Auction Status

The auction is now closed. The reserve ($75,000.00) was not met. Furthermore, we could not properly update the bidding as it occurred owing to the fact that we received 9,000,000+ hits on December 16 and 17 and could not connect with our own server. Consequently, the interested bidders did not have the timely information they needed to counter a  higher bid. To make amends for this unforeseen situation, we will contact the 21 companies and individuals who submitted a bid and give you an opportunity to submit another bid before the end of this weekend. To make this fair, we will only accept bids from those folks who have already registered one or more bids with us.

High Bid: $50,000.00

Reserve Status: Reserve not met

Activity: 21 bids

Submitting a Bid

To submit a bid, simply contact the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company by e-mail or regular mail before midnight, December 17, 2003. To submit a bid by e-mail, click this link: mailto:[email protected]. To submit a bid by regular mail, write:

Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company
Prop Auction
Wright Brothers Station, P.O. Box 334
Dayton, OH  45409

All bids must be accompanied by your name, address, and phone number.

Auction Rules

The rules, deadlines, and other considerations for this online auction are as follows:

• The auction is for a Wright propeller, circa 1913-1915, signed by Orville Wright. The propeller currently belongs to the Willhelm Family of Dayton, Ohio and is on loan to the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company through December 17, 2003.
• A provenance consisting of eyewitness accounts, reports of expert inspections, correspondence, and other documents that establish the authenticity and ownership of the propeller will accompany the propeller.
• The Willhelm Family have placed a reserve on the propeller and they claim the right not to sell the propeller if the reserve is not met.
• Providing the reserve is met, the propeller will be awarded to the high bidder on December 18, 2003. E-mail and mail-in bids must arrive on or before midnight December 17, 2003.
• You may also address questions about the propeller to us at the addresses above. Either we or a representative of the Willhelm family will answer you.
• We will publish the only the high bid, the reserve status, and the bidding activity in the space above. All other information, including the names and contact information for the bidders will be kept confidential. We will share it only with Joseph Willhelm or his representative.
• You may inspect the propeller and the papers that accompany it at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, OH by appointment only. If you cannot come to inspect the propeller, we will provide additional photos and photocopies of the papers to serious bidders only. Contact us by e-mail or regular mail and either the WBAC or a representative of the Willhelm family will answer you.

Click on a letter or photo to enlarge it.

Father Richard Willhelm's statement.

Joseph Willhelm's staement.