A section of the San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle October 31, 1999 * SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER Sunday, SMITH from B-5 Gina Smith meets the Silicon psychic That figures, but how will the Qi settlement look? There will be an incredible A amount of backroom mediation, and the end-result settlement will come from behind closed doors, definitely. I have told you for the last two years that Microsoft will split into at least two companies, then into four. Yes, you have. Q : That'll happen as a result of A this trial. I feel Bill Gates has already moved on through this ideal. At a personal level, he has grown up and made some significant shifts in recent years. It's probably a combination of PR genius and his heart, but he is giving a lot back k now. I don't know him, but he gets criticized a lot - maybe too much. Yes, he has gotten away with less than admirable business practices, but he had lots of cooperation in doing that. We talked Jobs and O: Gates. How about (Oracle CEO)' Larry Ellison? He announced that he is reforming the Network Computing Inc. (NCI) to sell $199 computers to the masses last week. The NC failed before. Will it fail again? : No. The problem before was A timing. This idea was always a brilliant one, and only now is the market ready for it. Computers need to be more cost-effective and friendly, and Larry's new company will be right in there. How will Mark Andreessen's Q° new company do? Is he just a one-hit wonder? No, but his next hit will take a A lot longer than the first one. He'd better be patient. : Who will be the big holiday 0 winner this year? : Etoys. You hear about all their A competition (from KB Toys, Toys R Us), but this holiday season will tell the real story for Etoys, and Etoys shareholders will like that story. What about the Y2K problem? Q° waste Best Bid Northern California Auctions What's It Worth What's Dear Readers, No one doubts that we live in a wonderful part of the world for art, antiques, collectibles, and museums. (If you can, try to get to the San Francisco Fall Antique Show at Fort Mason. This annual event, a benefit for Enterprise for High School Students, closes today). A quick check in this paper's "Pink openings, special museum exhibits, and more. Dozens of clubs meet on a regular basis to share information, collecting tips, and restoration guidelines to fellow fine art, decorative art, and collectible lovers. One such group is the American Decorative Arts Forum of Northern California. This group exists to encourage the study, enjoyment, and preservation of American decorative arts and furniture - and to give collectors a chance to boast among fellow collectors! The group sponsors monthly slide lectures on a variety of topics given by scholars, collectors, and museum curators from around the country. The question and answer segment after a lecture a few years ago led to the discovery of a treasure. The lecture was about Japanned furniture made in Boston in the 18th century. "Japanning" refers to a popular 18th century finish made of multiple layers of gesso, paint, metal powders, and varnish that was supposed to look like the lacquer furniture imported from the far east. (Europeans and North Americans couldn't make true lacquer because they lacked the main ingredient: sap from the lac tree, grown only in the far east.) Lacquered ornamentation is extremely fragile so not many pieces survive. The speaker, Deborah Federhen, spoke about the process and showed slides of some of the few surviving Japanned pieces. She then opened the floor to questions and comments from the audience. A Decorative Arts Forum member piped up "I have something like that at home!" A visit to the woman's home turned up one