Kraft Auction Service
Kraft Auction Service is a professional auction service based in Valparaiso, IN. We have been servicing buyers and sellers from around the world since 1976. The company was founded by Conrad Kraft, who is still active in the business today. Conrad built the business on honesty and integrity, forming a strong base for Jonathan to take over in 2005.
Today, Kraft Auction Service is one of the nation’s leading auction companies for personal property and online only auctions. Kraft Auctions has the capability to host auctions across the country and have recently conducted sales throughout Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. Consignments and Buyers come from all over the United States and the world.
Kraft Auctions has the team, equipment and experience to service any of your auction needs. Annually significant operations are focused on the following areas:
- Real Estate: 40+ farm, properties, commercial and residential
- Specialty: Annual January Anniversary Auction and Quarterly Specialty Collections (advertising, art, antiques, guns, collector cars, decorative arts and much more)
- Benefit: 20+ events annually including full service check-in and check-out offerings
- Consignment: Monthly 3 Day Consignment Auctions in Valparaiso and Laporte and Quarterly Equipment Auctions in Walkerton
- Business Liquidation: Including retirement, restructuring, and bankruptcy services
- Farm and Heavy Equipment: Live and online equipment auctions across the Midwest
- Estate Auctions and Clean-Out Services: 40+ on site estate sales and hundreds of estate clean outs conducted annually
Company History
In 1976 Conrad Kraft founded Kraft Auction Service to follow his dreams of being an auctioneer. Growing up going to local sale barns, Conrad was intrigued by being an auctioneer and went to Missouri Auction School. Conrad came back to start his business with the help of his family, and since 1976 has been a locally owned family business.
Jonathan Kraft grew up in the business with his father Conrad and mother Tammy running the family business. There was never an auction Jonathan missed, and from all that experience he was prepared to jump into the auction business in 2005. Today, Jonathan is the business owner and lead auctioneer for Kraft Auction Service. Due to his avid interest in the auction business, Jonathan has deep product knowledge and expertise across a diverse array of products including advertising, antique toys, heavy equipment, fine art, coins, guns, high end antiques, collectibles, collector cars, real estate and benefit-charity auctions. He attended the Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA in 2005. Jonathan earned a BS in Accounting and Management from Purdue University in 2009 and an MBA in Strategy from Purdue’s Krannert School of Management in 2010. Jonathan sells cattle at the Stoney Pike Livestock Auction weekly sale and is an auctioneer with several collector car auctions.
From 2007-2016, Jonathan held an elected office in the Indiana Auctioneer Association and served as President of the association in 2015. He won the Indiana Auctioneer Championship in 2010 and the Michigan Auctioneer Championship in 2008. He has been named a finalist in the International Auction Championship 3 years – 2012, 2013, and 2014. He was also named reserve champion International Junior Auctioneer in 2007. In the 2018 International Livestock Auctioneer Championship, Jonathan was named top scoring rookie in the Eastern Qualifier and qualified for the world finals.
Today, Kraft Auction Service conducts the largest auctions in the region. Kraft Auctions has the capability to host auctions across the country and also the ability to move a collection back to our facility in Indiana. We recently have conducted auctions for sellers in Illinois, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas. Consignments and Buyers come from all over the United States and the world.
The Anniversary Auction
The Anniversary Auction is truly a world class auction, and perfect for any collection. Each year there are auction days featuring collector cars, motorcycles, vintage advertising, coin-op, slot machines, antique and vintage toys, fine and decorative art, coins, jewelry, military and outdoor collectibles, guns, and speciality collections. The secret for the success of the auction is the variety in the sale leads to collectors from different areas buying outside of their general realm of collecting. This leads to higher prices and results. From general auction goers to A-list celebrities, we truly have all types of buyers bidding in this auction paying top dollar for your collection.
In 2006 Jonathan created a one day consignment antique auction to honor his father’s 30th year in the business. This one day three ring auction attracted hundreds of bidders, and was highlighted by the McPherson Collection of Merrillville, IN. In that collection was a rare pair of Sandwich Glass white opalescent celery vases, and was the true highlight of the auction. With fierce bidding against two early American pressed glass collectors, the vases ended up selling for a whopping $18,700! In 2006 this was a record result for any antique piece of glass in Northwest Indiana, and it was the historic start to the Anniversary Auction.
In 2019 Kraft hosted their first Anniversary Auction at their new facility. . The sale featured the Leigh Korthels collection, which on it’s own sold for over $1,200,000 and the total sale was over $3,200,000. In 2020 with construction complete at the Kraft Auction Facility, we moved to a eight day two weekend auction. That year we set another company record with the sale totaling over $5,200,000.
Now in 2021 with all the challenges of 2020, the Kraft Auction Service team put together a great assortment of collections from all over the US to make the 2021 Anniversary Auction the greatest yet! With numerous world records set, a worldwide buyer base, and over 33,000 registered bidders, the 2021 auction totaled nearly $7,000,000 in total sales.
Year around we are looking for consignments for this auction, and are willing to travel around the world for collections for this auction. So please reach out to us today to discuss your collection.
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