https://www.ebay.ca/itm/233338924499
Can someone explain the bid pattern?

Sure!

Bidder q***2 bid at least $8,000.00 (very likely more) in the first bid, realized their first bid hit the reserve of $8,000.00 (the "reserve met" is on the bidding page), and decided to up their proxy (their maximum bid) about 30 seconds later. Since you can't bid against yourself, the actual price stayed the same- only the max proxy amount changed.

q***2(private) US $8,000.00 12 Sep 2019 at 12:15:14 EDT
q***2(private) US $8,000.00 12 Sep 2019 at 12:14:43 EDT
Starting Price US $3,000.00 11 Sep 2019 at 16:41:23 EDT

Edit: I should amend my answer just a bit- if your first bid does not reach the reserve amount but your second bid does, the price jumps to the reserve amount. I believe this is the only circumstance where you can be the top bidder, place another bid, and have the price go up.

Edit 2: If you're leading by less than a full bid increment and bid again, the price will jump to a full bid increment above the second place bidder.

Ok, I'm done.

Thanks Mike. I had asked the seller before, who answered that he doesn't have a reserve. Later he changed to saying that the reserve was $8000. Anyway, here it is again, this time may be for half the price(?): https://www.ebay.ca/itm/233345442401

So, what happened here? Did the winning bidder in the first auction withdraw or was he a shill?

I don't know John- could have been a shill or the buyer could have pulled out, but it is awfully soon for the latter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-1 ... SwhThdeVoZ

relisted

and has a 7-sided with advertising piece

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Sparton-4 ... 1438.l2649

I must say that is one of the nicest Bluebirds I've seen. That's a set that is truly worth high-dollars. I love the original patina and even cord and rubber plug.