Front and back bar brings a record $302,500 at auction A monumental mahogany front and back bar made around 1893 by Brunswick, Balke & Collender Co., the desirable Los Angeles model, sold for a record $302,500 at a sale held by Showtime Auction Services.
Moxiemobile car, made in the 1930s and used in parades to promote the soft drink Moxie, topped out at $21,850; a straight razor display case with 18 assorted celluloid handle straight razors, with brass price tags, climbed to $16,500; and a La Preferencia Cigar reverse glass sign in original frame (Tuchfarber Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1909) also went for $16,500.
A Consumers Brewing Company label under glass display mug, 10 inches tall, with handle, achieved $15,400 despite some minor flaws; an Early Hazard or Big Six table, with wheel, chip rack, hazard horn and disc (marked Evans, Chicago, Ill.), with claw feet, made $15,400; and extremely rare gambling ring guns, six-shot, with original bullets and case, in excellent condition, commanded $14,300.
An American National pedal car of a Hudson (Toledo, Ohio, 1932), with original paint and minor scratches, 48 inches long, sped off for $11,000; an extremely rare double roulette table by B.C. Willis Co. (Detroit, Mich.), with William Ellis early layouts, one of only three known, brought $11,000; and an Ivory Poker Buck (circa 1880), with a front that reads “You Deal,” changed hands for $10,350.
A hand-carved Ivory Playing Card Press from the 1880s, with an unusual screw mechanism and the only example known, possibly a gift to a gambling industry executive, rose to $9,350; a prostitute’s garter (circa 1890s), with fancy beaded trim and reading “Oh Stop!”, 7 inches, breezed to $8,800; and an Oliver Chilled Plow Wood Sand sign (circa late 1880s), in excellent original condition, realized $7,700.
A Daisy Air Rifles paper banner titled “The Happy Daisy Boy,” with metal bands top and bottom, 14 inches by 21 inches, hit the mark for $7,150; a late 1800s trade sign for Eagle Halls Light Divine Optometrist with great visual appeal, 54 inches by 30 inches, fetched $6,600; and a Lucky Strike three-dimensional die-cut quad-fold store window cardboard display with four athletes brought $6,325.
Rounding out the top lots: a cast-iron cigar advertising clock for Katy Flyer Cigars in the shape of a train engine, possibly a one-of-a-kind and an exceptional example of tobacciana, made by Golden Novelty Mfg. Co. (Chicago, Ill.) crossed the finish line at $5,775; and a Will & Finck Faro Case Keeper in a cherry wood frame, with hand-carved boxwood cards, pips and ivory beads, garnered $5,463.
Showtime Auction Services already has four exciting sales lined up for 2010, starting with a Catalog Auction that ends Jan. 15. Offered will be a wonderful selection of country store, advertising and miscellaneous items, in an absentee, phone and Internet only auction. Then, on Apr. 9-11, a Live Auction will be held at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor (catalogs ready Mar. 1).
A Summer Catalog Auction (absentee, phone and Internet bidding only) will end July 9, then the year will conclude with a Live Fall Auction Oct. 1-3, also in Ann Arbor. Like the Apr. 9-11 sale the fall event will feature a nice selection of gambling, coin-op, country store, advertising and miscellaneous items.
