Transforming a Personal Artifact Gathering into a Museum, as Perceived by Elmer Duellman
Elmer Duellman, a dedicated collector and enthusiast, amassed an impressive collection of over 100 full-size classic and collector cars, 700 pedal cars, hundreds of bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, mini-bikes, road art, and memorabilia. His collection, which he started building in his mid-20s, will be auctioned off by Mecum Auctions on September 14-17, 2022, at the Fountain City, Wisconsin property.
Duellman's passion for collecting began with vehicles, particularly those with wheels. He preferred one-owner, low mileage vehicles, and his collection included a 1921 Cleveland motorcycle, which he drove three hours at night to purchase before anyone else heard about it. His extensive collection also featured eight pedal cars that were exhibited at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in 2003. One of these pedal cars was gifted to the Smithsonian in 2003 to be a featured part of a display called America on the Move within the National Museum of American History.
Duellman was a hardworking man who was extensively read and researched. He was dedicated to his family and passions and had a tremendous memory. His son, Les Duellman, followed in his footsteps by becoming a mechanical engineer and building race cars for others, in addition to racing himself. Les was around during his father's phase of collecting cars and participated in car shows and swap meets.
In 1992, after Les went off to college, Elmer started buying smaller items such as toys and pedal cars to fit into the available space. His collection attracted great interest and was well-received, leading to the Museum opening for more summer dates and welcoming car clubs.
Elmer Duellman's Auto and Toy Museum started as a private collection that was shared with friends, relatives, and business associates, and later opened to the public in the summer of 1993. Duellman was relentless in his pursuit of collecting items and would travel at the drop of a hat to acquire new pieces. His favourite item in his collection was a likeness of him in a pedal car carved out of a single block of wood, which he received as a 50th birthday present.
Duellman's wish was for his collection to be auctioned off and go into the hands of other collectors. However, a 1932 Ford Pickup with the Elmer Museum sign on it, which was the vehicle in which Duellman took his last ride, will not be auctioned and will be kept by the family.
The auction of Duellman's collection is expected to generate significant interest and attract collectors from around the world. The proceeds from the auction will go to benefit various charities and organisations. Duellman's collection is a testament to his passion for collecting and his dedication to preserving historical vehicles and memorabilia.
- Elmer Duellman's extensive collection, spanning vehicles, pedal cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and memorabilia, extends beyond automobiles to include elements from lifestyle categories such as fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and entertainment.
- During his work with expanding his collection, Duellman displayed a keen interest in sports, as evidenced by his participation in car shows and swap meets, activities that might typically be associated with sports enthusiasts.
- With his collection encompassing a 1921 Cleveland motorcycle, exhibited pedal cars, and items like the likeness of him in a pedal car carved out of a single block of wood, it's clear that Duellman's passion for vehicles extended far beyond the cars he amassed, delving into the realm of fashion-and-beauty.