of the most significant pieces of American furniture in years. The piece is a William and Mary style Japanned high chest. Until that lecture only five similar chests were known to exist - and none were so fine or had such history! This chest is the best preserved and most densely and whimsically decorated. It came into the owner's family over two centuries ago when, in the 1780s, president John Adams gave it to his sister-in-law Mary Cranch. Although the artist who did the Japanning has not yet been identified, the chest was still the show stopper at Sotheby's recent auction of Americana. What was it worth? The William and Mary Japanned high chest sold for 1.450.000! Treasures can be anywhere! The best way to learn if one of your pieces is a treasure is to educate yourself about art, furniture, and antiques. Check out some museums, auction houses, or galleries listed in the pink section. For information about lectures or membership in the American Decorative Arts Forum of Northern California call their office at 415-431-6930. Happy hunting! Jane Alexiadis, Harvey Clars Estate Auction Gallery Alameda County Auction 300+ Cars Trucks Vans • Saturday, 11/6, 9am Sharp Preview: Fri. 11/5 10am-4pm, Sat. 11/6 7:30am-9am • Credit & Warranty www.acauction.com for list of sale cars • 925 - 829 - 5999 Wed, Nov. 3 - 11 am NEW AGE STORAGE 1399 CARROLL AVE., SAN FRANCISCO, CA Inspect: Morning of Sale from 9:00 am. 50 VAULTS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, ANTIQUES: Parlor Grand Piano: 350 Opera & Pop Vinyl Records; Large Emersion Tank: Antique Railroad Roll Top Desk; Hydroponics Plant Growing System; (2) Wood Looms; 1968 Crown Imperial; 1961 GMC Panel Truck; (2) 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVilles; 1984 Mazda R-100; Hundreds of New-In-Box Gift Products; Oriental Carpets. MUCH MORE! Fri, Nov 5 - NOVATO | VIDEO MOVIE LIQUIDATION SALE - Thousands of Video Movies for sale to the public due to closure of VIDEOTIME VIDEO RENTAL CENTER, 175 San Marin Dr., Novato (Marin County). New Releases; Children's Movies; Classical Movies No Longer Available (Moratorium): Adult; DVD's; Nintendo 64 and Sony Play Station Games. Slat Wall Fixtures; Counters; Racks. Sale begins on Friday, Nov. 5 at 11 am, continues daily from 11 am to 7 pm until Sunday, Nov. 14. American Express, Visa & Mastercard accepted as well as Cash, Business Checks w/ID & Cashier's Checks. ALL MOVIES $10. QTY DISCOUNTS OFFERED Fri, Nov 5-PINOLE VIDEO MOVIE LIQUIDATION SALE - Thousands of Video Movies for sale to the public due to closure of PINOLE FAMILY VIDEO, 2860 Pinole Valley Rd. (West Contra Costa County) 4 New Releases; Children's Movies; Classical Movies No Longer Available (Moratorium); Adult; Sega & Supernintendo Games; Portable Wire Video Tape Fixtures; Grid Wire Wall Fixtures; Counters. Sale begins on Friday, Nov. 5 at 11 am, continues daily from 11 am to 7 pm until Sunday, Nov. 14. Visa & Mastercard accepted as well as Cash, Business Checks w/ID & Cashier's Checks. ALL MOVIES $10. QUANTITY DISCOUNTS WILL BE OFFERED. Thurs, Nov 11 -11 am COMPLETE 5-YEAR-OLD RESTAURANT- BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED-EVERYTHING GOES! BOSTON MARKET RESTAURANT 1855 Hillsdale Ave., San Jose Inspect morning of sale from 9 am Partial List: Hobart 80 Qt Mixer; Hoshizaki 450 Lb Icemaker; Montague Dbl Gas Conv. Oven; Delfield U/C Refrig.; Cleveland Dbl Steam Cookers; Winston C-Vac Holding Ovens; (2) Steam Kettles; Beverage 8' Sandwich Prep Table;(3) Cleveland Gas Planetary Digital Chicken Rotisseries: (4) 8, 10 or 12' Hoods; Alto Sham Dbl Holding Oven; Lots of Refrigeration; Tables; Chairs; Benches; Sinks; Heat & Hanging Lamps; Sheet Pans; SS Pans. Much More! ALL SALES CALL FOR A FREE BROCHURE & DETAILS OR