Showtime to sell the Jim Main Collection, Sept. 28-30 The Jim Main Collection -- a 52-year accumulation of country store and advertising items, padlocks and handcuffs, cigar cutters and lighters, and more will be sold Sept. 28-30 by Showtime Auction Svcs
News-Antique.com - Jul 18,2007 - SHOWTIME AUCTION SERVICES PREPARING FOR ITS BEST SALE EVER, SEPT.
28-30, AT THE WASHTENAW FARM COUNCIL GROUNDS IN ANN ARBOR, MICH.
(Ann Arbor, Mich.) - The Jim Main Collection – a 52-year accumulation of country store and advertising items, padlocks and handcuffs, cigar cutters and lighters, devotional art, signs, posters, calendars and more -- will be sold the weekend of Sept. 28-30 by Showtime Auction Services, based in Chino, Calif. The auction will be held at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor, Mich.
“This will be, without question, the biggest and best sale we've ever had,” said Mike Eckles, owner of Showtime Auction Services. “Nearly 2,000 lots will be sold, many of them extremely rare items and one-of-a-kinds. Many lots will be multiples, with up to 25 items in a lot. We've also secured additional consignments that are as good, in terms of rarity and quality. This is one sale you won't want to miss.”
Certain to draw strong bidder interest (as well as a large crowd) will be the Jim Main Collection, a staggering array of items, many of them never before offered at auction. Mr. Main, who recently passed away at age 93, lived in Yucaipa, Calif. He began collecting in 1955. “I can't stress enough the quality of merchandise in Mr. Main's collection,” Mr. Eckles said. “It's truly remarkable.”
Also sold will be the Larry Schroff Collection. Mr. Schroff, also recently deceased, was a world-class collector of De Laval Cream Separator advertising signs. He was by far the best and most renowned collector in the genre. Mr. Schroff lived in Geneseo, Ill., and specialized in die-cut tin and porcelain flange signs. His collection is bound to draw active bidder interest at the sale.
A third major collection will also be offered – that of Dan Lewis of Yorba Linda, Calif. Mr. Lewis, still alive, has one of the best collections of vintage National Cash Registers ever assembled. Twenty-five of the rarest pieces in his collection will be sold. All have been completely and professionally restored. Included are a Model 0 and two Model 1's; and one each of Models 2, 3, 6, 30, 33, 52, 64, 47-2 and 335-1/2.
Most of Mr. Main's collection dates from 1880-1920. Items certain to generate crowd buzz include a Rip Van Winkle whiskey sign, circa 1890, the only one known to exist; a Marathon Tire sign, circa 1900, one of only four known; over 100 cigar lighters and cutters; an 1880 Cigar Store Indian; a Rockola Commando Model 1420 jukebox, circa 1930s, retrofitted to play CDs; and other jukeboxes.
Also: a Caille Big 6 upright slot machine, professionally restored; a vintage Model T automobile; a one-of-a-kind Custer's Reserve whiskey sign, circa 1906, expected to fetch up to $60,000; a Lukat “Lucky Cat” gumball trade stimulator, very rare, one of only about 10 known to exist; and a Wright & Taylor Distillers tin sign, one of only four known (and of those, this one is in the best condition).
