primary service offered by Brown Auction Services today.

By the end of 1988 Bates & Brown, Inc. had held six major national sales and were well established as the leading auctioneers of fine tools in the US. During 1989 the company was reorganized as the Brown Auction Services with Bud Brown at the helm. With the reorganization the auction site moved to Pennsylvania where it remains today.

In 1994, Bud Brown retired and the company president became Mickey Holmes. Under Mickey's leadership the International Antique Tool Auctions set new records and continued to break their own old records year after year. With the sale of the Tidey prototype double beveling plane in 1996 a new all time record for a woodworking tool at auction was set at $27,500. Unfortunately for health reasons Mickey decided to sell the company. Antique & Collectible Tools, Inc. of Pownal, Maine purchased Brown Auction Services in the spring of 1997. Clarence Blanchard became the new president and Mickey Holmes continued to serve as Auction Coordinator.

Under Clarence’s leadership the company has continued to grow. The auction program was expanded to two auctions per year making room for a collector whose collection merited its own sale. The trend of setting new world records continued and the current all time world record was set in 1995 when Brown Auction Service sold the Sandusky 1876 ebony and ivory center wheel plow plane for $114,400.

Brown Auction Services has now conducted over thirty-two International Antique Tool Auctions. Over the years Brown's has had the privilege of offering the finest tools available from the most prominent collections. With these great tools, world price records will continue to be set year after year. Today, the International Antique Tool Auction holds many world record auction prices and is the leader in the antique tool auction business.

Starting in 1987, the International Antique Tool Auction has hosted the Tool Sale the day before the auction. These sales have grown in size over the years and today is the largest non-club tool shows in the country. The 2007 show had nearly 100 tables with dealers from around the world participating.