VISIT US ONLINE FOR FULL UPDATES: www.arpagan.com 10% Buyer's Premium All Sales AUCTIONEERS APPRAISERS A R PAGAN.COM (415) 566-6464 • Fax (415) 753-6464 P.0. Box 225309, S.F., CA 94122 AND S.J. (408) 971-6464 • (800) 788-0211 Cal. Bond # 7155149 www.arpagan.com An *On-Line & On-Site Auction by Polishing/Texturizing/Cleaners order *(2) SpeedFam Double Side Polishers of Surface Measurement Inspection/Test *Tencor P2 Profilometer, *Fisher Scope X-Ray System XDVM with programmable storage Ovens and Chambers KOMAG Facility/Material Handling/Support Equipment Forklifts, Cleanroom Equipment and Conveyors Surplus Assets Office Equipment and Furniture To Continuing Featuring: 50+ Haworth Workstations and more Operations *Bid on these items online at www.dovebid.com! THE AUCTION: Tuesday, November 10 • Beginning at 10am The Auction Location: Beverly Heritage Hotel 1820 Barber Lane • Milpitas, CA 95035 THE PREVIEW: Tuesday, November 9 • (9am-5pm) To download a brochure www.dovebid.com For a free brochure 800.319.2757 business-to-business auctioneers & DOVEBID 1241 East Hillsdale Blvd. • Foster City, CA 94404 on-line and on-site 650.571.7400 • www.dovebid.com • CA Bond #B2488496 : From about the middle of NoA vember on, there will be a growing panic regarding Y2K. People will start stockpiling, and there will be more home break-ins in the month of December than any other month in history as a result. Devious minds will know that people are hiding cash in their homes. A word to the wise: Don't even think about hiding money in your car trunk. But there will be tons of panic. The general public will begin to become aware that no one really knows what will happen. What will happen? 0 : I don't want to contribute to A the panic with predictions here. The problem will be much more serious in Europe - especially Eastern Europe - than it will be here. I don't see any kind of major disruptions in the U.S. Gina Smith is a serious business reporter on every day but Halloween. She co-hosts CNET News.Com, a TV show that airs every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. on CNBC. Got a question? E-mail it to gina@cnet.com. waste Estate & Photo Auctions San Francisco Estate Auction Preview: November 5 - 7 from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Main Gallery Auction: Sunday, November 7 at 10 a.m. West Gallery: Sunday, November 7 and Monday, November 8 at 10 a.m. Fine Photographs Auction Auction: Wednesday, November 17 at 6 p.m. Visit us on-line at www.butterfields.com • Inquiries: (415) 861-7500 BUTTERFIELD & BUTTERFIELD etay Auctioneers and Appraisers since 1865 HAS 220 San Bruno Ave., San Francisco, CA 94103 Public Auction (From A Southern California Estate) Dolls - Miniatures - Bears Sunday, November 7th 11:00 a.m. (Preview 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.) Wyndham Garden Hotel 1010 Northgate Dr., San Rafael (Dir: 101 to Freitas Pkwy. West 2 blks. to Northgate Dr.) Over 500 of: Barbie incl. Mackie, Madame Alexander, Franklin Heirloom, Danbury consisting, Maryse Nicole, Marie Osmond, Goebel, Hummel, Georgetown, Hamilton, Effanbee, Cameo, Mann, Knowles, Paradise and MORE!!! BEARS: Steiff, Hermann, Raikes, Boyds, Vermont, Annette Funicello, North American and MORE!!! Many Christmas items, many, with originals boxes and Certificates of Authenticity. All dolls and bears original and are in NEW condition. Terms: Cash, cashier's check, Visa, Master Card. $100 cash (refundable) registration. 