Mechanical models that belonged to the late Glenn Reid — a native Detroiter and a former president of Flexible Products, a Tier 1 automotive supplier based in Auburn Hills — are set to be sold at charity auctions to support local youth and education programs in engineering, science, and math.
“All proceeds from the liquidation of my father’s collection will support the Reid Family Foundation that allows us to pass along the ‘gift of possibility’ to many young people and families,” says Sheri Reid Grant, the executive director of the Reid Family Foundation, which has provided grants to schools including the Detroit-focused University Prep Science & Math High School and programs such as Mentor Connection, which matches at-risk youth with adults in Oakland County.
The majority of the collection — which is valued at approximately $2 million and includes more than 3,000 scale models of automobiles, trains, ships, military vehicles, live steam and traction and stationary engines — will be liquidated at auction May 28 in Dallas. For now, most of the collection remains showcased at Museum Bronze, operated by the Reid Family Foundation, in Auburn Hills. The museum will remain open until the June auction.
“All pieces have been photographed and will be projected on a large screen during the live auction,” says Heather Eppink, a spokeswoman for the foundation. “Heritage Auctions has clients all over the world that will be bidding on the items. After the auction, the items will be shipped directly from the museum.”
The remaining items — as well as a few additional pieces not included in the Texas auction — will be sold at a charity auction and gala event at the museum in June. Also featured at the gala will be a 19-foot Titanic builder’s model, on loan from Birmingham-based Fine Art Models, which has been on display throughout the country following its 2002 introduction at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. The gala is invitation only, Eppink says.
To learn more about the Reid Family Foundation, which Glenn Reid established in 2001 and has provided more than $1 million to local nonprofit organizations that work with children and families, visit reidff.org.
The full schedule for the liquidation events is as follows, although days and times are subject to change.
- May 15-17 — Antique Appraisal Days. Guests may bring one item for a free appraisal and enjoy a special presentation by Nick Dawes, vice president of Special Collections, Heritage Auctions. Click here to learn more.
- May 17-28 — Auction Preview Days. The public may preview the collection at Museum Bronze from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with the exception of May 24-26 (Memorial Day weekend).
- May 28 — Noon: Heritage Auctions. Open online bidding starts April 25 and ends on May 28 at a live auction in Dallas. Preregistration is required to bid and view the collection catalog. To request a copy of the collection catalog, click here.
- June 20 — Reid Family Foundation Charity Gala. The event, scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., will include a live and silent auction as well as a fixed-price museum sale.
- June 21 — Final Museum Sale. The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is open to the public and will offer all remaining collection items, museum furniture, display cases, and accessories.
