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Tag: John Mihovetz

World-class Bobby Knudsen Jr petroliana and soda pop advertising collection is centerpiece of powerhouse auction series at Morphy’s, Sept. 30-Oct. 3

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Knudsen’s entire 32-year collection of rare, authentic examples in superior condition – 90% in 9.0 condition or better – will be offered with no reserveDENVER, Pa. – On September 30, Morphy Auctions will begin the thrilling year-long adventure of selling the Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of World-Class Automotive, Gas & Oil and Soda Pop Advertising. The massive personal collection will be offered in a series of three no-reserve auctions concluding in the fall of 2023, with all sales to be conducted live at Morphy Auctions’ gallery in Denver (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania. The September 30, 2022 series opener, devoted exclusively to Knudsen’s collection, will be followed by October 1-3 sessions featuring high-quality automobilia, petroliana and railroadiana from other consignors. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including live online through Morphy Live.Commenting on the importance of the Knudsen collection, Morphy Auctions’ Automobilia & Petroliana Department Head John Mihovetz said: “To me, Bobby is like the godfather of our hobby. As long as I have been involved in petroliana and soda pop signage, Bobby has been one of the leading lights. It’s challenging to find the right words to convey just how unique and historically significant his collection is.”Iconic circa-1929 Musgo Gasoline ‘Michigan’s Mile Maker’ double-sided porcelain service station sign with Native American graphic, 48 inches in diameter, condition 8.75+. Estimate $200,000-$400,000Topping the list of highlights in the September 30 session is a circa-1929 Musgo Gasoline “Michigan’s Mile Maker” double-sided porcelain service station sign. Emblazoned with the image of a Native American chief, the 48-inch-diameter sign is one of the finest known examples ever to be offered publicly. Very few double-sided signs of its type are complete and in undamaged condition. Knudsen’s treasured Musgo sign, which is graded 8.75+ out of 10, comes to auction with a $200,000-$400,000 estimate.A great favorite with

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All signs pointed to success at Morphy’s $2.4M Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction

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Exceptional rarity and near-flawless condition drove prices above high estimate on many lotsDENVER, Pa. – Trains, planes and automobiles were on the minds of bidders who brought their A-game to Morphy’s big March 29-30 Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana auction. The colorful 1,498-lot sale featured rare, fresh-to-the-market examples of signage, gas pumps, globes and other service station equipment from motoring’s golden era. The two-day grand total came to a hefty $2.4 million.Rare circa-1940s RPM Motor Oils ‘A Knockout For Winter’ taxi cab spare tire insert sign with Donald Duck graphic, 23½in in diameter. Outstanding colors and graphics with high gloss overall. Sold for $18,000 against an estimate of $2,500-$4,500Not surprisingly, the top lot of the sale was a Wesco Model 212 large-bodied gas pump with a clock face, brass nozzle and bevels; and three different Visiglas lenses at the top. With eye appeal to spare, the extremely rare pump had undergone a beautiful restoration, as evidenced in its vivid orange body and image of Hancock Gasoline’s strutting “Cock O’ The Walk” mascot. Possibly the first such pump ever to be offered at auction, it attracted 23 bids before settling well above estimate at $38,400. The allure of neon, combined with faultless condition, led to a brilliant result for a Buick Authorized Valve In Head porcelain sign in complete, original condition. Each of its sides was graded a strong 9.0+, with the auction catalog’s condition report noting a “super-clean field free of chipping or wear.” It captured an above-estimate winning bid of $27,600.While the Ford Edsel may not have clicked with consumers when it made its debut in 1957, dealership signs for the short-lived car designed for “the younger executive” have been hot collectibles for many years. Automobilia fans jumped at the chance to bid on a rare and outstanding Edsel Automobiles double-sided

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Collectors can fill ‘er up at Morphy March 29-30 Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction

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Featured: Rare gas & oil signage, gas pumps & globes, service station items, 400 lots of train-related memorabilia from three long-held collectionsDENVER, Pa. – Ever since the first Model A car rolled off Ford’s assembly line in 1903, America has had a fascination with cars. Now, nearly 120 years later, that attraction has become more of an obsession for the legion of collectors from coast to coast who covet signage, gas pumps, globes and other service station equipment from motoring’s golden era. Morphy Auctions is the destination of choice for hobbyists seeking antiques of exceptional quality, condition and authenticity. They’ll have their next chance to bid and buy on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29-30 at the central Pennsylvania company’s Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction.Superb Gilmore Red Lion Gasoline 15in single globe lens from Gilmore Oil Company, Los Angeles. Condition 9.0 with bright, clean leaping-lion graphic. Estimate $15,000-$25,000Nearly 1,500 lots will be offered, with day one primarily focused on railroadiana from a major central Ohio private collection plus two other advanced collections from Southern California and Montana. Train buffs will definitely want a boarding pass for this 400-lot session, since everything to be auctioned is fresh from those collections, which were amassed over 30 to 40 years. The comprehensive auction lineup includes locomotive number plates, signs from legendary railroad lines, train stations and depots; signals, whistles, fire alarms, bells, locks, lamps, headlights and two dozen desirable railroad lanterns, many with colored-glass lenses. A wealth of railroad history is represented in just three letters: MKT. Established in 1865 under the name Union Pacific Railway, Southern Branch, MKT grew to become an extensive rail network that served Missouri, Kansas, Texas (hence “MKT”) plus Oklahoma. Nicknamed “the Katy,” MKT merged with Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1988 and is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad.

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