10% buyers premium. All merchandise must be removed day of sale!! Barry Sweet. For More Information Call: C Auctioneer (415) 883-8701 Over 300 Cars to Sell - Nov. 6th Alameda County Auction's Dublin Facility Over 300 narcotic task force & repo'd vehicles will sell this Saturday in Dublin. Cars, trucks, and vans often go at wholesale prices or below - SUV's, luxury cars and 4x4's, too. Alameda County Auction, this Saturday, 9am sharp. See the ad on this page for the phone # and preview times. For a free catalogue, plus color photos of early arrival vehicles and a map to the site visit www.acauction.com. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISERS! Reach over 1.5 million readers every Sunday in Best Bid. Call Dennis Flottman at 415-536-5161 for advertising information. November 9• San Francisco, CA Apparel Manufacturing Equipment Sewing: Over (200) machines including single needle, double needle, coverstitch & overlocks; cutting dept, pressing equipment, body forms, inspection measuring machines. Vehicles: 1994 GMC TopKick 20" bobtail truck, (6) Kurbmaster stepvans, GMC & Ford cargo vans, 1991 Honda Accord, Ford Escort wagons, (4) Plymouth Sundance coupes. Material Handling: Nissan. Toyota & Clark electric forklifts, order pickers, lifts, pallet trucks, trolleys, floor jacks, hand trucks, pallet jacks; Plant & shop equipment and office furniture. Auction: Tues 11/9 at 10 am, 201 First St (at Howard), San Francisco. Inspection: Mon 11/8 from 9 to 4. Complete details at www.rabin.com 1-800-421-2144 • Fax (415) 522-5701 Rabin Brothers Auctioneers A U C T O N LEASE EXPIRES FAMOUS SAN FRANCISCO RESTAURANT 347 GEARY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 • 11:00 AM COMPLETE 200 SEAT RESTAURANT & BAR • MAGNIFICENT SOLID MAHOGANY 30 FT. BAR & BACK BAR WITH GLASS DOOR BACK, ORNATE COLUMNS, LEADED GLASS ARCHES & BEVELED MIRRORS BRASS FOOT RAIL, (11) BARSTOOLS W/LEATHER SEATS • (50) MAHOGANY ARMCHAIRS W/FABRIC SEATS • LEATHER BOOTHS & WALL (16) • ANTIQUE HUTCHES, BREAKFRONTS & COUNTERS • BRASS WALL COAT RACKS • (30) FRAMED MATTED MAHOGANY SETTEES TABLES ART WORK, MANY SIGNED & NUMBERED • LA PAVONI 2-GROUP ESPRESSO MACH. • SQUIRREL TOUCH SCREEN POS SYSTEM ITALIAN HISTORY OF S.F. (7) PANEL OIL PAINTING BY FAMOUS ARTIST RAYMOND HOWELL ICE MAKERS • REFRIGERATORS • RANGES • CONVECTION OVENS • PIZZA OVENS • BROILER • SALAMANDER STOCK POT STOVE • SLICERS • MIXERS & MUCH MORE!! CHARYNAUCTIONS VISIT ( OUR WEB Visa/MasterCard/Discover Buyers SITE: Premium & Applies Cash www.chaynauctions.com Accepted AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS - 1-800827.9799 Previews: 9 AM Morning of Sale any INDUSTRIAL AUCTION CALENDAR Rentals 2747 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley Equipment Sat. Nov.6 - 11 a.m. Berkeley, CA Equipment Rental Yard Towable Utility Trailers, Towable Air Compressors, Towable Cement Mixers, Automotive, Construction & Landscaping Equipment, Scaffolding, Saws & Tools In 2123 Bering Dr., Unit A Acoma Manufacturing, Nov. 11 - 11 a.m. San Jose, CA Thurs. Lien Sale - Short Sale CNC Mills, Webb & Mori Seiki Lathes, Hardinge Chucker, Leten VBS G&W Machine 150 South 2nd St. Tues. Nov. 16 - 11 a.m. Richmond,CA Machine Shop Horiz. Boring Mills, (12) Lathes, Sheer Metal Equip., Forklifts Lock Co. 2401 Bayshore Blvd. Schlage Thurs. Nov. 18- 11 a.m. San Francisco, CA Large Manufacturing Plant (21) Punch Presses, (6) CNC. Screw Mach., Mitsubishi EDM Mach., (10) Surface Grinders, Mills, Lathes, (7) Forklifts, Bridge Cranes, Warehouse Equip. CALL FOR FREE BROCHURES LLOYD ASHMAN AUCTIONEER ASHMAN COMPANY AUCTIONEERS AND APPRAISERS, INC. INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • AUCTIONEERS ASHMAN CO. 1415 (925) Oakland Blvd., 256-8111 #100, • FAX Walnut (925) Creek, CA 256-8436 94596-4349 Southern California (949) 752-7207 CA BOND #30191454 Visit. Our Website at: ashmancompany.com business-to-business auctioneers DOVEB D on-line and on-site On Bidding Live! N November 1, 1999 $79,500 going once, going twice..." 4 $80,000." www.dovebid.com