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Tag: Signs & Banners

Milestone to host diverse Oct. 15 auction of classic cars and rare parts, automotive and Coca-Cola advertising, coin-ops, antiques, decorative art and collectibles

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740-lot sale features the many fascinating collections of late Virginia businessman Mark SmithWILLOUGHBY, Ohio – When the doors open to Milestone’s auction gallery on Saturday, October 15th, an energized – and eclectic – group of bidders is expected to rush in, grab a coffee and take a last-minute look at the merchandise they hope to bring home. There will be those who collect automotive advertising and memorabilia, perhaps to display in a man cave. Classic car collectors are expected to turn out for 20th-century motoring gems like a 1931 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine, a 1936 Packard 1407 Coupe, or a showy 1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Convertible. Hunter-gatherers in search of elusive car parts, hood ornaments and radiator badges will be there, as will buyers of jukeboxes and coin-op machines; salesmen’s samples, pottery and stoneware, and art glass lamps. Additional categories of interest include figural match holders, Coca-Cola trays and signage; coins and currency; movie posters, shaving mugs and more. Approximately 500 lots in the sale come from the holdings of the late Mark Smith. Literally dozens of collecting categories are represented. As Milestone Auctions co-owner Miles King explained, Mark Smith was no ordinary collector. “He liked and collected all sorts of things. He was in the car industry in Virginia, so it was natural for him to collect automobilia and racing mementos. Also, over the years he built up a huge inventory of rare car and motorcycle parts, which are like gold to motoring enthusiasts. People from all over the country have been calling about those parts, many of which have not been manufactured for decades and are very hard to find.”Joining the Smith collection at auction are several choice classic cars, including a sleek 1936 Packard 1407 Coupe that exudes Jazz Age swagger and Art Deco style. Complete with a V12 473-cubic-inch 175hp

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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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Morphy’s serves up rare soda fountain, soda pop and other antique advertising in colorful August 23-25 auction series

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Sensational 19th-century soda fountain front and backbar with lighted fountain and marble soda dispenser expected to sell for $60,000-$100,000DENVER, Pa. – Just as nightclubs are today’s social hubs, there was a time, more than a century ago, when the local soda fountain or soda shop was where people went for a light meal or wholesome refreshment in a cordial environment. Sometimes a soda fountain – named for the actual device that dispensed carbonated beverages – was found within a larger establishment, such as a drugstore or candy store. Soda fountain memorabilia is pure American nostalgia, and collectors revel in the opportunity to purchase such treasures from a source as esteemed as the Sharyn and Terry Brown collection, which highlights Morphy’s August 23-25 auction series.19th-century soda fountain front and backbar with lighted front fountain and Charles Lippincott 10-position marble soda dispenser; originally in a Helena, Arkansas café that opened in 1888. Size: 161¼in long by 130in high. Estimate $60,000-$100,000The Brown collection will be offered during the August 23-24 Soda Pop & Soda Fountain Advertising session, which is followed by General Advertising on August 25. The auction will begin each day at 9 am, with all forms of bidding available, including live via the Internet through Morphy Live.The star of the show, and a prize that any collector would covet for their own home soda shop, is a stunning 19th-century soda fountain front and backbar with a lighted, stained-glass front fountain and a Charles Lippincott 10-position marble soda dispenser. Its origins can be traced to a Helena, Arkansas café that opened for business in 1888.  It comes to auction with six bent-wire stools, as well as historical photos and a newspaper clipping as provenance. The pre-sale estimate for this grand soda fountain suite is $60,000-$100,000.If any trade sign could be described as

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Stephenson’s July 29 auction titled Fab ‘50s and More features vintage advertising, soda fountain, pop culture and entertainment memorabilia

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Highlights: Dunhill soda fountain, Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man pinball, Seeburg jukebox, railroadiana including antique ticket booth; early radios, clocks & phones; boardwalk amusement gamesSOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – On July 29th, Stephenson’s Auctions will return to the days of sock hops, drive-ins and old gold Chevys as they host a colorful 252-lot auction titled Fab ‘50s and More. The sale features an outstanding single-owner collection of advertising signs and store displays; boardwalk amusement games, vintage clocks and telephones; cash registers, vending machines, railroadiana, a diner double-booth, vibrant Fiestaware, and a Dunhill stainless steel soda fountain and related accessories. The saleroom will be filled with not only colorful sights but also the nostalgic sounds of vintage radios, a Bally Mr. and Mrs. Pac-Man pinball machine and other games; and a Seeburg Select-O-Matic jukebox, wall-mount speaker and Wall-o-Matic tabletop music selector. Circa-1930s Neon Products Inc., optometrist’s or optician’s neon trade sign, estimate $2,000-$4,000“This is a single-owner collection that comes to us from a Montgomery County (Philadelphia) estate. The collector had a wonderful eye and was drawn to things that were whimsical, well designed and in very nice condition,” said Cindy Stephenson, owner of Stephenson’s Auction.Both antique and vintage signage is plentiful in the collection, with one of the most distinctive examples being a circa-1930s optometrist’s or optician’s hanging neon trade sign. A riveting pair of octagonal eyeglasses illuminates against a background of large, painted eyes on a red, carved wood frontispiece. Made by Neon Products Inc., it measures 23½ inches wide by 9¾ inches high by 7 inches deep and is in working condition. The pre-sale estimate for this “eye-catching” sign is $2,000-$4,000.Neon fans will also want to check the time on a circa-1950s pink and green round neon clock made by Electric Neon Clock Co., Cleveland. It measures 26 inches in diameter, has a

