About Us
Company Profile
About Hartland Machinery Auctioneers
Since 1990, Hartland Machinery Auctioneers has built a reputation on expertise, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to our clients. We specialize in industrial machinery, machine and fabricating shop auctions, and construction and real estate — and we bring over three decades of hands-on experience to every event we manage.
What sets us apart isn’t just what we do — it’s how we do it.
The Hartland Difference
Our staff brings over 100 years of combined auction experience to the table, and we intentionally limit the number of auctions we hold each month so that every client receives our full, undivided attention — never a rushed setup or a distracted team.
From the moment we arrive on site, we arrange and present your equipment in the most sellable format possible, transforming your space into a professional auction environment. On auction day, we broadcast live to a global audience through HiBid, and AuctionZip, allowing online bidders to hear the auctioneer in real time and compete alongside floor bidders — maximizing your reach and your results.
We also have extra staff on hand throughout the day to minimize theft risk, and an on-site caterer to keep buyers engaged and on the premises longer. The same crew that handles setup manages checkout, ensuring every team member knows your inventory and that your facility is protected and properly managed through the final item pickup.
When it’s all over, you’ll receive a detailed auction summary folder documenting every bid amount, item, and bidder payment — full transparency, every time. For larger auctions, we can also arrange on-site financing through a leasing partner, giving qualified buyers the ability to secure high-value purchases on the spot.
Whether you’re selling surplus equipment or liquidating an entire facility, we tailor every auction to your specific operation. No two businesses are alike, and no two auctions should be either. At Hartland Machinery Auctioneers, the difference is in the details — and the details are everything.
Our Auction Services
Whether you prefer the convenience of our established venue or the flexibility of an on-site experience, we have you covered. We host auctions at our own full-service facility located in Harrisville, PA, providing a professional and welcoming environment for buyers and sellers alike. For those who prefer to sell right where they are, we also bring the auction to you — our fully equipped mobile unit allows us to set up and conduct a complete, seamless auction experience directly at your location, no matter where you are. From our home base to your front door, we are committed to making the auction process as convenient and accessible as possible.
Meet Our President and Founder
Dean Gearhart founded Hartland Machinery Auctioneers with a background that no classroom alone could produce. After completing his machining education at Lenape Vocational in Ford City, PA, Dean went on to become a fully credentialed Tool and Die Maker through Penn State Tool and Die Co., Inc. — a trade he practiced for over 40 years in and around machine and fabricating shops. That real-world, floor-level knowledge of industrial equipment is the foundation everything else is built on.
In 1990, Dean completed his training at the Missouri Auctioneer School and launched Hartland Machinery Auctioneers, bringing together his deep technical expertise and a new calling. He has served as President of both Hartland Machinery Auctioneers and Hartland Machinery Co., Inc. since 1986, and as Secretary Treasurer of Gearmar Properties, Inc., a land development company.
Dean holds GPPA I & II certifications and USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) certification through the Auction Marketing Institute and the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute — designations held by fewer than 1% of auction professionals across North America. When Dean walks your facility before an auction, he isn’t just an auctioneer looking at equipment — he’s a tradesman who has worked with it.
Dean personally oversees every auction from start to finish, and that hands-on leadership defines the Hartland standard.
Accolades
Hartland Auctioneers is honored to be the first and only auction team to host an auto auction at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY in 2013. We ran over 300 cars at the event, with one of a kind automobiles, and public favorites crossing the block.
