Up for auction: Owner of Mayer museum selling everything after flash flood

The small town of Mayer has been through a lot this summer. First, the devastating Goodwin Fire and now flooding after monsoon rains.

The flooding impacted a well known spot and the owner of Smitty's Antique Museum has decided to close down and sell off the thousands of items inside after flood waters damaged his building.

Hoyer had some big plans for the museum. He wanted to make it a real destination, but after the building was damaged by flood waters last month, he's abandoning his dreams and selling everything.

"We've got phonographs from the early 1900s, gramophones, old radios from the 20s, 30s, gas pumps from the 40s and 50s," said Erik Hoyer, owner of EJ's Auction and Consignment.

All of those items are up for auction at EJ's in Glendale. Every single item you see is from Smitty's. The owner, who recently purchased the museum, decided to sell off the items inside when a flash flood came through, damaging the building and destroying a newly constructed parking lot out front.

"He had great plans, but all of that was dashed in about 30 minutes of a flash flood that came through," said Hoyer.

Now, every item will go to the highest bidder.

"He brought in his personal collection of phonographs and reel to reel to add to the collection that was already there, with the idea of turning it into a museum," explained Hoyer.

Hoyer says this is the biggest single-seller auction they've ever done. He estimates there are about 40,000 to 50,000 items.

"We're estimating 25 to 30 26-foot trucks of antiques and collectibles we have to pul out of there. We've pulled seven or eight at this point," said Hoyer.

The first of many auctions will take place on August 12 at 10:00 a.m. To preview the items up for bid, click here.

EJ's Auction and Consignment
5880 W. Bell Rd.
Glendale, AZ 85308
623-878-2003
www.ejsauction.com