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Automobilia & Collectibles From The Francis E. Tarzian Estate Go Up For Bid At Turner Auctions + Appraisals

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Over 200 Lots from a Passionate Collector To be Sold on Saturday, July 30, 2022SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, July 15, 2022 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to present Automobilia & Collectibles from the Estate of Francis E. Tarzian, Sr., on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 10:30 am PDT. Mr. Tarzian was a passionate collector of antique automobiles and related items, whose restoration and machinist skills garnered numerous awards. With over 200 lots, this auction features a wide and eclectic array of automotive items, virtually all vintage and mostly antique, as well as some other collectibles from the early 20th-century era.Snake Head with tongue, 5 to 6 foot tapering flexible tube, brackets, and squeeze bulb. Squeeze bulb has tear at base and tube from squeeze bulb is not connected to flexible tube fitting. Nameplate is present but glue has come loose. Estimate $800-$1,200.Among the many items of automobilia are gasoline, pump and truck service signs; license plate toppers; auto and truck badges; horns; auto lights and lamps; lanterns; collectible spark plugs; radiator caps; gauges; speedometers; a Cadillac steering wheel; and antique car parts such as ignition switches, clocks, radios, and more. The sale includes a wide selection of printed matter pertaining to antique vehicles, including books, magazines, maps, instruction manuals, and technical volumes including Automobile Engineering and Machinery’s Encyclopedia. In addition, there are several lots of vehicles’ advertising and images of antique vehicles – all framed. More contemporary items include antique-car-show awards, badges, and ribbons; Shell and Sunoco coin games; and tire ashtrays.Collectibles include a variety of antique sewing machines, irons, and cast iron toys. Rounding out the sale are miscellaneous tools, unopened consumer products, hip flasks, vacuum tubes, pipes and parts, law enforcement badges, a potato planter and seed sower, kerosene lamps, and wall sconces. Auction highlights include

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Morphy’s May 4-6 auction shines spotlight on exceptional examples of antique coin-op machines and early advertising signs

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Featured: early arcade, music, gambling, vending and other slot machines plus alcohol, soft drink, gum, tobacco, soda fountain and other desirable advertising and signageDENVER, Pa. – Long before the era of instant entertainment from TV, downloaded music and streaming videos, Americans could amuse themselves with a pocketful of change at an arcade. The thrilling atmosphere of those places, whether indoors or on a seaside boardwalk, resonated with the clanging and whirring of slot machines, the pinging of bagatelles, and orchestral tunes performed by mechanical music machines. Coin-ops were also found in saloons and other social establishments. Today, the mechanical entertainers of yesteryear are displayed in collections from coast to coast, often flanked by antique advertising signs of the same period. Many of the rarest and finest of all antique coin-ops and signs have passed through the doors of Morphy Auctions, which will hold its next sale of these popular specialties on May 4-6.Advertising tray with image of pretty lady in patriotic attire, emblazoned ‘Drink Deacon Brown King of Phosphates,’ Manufactured by Kauffmann and Strauss, New York, and dated 1911. Condition 9.5+ and arguably the finest known example. Estimate $8,000-$12,000The connoisseur’s selection features more than 2,100 coveted 19th- and early 20th-century coin-ops and advertising signs that would seldom be available elsewhere, especially in such beautiful condition. Morphy’s will strike up the band with a JP Seeburg Style “G” Art Style Orchestrion, a technological marvel that is as stunningly beautiful as it is intricate. Designed as an upright piano with four art glass panels illuminated from within, it also houses violin and flute pipes; a mandolin attachment, a tympani, bass and snare drums; a cymbal and triangle. With exceptional volume, it plays a Style “G” music roll with a selection of 65 notes. In very good condition, the Orchestrion could crescendo in the

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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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