Barber shop antiques, carousel animals highlight Inman's Dec. 8-9 auction Bid on sports collectibles, contents of a barber-shop museum, duck stamps and more in Randy Inman’s 1,200-lot Dec. 8-9 General Antiques auction in Allentown, Pa.
and stands, 100 different shaving mugs, cash registers, razors and product bottles, a National electric shoe-shine machine from the 1940s, and a variety of advertising signs of porcelain, tin and cardboard. Standouts within the advertising group include a mint-condition Baranger barber shop motion display, estimate $3,000-$5,000; and a Gem Razor die-cut cardboard motion display of a man shaving as he rocks back and forth and side to side, estimate $5,000-$7,000. “I’ve only seen one other like it,” said Inman. Also to be sold is an especially handsome double-steeple showcase with nickel trim, estimate $3,000-5,000.
An orthodontist by profession, Leon Strohecker previously displayed his many extensive collections in a museum he maintained in his hometown of Lansdale, Pa. “The building was taken by eminent domain,” Inman explained. “Subsequently, Dr. Strohecker decided to put his collections to auction.” Strohecker items to be auctioned in the Saturday session include 10 to 12 post-war carousel figures, including horses, a dog and a dragon; and four 6-foot-tall carousel wood panels with scenes painted on their canvas coverings. The figures have been professionally restored to a very high standard, and will be offered with an estimate of $2,000-$3,000 each.
Dr. Strohecker also consigned a grouping of heavily carved, late 18th/early 19th century flintlock and blunderbuss guns, with ivory or mother-of-pearl inlay. Inman noted that, by law, Internet bidders may not participate in the antique-gun section of the sale.
Other categories of antiques coming from the Strohecker museum include pocket watches, celluloid-handled character jackknives (Gene Autry, Little Orphan Annie, etc.), small-scale sewing machines in their original boxes, several Victrolas with horns, Victorian candelabra, oil paintings and several old musical instruments, such as violins and trumpets. An entire section of the museum was devoted to nautical antiques, like ships’ bells, brass portholes and even a ship’s telegraph, which the captain would use to remotely instruct engine operators to speed up or slow down. Additional categories within the collection include early wall and candlestick telephones, oyster plates – including Limoges – gas pumps and globes, coin-operated trade stimulators, gumball machines, dental cabinets and even a contemporary calliope.
From another consignor comes a fine array of 25 to 30 slot machines. Leading the lineup are two Mills Extraordinary Club Bell machines – one charging 25 cents and the other 50 cents – a Rock-ola Triple Jackpot Superior, a Jennings 5-cent, a Pace One-cent Bantam and a number of floor-model uprights. All of the machines are functional, and the estimate range is from $1,000 to $5,000.
A final collection, which reflects a wide range of interests, was consigned by David Gardner of Reidsville, N.C. Early bicycles, two antique automobiles, oak showcases and a late-19th-century, raised-panel, step-back apothecary cupboard with original gray paint are among the highlights. Antique advertising to be auctioned includes clocks – many of which advertise soda pop – and signs promoting such companies as Barq’s and Dr. Swett’s Root Beer. Two particularly fine entries are a tin Yuengling’s Beer sign and a celluloid sign espousing Hires Root Beer.
