Rock Island Railroad sign fetches $165,000 at Showtime Auctions A magnificent Rock Island Railroad reverse glass sign, made in 1890 by an employee of the firm, sold for $165,000 at an auction held April 1-3 by Showtime Auctions in Ann Arbor, Mich.
A pair of extremely hard-to-find Five Jacks Whiskey items both did well. A paper sign with unique graphics illustrating Uncle Sam, gambling, and Indian and a cowboy, in mint shape and framed under glass, 25 inches by 20 inches, fetched $24,750, while a multi-colored enamel pinch bottle with card suit motif, 6 ½ inches tall and with no visible chips or cracks, hit $16,500.
A collection of 12 salesman sample canes, with each shaft bearing a different wood and measuring about 18 inches in length, nicely arranged on an easel display and in mint condition (The Gerlach-Barklow Co., Joliet, Ill.), demanded $21,450. Also, a Colonial-era Philadelphia volunteer fire hat (“7”), made of waterproof wool by Garvin & Cutter (Boston), made $10,925.
A Mr. Peanut “tapper’ (used for a window display to tap on the window, to get the customer’s attention), 28 inches tall, with some repaint and without a cane but in otherwise very good working condition, went for $20,900; and a Patterson’s Toothache Wax store display jar with label under glass, with ground glass collar and lid, in excellent condition, rose to $8,000.
An extremely rare Sunset Trailers cigar round tin (“2 for 5”), stamped “Factory No. 854, 13th Dist., O” and measuring 5 inches tall by 4 ¾ inches in diameter, in excellent original condition, hammered for $17,050; while a Johnson’s Log Cabin Coffee tin store bin, in excellent original condition and measuring 24 inches by 28 inches by 18 inches, topped out at $11,500.
A Buddy L pressed steel toy trench digger (No. 400, circa 1928-1931), 24 inches long, in excellent all-original condition, sold for $16,500; a Buddy L pressed steel toy oil truck (Model No. 2003, circa 1930-1932), 24 inches long, with enclosed cab and doors that open, garnered $12,100; and a Ford Service arrow-shaped two-sided neon steel sign found a buyer for $9,775.
Showtime Auctions' next big event will be a “HOT” Summer Absentee Auction with bidding closing July 9, 2011, at 6 p.m. (EDT). Approximately 250 small lots of advertising and country store collectibles will be offered, to include a rare Rock Island Train reverse glass sign.
Then, Sept. 30-Oct. 1-2 will be the dates of The Mike & Colleen Empy (featured collectors) Country Store & Advertising Collection, with hundreds of other quality items from over 100 consignors. Offered will be advertising, country store, soda fountain, Coca-Cola, toys, banks, general store, petroliana, automotive, firefighting, music, pottery, Wave Crest, salesmen’s samples, Western Americana, Native American, gambling, coin-op, a match safe collection and much more. Details to follow.
Showtime Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call Michael Eckles at (951) 453-2415. His e-mail address is Mike@ShowtimeAuctions.com. To learn more about Showtime Auctions and its upcoming schedule, please log on to www.ShowtimeAuctions.com. Updates are posted often.
