About Us
Paul Auction Company’s roots go back to 1968 when friends H. Jim Paul and the late Terry Adlam, both of Kewaskum and Bill Horn Jr. of West Bend, hired Rollie Bast to sell their accumulation of antiques at the Richfield Fire Hall. Jim had no formal schooling in the antiques field but he had a good eye and he knew what he liked. He had begun attending area auctions and buying wardrobes, cupboards, tables and more. Jim, Bill & Terry pooled their antiques for that first auction and did so well that they decided this auction business had some merit to it. The following year the fire hall had already been booked for the date they wanted so they decided to give it a shot on their own at the Cow Palace in Fond du Lac with Jim and Bill calling the sale and Terry clerking while their wives cashiered.
It was hard to argue with results. The three friends formed a partnership and hung a shingle as “Kettle Moraine Auction Service” with the motto, “No auction too big, no auction too small. We give personal service to all.” The first auction conducted for somebody else netted the partner’s a commission of $10.00 each with Bill having to kick in as he had bought a typewriter for $15.00. By 1972 they had become the go-to auctioneers for antiques. Jim quit his job with Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company and reformed the business with Bill Horn as Horn & Paul Auctioneers, a partnership that lasted until 1977 when Bill, who was a tool & die maker with Gehl Co., took a job offer at Los Alamos, NM with the US Government and is now retired.
Jim stayed the course and continued on as Paul Auction Co. In 1978 he broke ground for an auction hall that would be the first purpose built auction hall in the state of Wisconsin. Today, 40 years after that first sale, Jim & Kathy’s son and daughter-in-law, Mike & Karen, continue to conduct auctions as Paul Auction Co. Inc.
Our Reputation
For over 50 years our reputation for honest, ethical auctions has set us apart. When you sell through us you are assured that you will be credited in full for your consignment. More than one consignor has handed us a key and said “Send the check when you’re finished.” Attorneys trust us, trust companies rely upon us and the courts specify us. When you bid with us you can bid with confidence knowing we do not sell with minimums or reserves
