As we wrap up another fantastic year here at Schulman Auction, we thought it would be nice to take a moment and look back at some of the fun things we were entrusted to sell. The end of the year is also the right time to take stock of market trends and refresh our operation to better meet our clients’ evolving needs and wants.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know what separates us from many other auction houses is that we are truly niche. By limiting our scope and attention to the Ham hobby and high-end audio, we’re able to tap these secondary markets more effectively than any other auctioneer. Where many auction houses sell items to collectors, we’re all buying this stuff to use!

Sellers know our process is by far the best way to achieve as close to fair market value as possible. The value added by our techs testing and repairing consignment is significant. Our realized prices make this abundantly clear!

At the same time, buyers know they can trust our experienced team of retired electrical engineers and long-time Hams (there’s FOUR of them now) who test and repair the items. Buyers know when we call out something in a description, it really is like that. There’s no sugar coating, pretending or BS. You know exactly what you’re getting and can bid with complete confidence. 

As we look at the market for amateur radio gear, it’s clear the state of the hobby remains stronger than it has been for a long time. Young new Hams continue to appear – we always want more of those – and the older guard is holding steady.

While there’s been no major shift throughout 2024, the most obvious changing condition is the one we’ve been watching for the last 5-10 years. Older “boat anchors” and many tube based equipment continue to decline in resale value, but the slack is being more than taken up by the desirability of newer advanced gear.

We pledge to continue bringing value to the hobby by supporting our buyers and sellers with a process that is constantly reevaluated and refined to bring out the best for everyone!

Now, let’s check out some of the stars of 2024: