Texaco Gasoline porcelain sign hammers for $11,550 at Matthews Auctions, June 23 A Texaco Gasoline single-sided porcelain filling station sign in a hanger sold for $11,550 at a Check the Oil auction held June 23 on the second day of the Check the Oil Gas & Oil Show in Dublin, Ohio
a rare early advertising sign with great graphics, went to a determined bidder for $6,050. The sign, measuring 27 inches by 19 inches, had a few scrapes and rust spots, but its sheer rarity is what sparked a bidding war. “It was a great, hard-to-find sign that did very well,” Matthews said.
A Petro Oil Burner single-sided porcelain sign with early tanker truck graphics, rated 8.5 and measuring 30 inches by 21 inches, fetched $4,950. The sign, marked “Baltimore Enamel,” was not without its flaws. It had chips around the mounting holes and around the outside edges of the sign, plus a large chip at the bottom of the “P in Petrol. But it had great color and graphics.
A framed photo of the United States Airship Akron (built by the Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation), signed by the photographer (Margaret Bourke White) finished at $4,400. The photo had been given to the winner of a Goodyear tire sales contest in 1931 and showed the USS Akron and the airship docking. The frame was made from Duralumin, same as the airship’s body.
A Dunlop double-sided porcelain flange sign, showing a tire mounted on wire spoked rims, rated 9 and 8.9, 28 inches by 17 inches, with both sides boasting great gloss and color, rose to $4,125; and an Ace High Motor Oil single-sided tin embossed sign, rated 7.75 and having nice early car and airplane graphics, 14 inches by 20 inches, with good color and shine, made $3,300.
A Havoline Motor Oil single-sided porcelain can-shaped sign, rated 9+ and measuring 20 inches by 13 inches, very clean, breezed to $2,530; a Shell double-sided porcelain clam-shaped sign, rated 9 on both sides, 48 inches by 48 inches, with excellent gloss and color, hit $2,420; and a Whippet Motor Oil one-quart round can with greyhound graphics, rated 8.5, made $1,320.
Matthews Auctions, LLC’s next big auction will be held Friday, Sept. 14-16, in Ina, Ill. Featured will be the lifetime collection of petroliana, country store and farm items of William “Bill” Dagg. Thousands of items will cross the block and two auction rings will be running in the Saturday and Sunday sessions. Watch the website as the dates approach: matthewsauctions.com.
Matthews Auctions, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them toll-free at (877) 968-8880, or you can send an e-mail directly to Dan Matthews at danm@matthewsauctions.com.
Mr. Matthews has written a book about petroliana, titled The Fine Art of Collecting Petroliana. For information on how to order a copy, please log on to the Matthews Auctions, LLC website, at www.matthewsauctions.com. For more information about Matthews Auctions, LLC and their calendar of upcoming auctions, please log in to www.matthewsauctions.com.
