Showtime Auction Services has huge three-day event planned for Apr. 12-14 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Over 2,400 lots from three major collections of country store, pedal cars, toys and firefighting memorabilia will be offered the weekend of Apr. 12-14 by Showtime Auction Services in Ann Arbor, Mich.
News-Antique.com - Feb 22,2013 - (ANN ARBOR, Mich.) – Over 2,400 lots from three major collections of country store, pedal cars, toys and firefighting memorabilia will be offered the weekend of Apr. 12-14 by Showtime Auction Services, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor/Saline Road in Ann Arbor. Internet bidding will be facilitated by both LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.
Headlining the event will be the outstanding lifetime collection of Bill and Kathie Gasperino. The couple is well known in antique circles as having one of the finest country store and advertising collections in the United States. Also sold will be Part 2 of the Robert and Harriett Potter firefighting collection and Part 3 of the Ed and Christy Ramsey collection of pedal cars and toys.
“This is shaping up as our best spring auction ever,” said Mike Eckles of Showtime Auction Services, based in Woodhaven, Mich. “Country store and advertising collectors will be astounded by what the Gasperinos have gathered over the years, the Potters have a vast accumulation of firefighting equipment, apparatus and memorabilia spanning 50-plus years, and the Ramsey collection covers 35 years.”
In addition, bidders will be treated to the usual lengthy list of categories that have come to typify a Showtime Auction sale: country store, advertising signs, store tins, soda fountain, Coca-Cola, Western, Native American, farm signs, whiskey, breweriana, match safes, drug store, barber shop, general store, saloon, post office, coin-op, arcade, scales, gambling, cigar and tobacco tins, cash registers, petroliana, showcases, store fixtures, millinery and more.
One of the expected star lots is an 1880s cigar store Indian with forged iron wheels, with attributes suggesting it was carved by Thomas Brooks (est. $50,000-$75,000). The figure is 83 inches tall (including the base), in very good condition and with most of the original paint intact. Also sold will be an excellent 1870s zinc cigar store Indian by William Demuth of New York.
Just two of the many rare and desirable automobilia and petroliana items being offered will include a Kelly Tire tin sign in good original condition, 24 inches in diameter (est. $15,000-$25,000), and a Hudson neon outdoor dealer sign in near-mint condition (est. $12,000-$15,000).
Bidders will be impressed by the rare Mills Silver Cup trade stimulator slot machine, one of only four known and in excellent, restored working order (est. $30,000-$50,000); and a full set of War Eagle slot machines with various denominations represented (est. $10,000-$15,000).
West Coast breweriana collectors will doubtless do battle over the Bellingham Bay Beer reverse glass sign, housed in its original frame, 19 ½ inches in diameter (est. $20,000-$30,000); and a rare Buffalo Brewery reverse glass corner sign with factory scene (est. $30,000-$45,000).
Certain to garner attention is a spectacular saloon back bar with four fancy columns with cast-iron embellishments, impressive at 12 ½ feet by 9 ½ feet (est. $25,000-$50,000). The back bar boats high relief applied trim, beveled mirrors, marble top, slag glass cameos and original lights. Also sold will be a bank wall with teller window, post office, hardware wall unit,
